Digital
Wallonia
Digital Strategy
for Wallonia
Benoit Hucq
Agence du Numérique- Directeur général
Open Belgium Conference 2016
February 29th, 2016

Making Wallonia a connected and smart territory,
where digital companies are recognized as global leaders
and drivers of a successful industrial transformation,
and where digital innovation works for high quality education,
open public services and the well-being of citizens.
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We have a vision

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Digital Conference
An innovative process
Digital Board
Deployment
From March to July 2015, over 240
proposals through a crowdsourcing
website and more than 200 people from
140 organizations or companies,
gathered in 13 thematic working groups.
September 2015. Based on the works of
the Digital Conference, and with the support
of Roland Berger, the Digital Board presents
a proposal for a Digital Strategy in Wallonia
to the Minister in charge of Digital.
From January 2016, phased
deployment of the actions, identification
of stakeholders, definition of the partnerships,
budget allocation, implementation of the online
platform, brand communication, ...
December 2015. "Digital Wallonia.
Digital strategy for Wallonia “ is
adopted by the Walloon
Government, with a clear
commitment of each Minister to
act within the framework of this
strategy. Adoption of the first
actions.
Walloon Government
Digital
strategy
Collaborative and bottom up
process for the definition, the
adoption and the
implementation.

• Openness. Wallonia's digital policy framework on which different
policies must rely.
• Agility. Integration of new measures or adjustment of existing
measures to guarantee their alignment with the strategic
objectives and their relevancy with the technology innovation.
• Consistency. Collaboration and alignment with other digital
policies (Wallonia, Wallonia-Brussels Federation, Federal
Government, Europe), but also with private initiatives coming
from the digital ecosystem.
• Transparency. Wide communication about the strategy so that
every citizen or company can be part of it. Publication of
monitoring indicators.
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Values of the digital strategy

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Digital business
1 strategy // 5 major topics
Smart & connected territory
Skills and education
Boosting the Walloon economy
depends on a strong and
fast increase of digital maturity
of our companies.
Smart and connected to broadband networks,
our territory must offer an unlimited access to
digital innovation and act as a driver for the
industrial and economic development.
Each Walloon citizen must become an actor of the
digital transformation by acquiring strong technological
skills and adopting an entrepreneurial attitude.
A new generation of open public
services, acting transparently and
being by themselves an example
of the digital transformation.
Publics services
Digital
sector
A strong digital sector and an
cutting-edge research, able to
capture and maintain the added
value of the digital
transformation on our territory .

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> € 500 million over 4 years

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5 topics / 9 objectives / 23 axes

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Strategic objective 1.1
A growth program for the companies of
the digital sector.
Development axes :
• 1.1.1. Structure, streamline and animate the digital ecosystem.
• 1.1.2. Facilitate access to finance at each stage of the business life
cycle
• 1.1.3. Stimulate the growth of startups and SMEs through public
action.
• 1.1.4. Strengthen research dedicated to digital technology and
facilitate its transmission to businesses.
Find out more : www.digitalwallonia.be/wallonie-numerique-secteur-du-numerique

• Digital Wallonia Platform. Launch of the collaborative platform
with various partners (ICT Clusters & TWIST, MIC, Cetic, Multitel,
AWEX, competence centers, ...). Dynamic mapping of the digital
ecosystem.
www.digitalwallonia.be
www.digitalwallonia.be/secteur-numerique
• W.IN.G by Digital Wallonia. Fund managed by SRIW dedicated to
the emergence and growth of digital startups. Officially launched
(2016/02/23).
www.wing-digitalwallonia.be
www.digitalwallonia.be/wing-by-digital-wallonia
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Actions already engaged (1)

• Digital Wallonia Hub. Global Strategy for research and innovation
in the digital sector, to development of the excellence in research
teams and their connection with international networks.
• Objectives contracts. The idea is to improve and professionalize
the animation of the digital ecosystem and to maximize the
impact of its actions, by a better organization and a specialization
of the actors of the Walloon digital landscape.
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Actions already engaged (2)

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Strategic objective 1.2
Development of the digital sector's international
dimension.
Development axes :
• 1.2.1. Accelerate the growth of champions in the digital sector
abroad.
• 1.2.2. Attract global stakeholders in digital technology to
Wallonia.
Find out more : www.digitalwallonia.be/wallonie-numerique-secteur-du-numerique

