Visit to IMEC and VRT
On 29 April 2026, the auditors of the High Studies for Security and Defence (HSSD) took part in a study day dedicated to two essential pillars of contemporary security, i.e. technological innovation and strategic communication, by way of a double visit to IMEC (in Louvain) and the Flemish public broadcaster VRT.
The day started at IMEC, an internationally renowned study centre specialised in cutting-edge technologies. After a welcome and a general introduction, a presentation on the Defence-related activities highlighted the growing role played by cutting-edge technologies – microelectronics, artificial intelligence and sensors – in modern military capacities.
The auditors were then treated to a series of technological demonstrations which provided them with concrete examples of innovations in the civil and military domains. The visit continued with a high note when the auditors discovered the clean room, the heart of high-precision manufacturing processes and a symbol of European technological excellence in Belgium.
The afternoon was dedicated to the VRT, a key actor in the Belgian media landscape. After a guided tour of the facilities, the auditors gained an understanding of the mechanisms of news production and the workings of a public service broadcaster in an environment that is characterised by rapid diffusion and issues of influence.
At the end of the day, the auditors met with the CEO, Frederik Delaplace, as well as the editors in chief of the news department. This exchange provided an opportunity to discuss contemporary challenges related to information credibility, disinformation and the responsibility of the media in a geopolitically sensitive context. This dual immersion offered a concrete example of the convergence between technology and information security, which lies at the heart of current strategic issues.
