Brussels is well positioned as a springboard for Europe due to its central location, multilingual workforce, and role as an international decision center. The Brussels Data Science Community aims to leverage these advantages by connecting businesses and NGOs in need of data science solutions with skilled professionals. They have experience executing large-scale social impact projects, and partnering with DataKind would extend their global network and access to bigger projects while staying aligned with their focus on using data for social good.

1. Brussels – Springboard for Europe
Supporting presentation for Conference call with DataKind
@datasciencebe | Brussels Data Science Community
1

2. Why Brussels ?
2

3. Invest in Brussels 3
Belgium
At the boarder of 3 main European cultures
• 10,8 million inhabitants
• Official languages:
French, Dutch, German
• Independant since 1830
• Federal state since 1981
• Head of state:
King Philippe I
• Capital: Brussels
@datasciencebe | Brussels Data Science Community
3

4. 7 MAIN ADVANTAGES
Global gateway to key
markets/ Ideal test market
Springboard for a Pan-European development
International decision center
Competitive real estate
High quality of life
Accessibility from
all Europe & Worldwide
International talent pool
and innovation centre
Advantageous business
environment
4

5. Invest in Brussels 5
ACCESSIBILITY FROM ALL EUROPE AND WW
Brussels - Connected to Europe
75 %
of the EU
Market (GDP)
40 %
of the
consumers
@datasciencebe | Brussels Data Science Community
5

6. Invest in Brussels 6
INTERNATIONAL DECISION CENTER
NATO/WEU EU Institutions
Worldwide Press
Center
(1200 journalists)
World’s 2nd most important
conference centre
(Union of International Associations, 2012)
Industry/Corporate
Centre
(1500 federations)
Diplomatic Heartland
(5300 diplomats)
NGO Community
6

7. Invest in Brussels 7
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CAPITAL
• Approx. 1.300 foreign companies have
set-up European HQ or sales subsidiary in
Brussels
• The influence of civil society groups in EU
policy making has increased in recent years.
Thus consulting non-governmental
organizations (NGOs) is a key part of Europe
and governance.
Major multinationals & NGO have
their decision center in Brussels
@datasciencebe | Brussels Data Science Community
7

8. Invest in Brussels 8
• Brussels is a bi-lingual city (french – dutch)
• The presence of several international
organisations attracts large panel of foreigners
(30% of the population)
• English proficiency Index: Brussels 6th on
world basis (Education First, 2012)
• 2nd European city in terms of number of
languages spoken (European cities monitor,
2010)
Brussels workforce is highly multilingual
TALENT POOL AND INNOVATION CENTER
Human resources
@datasciencebe | Brussels Data Science Community
8

9. Invest in Brussels 9
TALENT POOL AND INNOVATION CENTER
University degree
Source: IMD World Competitiveness 2012 / 1-to-10 score
3,89
5,77
6,26
6,91
7,06
7,53
7,57
Japan
France
UK
USA
Netherlands
Belgium
Germany
@datasciencebe | Brussels Data Science Community
9

10. Invest in Brussels 10
TALENT POOL AND INNOVATION CENTER
EU Innovation Performance
Source: EU Commission, DG Enterprise, 2011
EU member states’ innovation performance
@datasciencebe | Brussels Data Science Community
10

11. Invest in Brussels 11
COMPETITIVE REAL ESTATE
Cost-effective Office Market
Cushman & Wakefield, Office space across the world 2012
Office (prime rent location)
@datasciencebe | Brussels Data Science Community
11

12. Why Brussels
Data Science
Community ?
12

13. Invest in Brussels 13
Growing Datascience community
13

14. Invest in Brussels 14
Brussels Data Science Community
… data scientists with a conscience
Join us if you are:
• A business or NGO with data you don’t know how to use
• An academic in search of challenging projects
• A professional looking to stay at the forefront of
technological innovation & positive social change
Touch point for businesses & NGO’s in need of analytic competence
Data Science knowledge hub & Flexible Talent Hub
We are non-profit, academic and business oriented
We are the umbrella organisation for all data related communities in Belgium
We are open and involve other meetup groups
Positioning one datascience community toward the business / academics / government
Bring maturity to the datascience community
Permanent education & learning centre for datascientists
Open community, everybody is welcome: Academics, Government, private and public
companies, job seakers, students, free-lancers, … .
@datasciencebe | Brussels Data Science Community
14

15. Invest in Brussels 15
Some DataScience Projects …
Orange D4D challenge
open data challenge led by global telco,
in partnership with MIT & University of Louvain
(UCL).
IF YOU "LIKE" WILL YOU BUY?,
A WCAI Research Opportunity Sponsored by a
Multinational FMCG Company
Evaluation and steering
Data Preparation
Delivery
@datasciencebe | Brussels Data Science Community
15

16. Invest in Brussels 16
Some DataScience Projects …
Our members have already worked with prestigious organizations on large
scale social projects leveraging data science, particularly in the telecom
industry in Africa
@datasciencebe | Brussels Data Science Community
16
• Cooperation with Financial Services for the Poor
• Developing Retail banking Channel management tools (incl. data
warehouse), aiming at increasing operational performance and
increasing financial inclusion
• Developing Mobile money management tools mixing Telecom and
Mobile money data
• Research project on credit scoring
• Research project on increasing penetration of Mobile money based
on Social Network Analysis and targeted marketing campaigns

17. Invest in Brussels 17
Project steps …
 Get the support from the community
 Identify key project team
 Propose plan
Identify NGO in Brussels
 Prepare action plan
Inform – call for projects – selection shortlist – presentation on June 19th
 Prepare communication plan
 Website
 Communication
Visit NGO
 meeting with experienced members
 participate to datadive London
 communicate about similar projects
 visit friendly NGO’s
17

18. Invest in Brussels 18
Project steps …
Related to data for good projects
 coming events:
 Present @ Bigdata.be event (May 27th)
Our Next meetup (June 19th )
 Initiate data for good event:
Inform – call for projects – selection shortlist – presentation on June 19th
 Prepare communication plan:
 Website
 Communication (press)
Visit NGO
 DataKind
Participate to DataDive in London
(June 7-8th )
18

19. Invest in Brussels 19
More information about us …
@datasciencebe | Brussels Data Science Community
19

20. Invest in Brussels 20
Where does Datakind fit in our
organisation …
What will DataKind add to our existing Data for Good initiative?
Extend our impact: a bigger team, bigger & global projects
Access to a global network (particularly US) with industry thought leaders
Branding & exposure will speed up our growth and access to big NGO’s
20
Data for Good is at the core of our community for 3 main reasons:
• We are passionate by the power of data and the social impact it can have
• We want to learn by mixing our skills around concrete projects
• We have a common goal driving positive energies and creating networking
opportunities

21. Summary
21

22. Invest in Brussels 22
Summary …
Why you should start a chapter in Brussels …
 Based in the capital of Europe
Connected to major NGO’s
Connected
Experienced team
Practical experience, including on large impact social projects
Mix of business profiles and technical entrepreneurs
Ability to execute and to deliver on time and under pressure
Supported by highly technical groups
 Maturity of our team
Experienced project managers
Low maintenance chapter
Spirit of our team
Desire to do data for good projects
Open
International
22
 Excellent support
Business community
Academic support
Government support

23. Invest in Brussels 23