• The year of digital for export. The priority sector chosen by AWEX
for 2016 is the digital sector. This choice implies the organisation
of 25 promotional and international prospecting actions (more
than double that of previous years).
www.digitalwallonia.be/germany2016
www.digitalwallonia.be/mwc2016
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Actions already engaged

13Find out more : www.digitalwallonia.be/wallonie-numerique-economie-par-le-numerique
Strategic objective 2.1
Digital transformation of economy
and companies.
Development axes :
• 2.1.1. Accelerate the digital transformation of companies through
awareness, diagnostics and support.
• 2.1.2. Adapt mechanisms for calls for projects to the specific
needs of the digital transformation.

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Strategic objective 2.2
Create conditions for competitive Walloon
e-commerce on a European scale.
Development axes :
• 2.2.1. Put in place regulatory, fiscal and operational tools
facilitating e-commerce.
Find out more: www.digitalwallonia.be/wallonie-numerique-economie-par-le-numerique

• Walloon Construction Federation. The CCW has launched a large
sectoral initiative to grow awareness and support the digital
transformation of its businesses.
• Connected commerce project. It will support local Walloon
retailers to respond effectively to the challenges they face in the
context of global competition.
www.digitalwallonia.be/commerceconnecte
• E-commerce sector dynamic mapping.
www.digitalwallonia.be/ecosystemes/secteur-ecommerce
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Actions already engaged

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Strategic objective 3.1
Accelerate the digitalization and the openness
of the public services
Development axes :
• 3.1.1. Develop the digital expertise of public sector employees.
• 3.1.2. Develop the culture of data and implement a strategy to
open public data.
• 3.1.3. Develop a digital administration with high added value,
focused on customer’s uses and services.
Find out more : www.digitalwallonia.be/wallonie-numerique-secteurs-publics

• Open Data. Datasets coming from different levels of public
services, with significant inputs from the geoportal and IWEPS.
data.digitalwallonia.be
• PSI directive. Transcription by the Walloon Governement is almost
done. Licences // federal model.
• Public innovation. The Hackathon Citizens of Wallonia, dedicated
to smart cities, aims to support and enhance projects developing
applications, services or interactive data visualisation, reusing or
facilitating the reuse of public data.
www.digitalwallonia.be/citizens-of-wallonia
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Actions already engaged

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Strategic objective 4.1
Ambitious digital planning policy across the
territory to boost its attractiveness and
competitiveness.
Development axes :
• 4.1.1. Implement a transparent and ambitious plan to deploy
braodband networks throughout Wallonia.
• 4.1.2. Guarantee confidence in digital technology and ensure
cybersecurity.
FInd out more : www.digitalwallonia.be/wallonie-numerique-territoire-connecte-et-intelligent

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Strategic objective 4.2
Encourage the cutting-edge digital tools across
the Wallonia region.
Development axes :
• 4.2.1. Multiply open places for digital acculturation and
experimentation.
• 4.2.2. Push smart cities in a "Smart Region" vision.
• 4.2.3. Structure Wallonia's e-health vision on clear priorities, with
the support of the Walloon Health Network (Réseau Santé
Walloon).
Find out more : www.digitalwallonia.be/wallonie-numerique-territoire-connecte-et-intelligent

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Strategic objective 5.1
Equip schools with modern digital equipment
and infrastructure.
Development axes :
• 5.1.1. Establish an ambitious digital infrastructure deployment
plan for the schools.
Find out more : www.digitalwallonia.be/wallonie-numerique-competences-emploi

• Digital schools. IT equipment in 500 schools per year.
Development of Wi-Fi networks and a secure cloud platform.
• Calls for projects. More than 300 prize-winning schools within the
scope of 3 specific calls for projects.
www.digitalwallonia.be/laureats-ecole-numerique
www.digitalwallonia.be/ecosystemes/ecole-numerique
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Actions already engaged

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Strategic objective 5.2
Ensure the development of digital skills of
Walloon citizens, at each stage of their private
and professional journeys.
Development axes :
• 5.2.1. Develop digital skills for our next generation of talents.
• 5.2.2. Train and support for teachers (…).
• 5.2.3. Facilitate the creation, exchange and use of digital
resources (…).
• 5.2.4. Promote digital jobs (…).
• 5.2.5. Strengthen support in using digital technology.
Find out more: www.digitalwallonia.be/wallonie-numerique-competences-emploi

