Belgium-California: a Smart & Resilient Cities Conference
As part of the Belgian Economic Mission to California, this high-level conference explores the future of urban innovation through the lens of Belgian and Californian expertise. Hosted in partnership with the renowned Larta Institute, the event will convene public officials, cleantech leaders, architects, engineers, and urban innovators to discuss smart city technologies, climate-resilient infrastructure, and circular urban development.
Led by the Wallonia Export-Investment Agency (AWEX), with support from the Larta Institute and Flanders Investment & Trade (FIT), the conference aims to foster transatlantic collaboration and investment in sustainable urban solutions.
🗓️ Agenda Highlights
08:30 AM – 09:00 AM
Arrival of the Belgian Business Delegation
09:00 AM – 09:10 AM
Welcome Words by Pascale Delcomminette, CEO, Wallonia Export & Investment Agency
Opening Remarks by Rohit Shukla, Founder and CEO, Larta Institute
09:10 AM – 09:30 AM
Keynote: Building the Cities of Tomorrow: Innovation, Inclusion & Impact
Inge Neven, CEO, VITO
Dan Thorman, Executive Director, Collidescope Foundation / LA Climate Week
09:30 AM – 10:05 AM
Panel 1 – Belgium–California Dialogue on Smart & Sustainable Cities
Brought to you by CoMotion LA.
Moderator: Daniel Eppstein, Head of Partnerships, CoMotion
Bernard de Clercq, Group Head of EU and International Affairs, Elia
Heather Joy Rosenberg, Associate Principal, ARUP
Alex Korter, Principal, CO Architect
10:05 AM – 10:25 AM
Keynote: Powering Smart & Resilient Cities: Engineering the Future of Energy
François Michel, CEO, John Cockerill
10:25 AM – 11:00 AM
Panel 2 – Belgium–California Dialogue on Decarbonization
Moderator: Scott Kitcher, CEO, Sustain SoCal
Dominique Pierard, Managing Director, GreenWin Cleantech Innovation Cluster
Erwin Verstraelen, VP Innovation, Port of Antwerp-Bruges
Michael DiBernardo, Deputy Executive Director of Marketing, Port of Los Angeles
11:00 AM – 11:35 PM
Panel 3 – Belgium & California Cleantech Ecosystems: A Dialogue
Moderator: Sean Knierim, CEO, Side Porch Consulting Group
Inge Neven, CEO, VITO
Marc Van Den Neste, CEO, District Cleantech
Rohit Shukla, Founder and CEO, Larta Institute
Terry Tamminen, President & CEO, Altasea
11:35 PM – 12:10 PM
Fireside Chat: Designing the Olympic City: Resilience, Legacy & Urban Sustainability Ahead of LA28
Keynote: Nancy Sutley, Deputy Mayor of Energy and Sustainability, City of Los Angeles
Moderator: Piet Demunter, CEO, Flanders Investment & Trade
Cris Liban, Chief Sustainability Officer, LA Metro
Rodrigo Soares, Director, Global Sports, Aecom
12:10 PM – 12:15 PM
Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid, Mayor Karen Bass, and the Officials join the delegation in the Ted Mann Theater
Take-Aways:
Rohit Shukla, Founder and CEO, Larta Institute
12:15 PM – 12:30 PM
Official Addresses:
Introduction Words by Reynold Hoover, CEO, LA28
Address by Mayor Karen Bass
Closing Words by HE Pierre-Yves Jeholet, Vice-President, Government of Wallonia
12:30 PM – 2:00 PM
Light Standing Lunch
🎯 Objectives
Showcase complementary expertise in smart cities and cleantech
Facilitate bilateral collaboration and joint projects
Connect ecosystems across Belgium and California
Promote investment and technology transfer
👥 Audience
This event welcomes:
✅ Belgian and Californian business leaders
✅ Urban innovation experts and city officials
✅ Cleantech clusters and startups
✅ Investors and sustainability stakeholders
📝 Registration
This event is open upon invitation. Capacity is limited.
🚗 Parking Information
Rideshare
Drop-off on Roddenberry Lane → entrance on Fairfax Ave.
Hours: Daily 10 AM – 6 PM
LACMA Pritzker Parking Garage
6000 W 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90036 → entrance on 6th St.
Hours: Daily 5 AM – 10 PM
Cost: $23 ($15 after 8 PM entry)
Accessible spots on P1, adjacent to elevators
EV charging stations on P1 and P2
Petersen Automotive Museum Garage
744 S. Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036 → entrance on Fairfax Ave. or 8th St.
Hours: Daily 6 AM – 11 PM
Cost: $24 (first 15 minutes free)
Accessible spots on P1 only; no garage elevator
EV charging stations on P1