At the Mouvement Réformateur headquarters on Monday 5 January 2026, the Centre Jean Gol presented its ambitious programme to position Belgium among the leading nations in artificial intelligence. Four ministers of the Belgian government, David Clarinval, Jacqueline Galant, Valérie Glatigny and Eléonore Simonet, joined the President of the MR and the CJG, Georges-Louis Bouchez, to outline a strategy for regulating and boosting AI covering all key sectors of society.
The event follows on from our major conference bringing together international experts and entrepreneurs in Namur before the Christmas break, from which three complementary studies emerged. The first sets out 70 general recommendations covering education, research, the economy, administration, health, cyber defence and governance. The second examines in depth the adaptations needed in teaching and teacher training. The third looks at the structural challenges posed by AI, particularly the management of data centres and their energy and environmental implications.
According to MR and CJG President Georges-Louis Bouchez, artificial intelligence is probably the greatest industrial revolution in history, evolving at an unprecedented pace. Faced with a major global redistribution of economic power, with 52% of global AI venture capital investment concentrated in the United States, 40% in China, and only 5% in Europe, Belgium risks having foreign technological sovereignty imposed on it without rapid mobilisation.
The European paradox remains striking: the Union pioneered regulation (the EU AI Act 2024) but did not invest heavily. Belgium, however, has considerable assets. IMEC in Leuven is the world leader in semiconductor research and development, with 6,500 employees, more than 100 nationalities, and facilities (Cleanroom) valued at an estimated €4 billion, housing the most advanced experimental technologies in the world. These resources could be mobilised through a coordinated political strategy.
In education, Valérie Glatigny outlined an innovative approach: viewing AI as an artificial support for human intelligence, rather than a replacement for it. From the third year of primary school (age 8), pupils could acquire the basics of digital literacy and critical thinking. Pilot projects are currently under way: 20 sixth-year primary schools are testing these tools with a budget of €200,000 from January. From the 2026-2027 school year, the first-year secondary school timetable is expected to be revised to include 2 hours dedicated to digital skills. The free platforms e-Class, HAPI and PIX (a self-certification tool) would be gradually integrated. A comprehensive ongoing training plan for all teachers is envisaged from the 2026-2027 school year, covering the pedagogical, administrative and critical uses of AI. The aim would be to free up teaching time for the pedagogical relationship by automating marking, absence management, report cards and timetabling.
Jacqueline Galant stressed that the transformation of the civil service should be organised around three levers: acting now, modernising concretely and providing human support. A pilot scheme is currently under way in Wallonia involving around 400 civil servants, with positive early feedback. It is estimated that one in three European civil servants will use AI daily by the end of 2026. The example of environmental permits illustrates the potential gain: searching for the word “asbestos” across thousands of pages used to take weeks; with AI this could take just a few hours. This freed-up time would allow staff to strengthen their direct connection with the public. An AI officer should be appointed in every department of SPOE and the Wallonia-Brussels Federation. Substantial ongoing training could support this transformation to ensure that introducing AI increases the appeal of the civil service profession.
David Clarinval presented the potential economic impact: Google estimates a €50 billion opportunity for Belgium by 2034. An ING study suggests that jobs would not be destroyed but transformed: a third of jobs could be strengthened, a third would remain largely unaffected, while a third would experience significant impacts. At federal level, several initiatives are being considered, including the digital Omnibus to simplify processes and improve competitiveness, as well as Regulatory Sandboxes to test AI innovations within a secure framework. A single federal AI contact point would be created, backed by robust infrastructure (data centres) while maintaining European sovereignty control.
Eléonore Simonet pointed out that AI should not remain the preserve of tech giants but should serve as a productivity lever for SMEs. Agoria figures indicate a potential 75% competitiveness boost for tech companies adopting AI. The ING study confirms that 65% of the affected workforce would not lead to higher unemployment. The 2025 SME plan envisages several measures: Regulatory Sandboxes to test innovation without regulatory risk, the return of degressive depreciation on innovative investments (abolished in 2017), public-private partnerships (SFPI and the private sector), and faster visa procedures for foreign AI talent.
Beyond the civilian economy, the MR plans to develop a military and civilian “cyber valley” in Wallonia, building on the Redu space hub. The aim would be to equip Belgium with advanced digital defence and quantum cybersecurity capabilities to counter future AI-driven cyberattacks. A Defence incubator would combine start-up agility with military strength. Although AI is energy-intensive, it could generate substantial energy savings by optimising smart energy grids. In healthcare, breaking down data silos between hospitals could potentially enable groundbreaking diagnoses. A single “Fast Track” window at the FAMHP could speed up the approval of therapeutic innovations.
Georges-Louis Bouchez concluded by stating that Europe, and Belgium with it, should regain control in the global technology race. At a time when the United States and China are competing for leadership, Belgium would have a strategic window of opportunity to become a major AI innovation hub in Europe. The 70 proposals from the Centre Jean Gol form an action plan whose first measures could be implemented in the short term.