Digital Future Lab
At the UHasselt Digital Future Lab, we focus on advancing human-centered digital technology to shape a better digital society. Our mission is to achieve breakthrough research results that directly impact people, industries, and communities.
We focus on advancing human-centered digital technology
We operate as a 360° research center
We combine innovation with inclusivity, productivity, wellbeing and engagement
We blend academic curiosity with practical problem-solving
We are a Flanders Make Core Lab and work intensively with and for the Flemish manufacturing industry. Flanders Make is a strategic research centre for the manufacturing industry. Digital Future Lab is part of Flanders Make since 2018. With very concrete applied scientific research, we bridge the gap between academic research and the needs of industry.
At Flanders Make, research begins with real-world industry challenges, driving innovation across all collaborating labs. Basic research is conducted within academic institutions, with each partner contributing specialized expertise—like pieces of a larger puzzle. At Flanders Make, we integrate these insights into tangible, cutting-edge solutions, enabling flexible testing and real-world application.
The Principles Guiding Our Research
Applied and Basic research Combined
The context of the real world is an important, first-class driver for our basic research work. We aspire that our research has a real-world impact within a limited time-frame. By bridging fundamental research with civic problem solving, we deliver innovative solutions that matter.
Blending Science, Engineering and Design
By combining Science, Engineering, and Design, we create solutions that are insightful, functional, and human-centered. Our approach fuses scientific understanding, engineering ingenuity, and design creativity.
How We Work
At the Digital Future Lab, collaboration and innovation are at the heart of everything we do. Here’s how we make it happen:
Breakthrough Collaborations
We foster dynamic partnerships across disciplines, industries, and research centers, emphasizing results over rigid structures.
Empowering Research
Our agile environment encourages independent and exploratory research, making collaboration easy for internal and external partners.
Real-Life Impact
We work closely with strategic partners in academia, government, and industry to ensure our research reaches society in meaningful ways.
Future-Oriented Education
We prepare the next generation of academic professionals by integrating our research into high-quality teaching and creating pathways for broader participation in higher education.
Contact
For more information, please reach out to our team.
You can contact our business developers dr. Mieke Haesen and Steven Palmaers, or research manager, dr. Jeroen Put, for general questions.