MIT Innovators Under 35 awarded in Belgium

On 20 May, the MIT Technology Review has awarded 7 Belgian innovators under 35 as part of its European initiative "Innovators Under 35". This 1st Belgian edition took place at the startup accelerator Co.Station in Brussels.

The Belgian Innovators have been chosen from over 100 submitted nominations, for their technologic, innovative and creative projects in areas such as energy, medicine, materials and Big Data.

The first generation of Innovators Under 35 Belgium are as disruptive as they are diverse:

• Arne Pauwels, 28 (Antwerp)
  Wakati – A new food conservation system that helps to foster food security
• Catherine de Wolf, 25 (Etterbeek)
  Urban metabolism to decrease the environmental impact of buildings
• Jérôme Wertz, 29 (Verviers)
  Phasya – Improving health and safety with eyeglasses that measure drowsiness
• Sébastien Deletaille, 30 (Uccle)
  « Data for Good » – Preventing crisis and alleviating poverty through Big Data
• Thibault Helleputte, 32 (Etterbeek)
  DNAlytics – Data-driven personalized therapy
• Yves Van Ingelgem, 33 ans (Mechelen)
  Zensor – A new corrosion sensor that makes coastal wind turbines more cost efficient
• Yves-Alexandre de Montjoye, 31 (Liège)
  OpenPDS/SafeAnswersat – Giving individuals control over their personal data

These innovators were able to present their projects and ideas to over 300 decision-makers, entrepreneurs and academics from the European innovation ecosystem, including Kathleen Kennedy, president of MIT Technology Review, Max Jadot, CEO of BNP Paribas Fortis, Bruno Wattembergh, COO of Impulse Brussels and Robin Wauters, founding editor of Tech.Eu.

Among the seven winners, two received an additional recognition:

• Yves Van Ingelgem was named "Innovator of the Year";
• Arne Pauwels was named "Social Innovator".

This event is organised with the support of BNP Paribas Fortis and L'Atelier BNP Paribas. The Brussels event is part of the series of award ceremonies in France, Italy, Poland, Germany, and an European Summit to be held in November in Brussels at the European Commission. BNP Paribas and L'Atelier are also founding partners of this European event.

Photo credit: Kristina Jasaityte