Innovate for the better. What is better?

“Innovate for the better. But what is “the better”? Who decides? We need to radically rethink our behaviours, globally.”

- Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg

At and&, we are building an interdisciplinary space where bright minds bow their heads over 21 questions for the 21st century.

The opening night of the festival revolves around the most pertinent question of them all: what does it mean to innovate ‘for the better’? And for whom? Is technology still serving the people and the planet?

The panel consists of a bright and diverse mix of national and international changemakers, experts and innovators. The author Mariana Mazzucato is called the Thomas Piketty of the 21st century. She is on a mission to save the economy. The artist Alexandra Daisy Ginsberg examins our fraught relationships with nature and technology. Vice president of the European commission Margrethe Vestager bargains with Google and Facebook about GDPR-rights. And the future is for and by the young innovators. Therefore, one of the world-leading teen innovators -name yet to be revealed- will join the opening night.

They are welcomed by Mohamed Ridouani - the mayor of Leuven, Luc Sels -rector of KU Leuven and the president of tech spin-off IMEC, Luc Van den hove.

How do these experts look beyond the big issues of our times, interdisciplinary? What does innovating for the better mean for their lives and work?