AIRE Club Brussels 2026 Gallery
Permanent Representation of Estonia to the European Union (Rue Guimard 11/13, 1040 Brussels, Belgium)
Join us in Brussels on Monday, 8 June at the Permanent Representation of Estonia to the EU. Europe’s AI infrastructure, the EDIHs, TEFs, AI Factories, and emerging regulatory sandboxes, is now being asked to deliver competitiveness for European companies, security for the energy system, and strategic autonomy at the same time. The afternoon brings together the people running these pieces alongside the European Commission, energy security experts, and companies putting it into practice. AIRE Club #53 also opens the pre-matchmaking for the upcoming EDIH Summit, so come ready to meet the ecosystem you will be working with through the next funding period. Register below.
Prof. Tiit Land, Rector, TalTech, Tallinn University of Technology
H.E. Helen Kaljuläte, Ambassador of Estonia to Belgium and Luxembourg
Katre Eljas, Head of AI and Robotics Estonia AIRE
Malgorzata Nikowska, Head of Unit in AI Office, Artificial Intelligence Innovation and Policy Coordination in DG CNECT of the European Commission
Europe has made significant investments in advanced digital and research infrastructure, including Testing and Experimentation Facilities (TEFs) and AI Factories. Despite this, many companies continue to face difficulties in accessing, effectively using, and deriving tangible value from these resources.
This panel explores the gap between infrastructure and real industrial impact, and what is required to turn Europe’s investments into measurable competitiveness.
Petra Dalunde, Head of AI Ecosystem and Policy, Mimer AI Factory, Sweden
Stig Marthinsen, Head of Oceanopolis EDIH, Norway
Malgorzata Nikowska, Head of Unit in AI Office, Artificial Intelligence Innovation and Policy Coordination in DG CNECT, European Commission
Thomas De Meester, System Engineer and Innovation Manager at IMEC, Deputy coordinator of CitCom.ai TEF, Belgium
Moderator: Karin Jancykova, Head of FactoryXChange EDIH, Ireland
Ants Vill, CEO & Co-founder of Bisly
Mats Kuuskemaa, Country Director, Estonian e-Residency programme
Moderator: Kristiina Herodes, Communications Manager at AI and Robotics Estonia, AIRE
As Europe’s energy systems become more digital, interconnected, and intelligent, they are also becoming more exposed to cyber risks, technological failures, geopolitical dependencies, and crisis situations. Strengthening energy security today means balancing efficiency with resilience, national priorities with regional cooperation, and innovation with preparedness.
This panel explores how Europe can improve crisis readiness, strengthen strategic partnerships, secure smart grids, and better use advanced technologies such as AI and simulation to protect critical energy infrastructure.
Kadri Simson, Fellow at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University
Kristian Ruby, Secretary General, the Union of the Electricity Industry (EURELECTRIC)
Jacob Østergaard, Professor and Head of Division Wind & Energy Systems department, Technical University of Denmark
Moderator: Einari Kisel, Professor of Practice on Energy Policies, Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech), Energy Advisor to the Ministry of Climate
Host and Moderator:
Evelin Ebruk, Customer Relationship Manager at AI and Robotics Estonia AIRE.
Registration to the event is required.
Information may also be shared with other colleagues and stakeholders interested in the topic.
Banner photo: Renee Altrov, Brand Estonia.
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