BeCentral brings digital hub to Brussels’ Central Station

A group of 28 experts with varying digital backgrounds has founded the BeCentral digital hub in Brussels’ Central Station. The focus of the initiative is to enable those with less access to digital applications – such as the elderly, secondary school drop-outs, the unemployed and refugees – to connect with the digital world.

BeCentral is located in office space above the station’s ticket counters. It will offer lessons, workshops, work spaces and meeting places. There is space for start-ups, for example, and for school groups.

The 28 initiators come from start-ups, academic institutions, the venture capital sector and the technology and internet sectors. Among them are investor Frank Maene of Volta Ventures, Karen Boers of Startups.be and professor Omar Mohout of Antwerp Management School.

Alexander De Croo, federal minister for the digital agenda, is also one of the founders. “The technological revolution shouldn’t only benefit those who are already skilled in participating in it,” De Croo told De Standaard. “We have to help people get the skills needed to play a role in the digital economy.”

External organisations will also set up educational programmes in BeCentral. The first is BeCode, which will offer free training in programming to those with no prior experience.

Although BeCentral is already operating, a grand opening will take place later in the year when renovation works have finished.

Photo: Isabel Allaert/Twitter