February 2026 in review

For this 6th edition, we are collaborating with the incredible people of Lab of Tomorrow to host our meetup! Scroll down to read more about Lab of Tomorrow's Community Day on February 12th. 18:00 – Welcome Refreshments, bites, and drinks. 18:30 – Introduction by Lab of Tomorrow. 18:40 – AI-Assisted Visual Production in Blue Balance Agathe Boudry (DAE Research) Explore how AI tools were integrated into the Blue Balance project to accelerate visual production. Agathe will break down hybrid workflows involving background mesh generation, asset upscaling, and procedural animation, while addressing the vital question: “How do we keep creative control in modern visual production?” 19:00 – Gaussian Splatting & AI in Live Broadcasting Tim Van Dingenen (Boost Graphics) With over a decade of experience in AR, Tim reveals how AI is reshaping live sports. Learn how Boost Graphics integrates Gaussian Splatting for virtual production and live digital twins, alongside automated generative 3D pipelines and vision-based tracker detection. 19:30 – Panel: Perception and Future of AI Across Music, Gaming, and Live Entertainment This panel brings together prominent figures from Music, Gaming, and Live Entertainment to dismantle the silos between our industries. We’ll explore the current perception and sentiment on the ground, the evolution of creative control, and how these three verticals envision the long-term adoption and adaptation of AI. Host: Jan Pauly (Howest Research & Music Tech Belgium) Panelists: Brecht De Man - Head of Research at PXL-Music Research (Music) Brecht De Man is a leading expert in AI for music production and the author of the definitive textbook Intelligent Music Production, drawing on his extensive research background at Queen Mary University of London and PXL MUSIC. Beyond his academic work, he has translated AI innovations into industry practice through startups and major corporations while currently serving as President of the Audio Engineering Society (AES). Martin de Ronde (Gaming) Martin de Ronde is a prominent European industry pioneer who co-founded Guerrilla Games and Vanguard Games, leading development on major franchises like Killzone, Halo, and Metro VR. Throughout a career spanning executive roles and charitable foundations, he has evolved from a commercial strategist into a serial entrepreneur currently focused on investing in and co-founding new game tech start-ups. Joris Corthout (Live Entertainment) Joris Corthout is a content designer who pivoted during the pandemic to transform Prismax into a leader in virtual production, utilizing Unreal Engine to create immersive festivals for global brands like Tomorrowland. Following the success of high-profile "phygital" performances for Expo 2020 Dubai, he expanded the company’s international reach by establishing Prismax LLC in Dubai. Ruben Verhack (Datameister) Ruben Verhack is a serial entrepreneur and computer science PhD whose academic excellence is marked by prestigious honors such as the Google Faculty Award and research presentations for industry giants like Disney and Netflix. After gaining extensive experience in AI consulting and product management, he co-founded DATAMEISTER.AI to develop a premier visual and spatial intelligence engine focused on complex 3D and generative AI applications. 20:45 – Tour & Networking A guided tour of the Lab of Tomorrow followed by a networking reception. 22:00 – Closing >> ✨Stay for the Day at Lab of Tomorrow✨ << As you’re planning to join our meetup in the evening - Why not turn it into a full day experience? Spend your day working from Lab of Tomorrow's inspiring open spaces, book a meeting room to get business done, or set up a brainstorm with fellow community members to spark new ideas. Sounds interesting? Contact natalie@laboftomorrow.com to reserve your desk. Welcome as from 10 AM at Lab of Tomorrow

The Game Dev Afterwork is a monthly meetup open to everyone—whether you’re part of the video game industry in Belgium (professionals, students) or simply curious to discover it. By default, we meet on the second-to-last Friday of the month, starting at 5:00 PM, in a friendly, welcoming, and pressure-free atmosphere: just come grab a drink after your work week, chat, meet people, and unwind with fellow devs and enthusiasts. 📍 New: We’re back at "W" (ex- L’Atelier de La Manufacture Urbaine) in Charleroi: https://wcharleroi.be The restaurant offers a “Give Me 5” deal on Fridays before 6:00 PM, with a selection of tapas and cocktails for just €5. This will, by default, be our go-to spot for the next editions. 💡 Good to know: Everyone chooses and pays for their own drinks directly at the bar. No need to bring a prototype or portfolio (unless you’d like feedback). Registration is strongly recommended on Eventbrite: it helps us determine the space that will be allocated to us. Following the theme (like “Christmas sweaters”) are always optional. The event is meant to be easygoing: come and go whenever you like; you’re obviously not required to arrive at 5:00 PM. An activity hosted by Maracas Studio.