How do we keep innovating in a divided world?
In this Fireside Chat, we bring two perspectives to the table: Jo Caudron, a strategist who maps how innovation contributes to social and ideological fragmentation, and who looks critically at the current geopolitical situation.
And then there is Wim Van Hecke, a healthtech founder whose company icometrix did something rare in today’s climate: succeed as a European scaleup in the United States. Not by polarizing, but by building partnerships across regulatory and cultural lines.
But even that success story isn’t without friction. What does it mean to collaborate across borders when trust is eroding? And not only trust, when funds for scientific research cease to exist, due to political decisions... Can companies still operate with purpose when the world feels increasingly transactional? And how do we ensure that innovation brings people along... not just further apart?
Jo Caudron
Author & Founder | Scopernia
Jo Caudron is a transformation expert with a sharp lens on the societal shifts shaking up politics, media, economics, and culture. As founder of Scopernia, he helps governments and businesses future-proof themselves by aligning innovation with strategic purpose. Over the past 15 years, he has guided a wide range of organizations in answering a critical question: how are digital, societal, and technological disruptions redefining our very essence? His current focus lies in how Europe can reclaim a strong position in the emerging global order.
At and& connect, Jo will explore how a focus on transitional industries and a robust “copy-back” strategy can reposition Europe as a global leader, prioritizing values and people-centricity.
In an era of rising geopolitical tensions, democratic backsliding, and growing distrust in institutions, innovation can no longer remain neutral. Jo argues that we stand at a pivotal crossroads: we can continue optimizing for economic gain and technological speed, or we can rethink how innovation can rebuild trust, cohesion, and a shared vision... with Europe leading this crucial battle.
Wim Van Hecke
Founder & CEO | icometrix
Wim Van Hecke is the founder of Leuven-based icometrix, a globally recognized pioneer in AI-powered brain imaging. With USA FDA-approved software used in hospitals across more than 100 countries, icometrix helps detect neurological disorders - from multiple sclerosis to dementia - with more speed and accuracy than traditional diagnostics.
With growing geopolitical tensions and international collaborations under pressure, Wim warns that innovation in healthcare, especially across US and European borders, is no longer a given pursuit. As regulatory landscapes harden and data sovereignty becomes weaponized, the question isn’t just what innovation can do for us, but who gets to decide how and where it’s deployed.
At and& Connect, Wim will reveal how the future of medicine may hinge as much on ethics and diplomacy as it does on algorithms and science.
