Flanders brings science and business together with the ET ECHO exhibition
By launching ET ECHO on the Corda Campus in Hasselt, ET-Vlaanderen and POM Limburg are bringing science, technology and entrepreneurship together. The interactive exhibition showcases the innovation opportunities that the Einstein Telescope offers for businesses and also serves as an inspiring meeting place for international events. During the opening on 2 June, dozens of companies discovered these opportunities at first hand.
Where science and innovation meet
Attendees of the exhibition will learn about the story behind the Einstein Telescope, one of Europe’s most ambitious scientific projects. The interactive and bilingual (Dutch and English) exhibition shows how researchers work on detecting gravitational waves and the accompanying technological challenges. But at least as important is the message for entrepreneurs: the technologies that are being developed for the Einstein Telescope are already creating new opportunities for businesses today.
The exhibition translates complex scientific issues into recognisable innovation opportunities in data analysis, artificial intelligence, materials, energy, geology, precision technology and other areas. This means that ET ECHO is specifically aimed at businesses, knowledge institutions, international delegations and policy makers.
More than an exhibition
ET ECHO is not just a place to learn about the Einstein Telescope. The location is also designed as a meeting space where businesses, organisations and international delegations can come together.
The exhibition’s central location on the Corda Campus in Hasselt offers an inspiring environment for networking events, workshops, receptions and corporate events. Visitors not only have access to the exhibition, but can also tell their guests about the story of a European research project that boosts innovation in the region.
This combination of content, experience and interaction was also evident during the opening, which was attended by numerous entrepreneurs and representatives from the business community.
Making technology visible
For Jef Hoste of Werkhuizen Genk, an important added value of the exhibition lies in the way complex technology is made understandable.
“The visualisation is particularly strong,” he says. “Difficult subject matter is explained clearly using images, film and presentation material. People gain a much better understanding of technology when they can see and experience it.”
Werkhuizen Genk is already working with several companies on technology development for the vacuum tubes for the Einstein Telescope as part of the BeamPipes4ET project. According to Jef Hoste, the exhibition offers a perfect place to receive customers, partners and international delegations and to show them what the project is in fact about.
New collaborations
Other attendees also saw opportunities for new contacts and collaborations.
Alain Verheyden of the Flemish technology company e-BO Enterprises emphasises that innovation increasingly arises at the intersection of different disciplines. He believes that system integration, data and digital support are only becoming ever more important. During the opening, he already made the first contacts with representatives of POM Limburg to explore how his company can participate in future developments around the Einstein Telescope.
For Myriam Schepers of Belgian automation company Boolean, the strength of ET ECHO lies primarily in making technology accessible. “When businesses understand what the project is about, the idea that it’s a remote issue disappears,” she says. “This exhibition reduces the distance between research and the business community.”
Myriam Schepers believes that the location also plays an important role here. On a busy campus like Corda, visitors almost automatically walk in and come into contact with new ideas and opportunities for collaboration.
Inspirational location
Eric Michels of IBM Belgium sees a clear overlap between the developments surrounding the Einstein Telescope and topics such as artificial intelligence and quantum technology. In particular, the combination of scientific ambition and economic impact appeals to him. “The exhibition has clear dynamics”, he says. “Scientific activity and economic opportunities nicely go hand in hand here.” For IBM, the location is inspiring enough to potentially organise an event there in the future.
Many others had the same idea during the opening. Several companies present saw how the combination of technology, innovation and entrepreneurship creates a special setting for meetings, client receptions and networking events.
Also for the next generation
In addition to businesses, ET ECHO can also play a role in inspiring young people. An idea shared by Arjan van der Star, lecturer at the geography teacher-training degree programme and STEM education at UCLL University of Applied Sciences. Topics such as geology, tunnel construction, astronomy and technology, he believes, offer numerous opportunities to get young people interested in science and technology. “The better people understand what the Einstein Telescope is and what impact the project can have, the greater the support for the initiative will be.”
Strategic meeting place
ET ECHO is freely accessible on weekdays. Companies and organisations that want to organise a meeting, workshop or networking event can submit an application via the ET ECHO website. The interactive exhibition offers a unique insight into the innovation opportunities surrounding the Einstein Telescope and provides visitors with an experience of a lifetime.