• Digital inclusion. 100 additional digital public spaces (EPN,
Espaces Publics Numériques) in municipalities.
www.digitalwallonia.be/nature/epn
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Actions already engaged

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Region
A brand
International
URL
Wallonia identifies our region
and its political strategy
.be identifies the country and
the international ambition
The URL identifies the website and the online
platform, crossroad for all digital initiatives
Digital identifies the
purpose of the brand
DigitalBrand
A strong and unifying brand,
acting as an amplifier for the
digital transformation of
Wallonia.
Similar logic to
initiatives like

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Data Website
Expertise
Open Data. Unified data. API.
Shared agenda. Back-office
and made-to-measure development, …
Communication and monitoring for
the digital strategy. Crossroad for all digital
initiatives. Articles and white papers.
Dynamic mapping of the digital
ecosystem in Wallonia (clusters,
companies, schools, labs, …). Agenda. …
Structured around the 5 major topics of the
digital strategy. White papers. Technology watch
(technologies, uses, …). Advice and expertise.
Support and companies mapping (missions, ...).
Barometer and indicators...
Branding. Animation and
promotion of the digital
ecosystem (regional, national
and international). Showroom
for best practices.
Certification and partnerships
(events, missions, …).
Ambassadors. …
BrandPlateformePlatform
Collaborative governance by and
for the digital ecosystem
(Clusters, CRA, …).

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2013 20142013 2014
Walloon Geo-portal: http://geoportail.wallonie.be/
04/2013
Hackathon eGov Mobility
04/2014
Open Data 1st Walloon commitment
02/2013
1st Hackathon eGov Wallonia
10/2013
Open Data : Historical
Number of
datasets: 0

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2015 201503 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12
Launch of the Spring Digital
03/2015
Working Group Public Sector Day 2
06/2015
Digital Roadmap Proposal (M22)
09/2015
Digital
Roadmap
Adoption
12/2015
Hackathon eTourisme - Libramont
03/2015
Working Group Public Sector Day 1
05/2015
Hackxplor - Liège
07/2015
Culturehack15 - Marcinelle
09/2015
Open Data : Historical
Number of
datasets: 50

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Open Data: Walloon Agenda
2016 2016
Today
02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12
02/16
IWEPS Datasets integration
Walloon transcription of PSI Directive
03/16
Hiring of an Open Data Officer
04/16
Goal: 400 datasets
12/16
Open Data Officer on tour launch
06/16
Citizens of Wallonia Hackathon: http://www.citizensofwallonia.be/
03/16
Adding geoportal datasets to http://data.digitalwallonia.be
04/16
Event : "Demystifying of Open Data"
05/16
Number of
datasets: 150

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Open Data: Key Points
• Positive background at the Policy level:
• Minister For Digital agenda give financial capabilities
through Digital Wallonia (DW) strategy
• DW & Marshall Plan offer an ambition in many digitals
fields including Open Data!
• Legal milestone achieved
• Specifically for the Open Data
• The digital maturity of Walloon's public sector is
growing (ex: IWEPS, AWEX, …)
• An Open Data Officer is needed to lead the movement
• Recommendation for all new IT Project to come with
open data in mind from the beginning

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Open Data: Key Points
• More datasets to come:
• Geo-Portal data integration,
• SRWT (TEC group): public transport in Wallonia,
• BCED: Exchange node of the authority databases
• IMIO: IT mutualization for local administration
• SPW: Walloon administration
• Digial cities: Smart-Cities in Wallonia
• Local government: Namur city, Liège, Tournai, …
• Objective: grab 200 datasets/year

• Global Website
www.digitalwallonia.be
• Walloon Digital Strategy
www.digitalwallonia.be/wallonienumerique
• Open Data
data.digitalwallonia.be
• Video presentation in english
vimeo.com/155558326
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More info

Digital agency
www.digitalwallonia.be
info@digitalwallonie.be
@digitalwallonia
facebook.com/digitalwallonia
Benoît Hucq
benoit.hucq@adn.aei.be
Stéphane Vince
stephane.vince@adn.aei.be