Official opening Mindlabs
On Wednesday 27 September, the MindLabs building was officially opened. The building was already taken into use in February by students and staff of Fontys Journalism and the Fontys ICT InnovationLab. From the Spoorzone in Tilburg, they develop new applications with other knowledge institutions and organisations that help solve social issues.
Mayor of Tilburg Theo Weterings, together with cabaret artist Lieven Scheire, welcomed the guests. After which everyone was given an extensive tour of five so-called knowledge stations with demonstrations and presentations by researchers, developers, students, companies and institutions involved in MindLabs. At 17:30 it was time for the 'moment suprême'; the symbolic opening ceremony of the building. Of course, entirely in the style of the MindLabs thought and vision, with holograms, AI characters and breaking news updates. This opening concludes a long period of construction and trial runs.
"MindLabs is open and ready for the future. Of its residents, the city and the region. It invites an open connection with other knowledge institutions, entrepreneurs and governments. In the middle of society, with an eye for the issues of that society. With this, MindLabs fits in seamlessly with 'Fontys for society'," said Arian Steenbruggen, board member of the MindLabs association on behalf of Fontys.
The residents
MindLabs is an initiative of Fontys and the municipality of Tilburg. Based on their ambition for innovation and cooperation on social issues, they decided to realise the building together and start a movement. Owners of the MindLabs building are therefore the municipality of Tilburg and Fontys University of Applied Sciences.
Fontys houses the students and staff of Fontys Journalism and Fontys ICT InnovationLab in the building. Other MindLabs partners rent part of the building. Larger tenants include DPG Media, Onderwijsgroep Tilburg, Tilburg University and Uitgeverij Zwijsen.
MindLabs association
The MindLabs association is a partnership involving six knowledge institutions, governments and a growing group of business partners, social institutions and startups. Together, the partners explore the possibilities and responsible use of technologies that interact with human behaviour; in other words, human-centred AI.
Appealing programme from the Spoorzone
Mindlabs' new building is located in the heart of Tilburg's Spoorzone: the area north of the city centre. Right next to central station and the LocHal, to be precise. This new innovation centre brings education, research and business together under one roof. Mindlbas provides a diverse and appealing programme all year round.
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