Call for partners

Propose a venue or partnership for the Cyber & AI Citizen Lab

IBCSC is seeking public, non-profit, academic and private partners to launch a citizen space in Charleroi focused on cybersecurity, responsible AI and support for small organisations.

01

A simple non-profit framework serving the public interest

The aim is to combine a venue, stable connectivity, reasonable equipment and expertise for supervised workshops, clinics and demonstrations. The setup remains proportionate: it is not a commercial data centre, an intrusive activity or a substitute public service.

15–30 m² indicative size for an initial work or workshop space
Fibre stable connectivity preferred for demonstrations and prototypes
ASBL non-profit, documented and public-interest compatible framework
Local priority to Charleroi, its region and Belgian partners
02

What we are looking for first

Contributions can be modest, occasional or structured. What matters is that they are useful, traceable and compatible with security and data-protection principles.

A room or equipped space

Small office, meeting room, non-profit space, coworking room or venue available occasionally or regularly.

Reliable connectivity

Stable Internet access, ideally fibre, for workshops, demonstrations and supervised tests.

Reasonable equipment

Workstations, screens, router, switch, storage, small servers or demonstration devices.

Expertise

Cybersecurity, networks, infrastructure, AI, GDPR, pedagogy or startup-support experience.

Local outreach

Communication, participant mobilisation and institutional, non-profit, educational or economic contacts.

A cooperation framework

Simple agreement, explicit objectives, duration, responsibilities, use limits and data protection.

03

Who can contribute?

Each partner can contribute according to its means. IBCSC favours concrete, documented contributions that do not affect the association’s independence.

Municipality or city

Venue, logistics, communication or introductions to relevant audiences.

  • Room or clinic
  • Digital inclusion
  • Local introductions

Digital public space or association

Hosting citizen workshops and connecting with audiences needing accessible support.

  • Citizen workshops
  • Vulnerable audiences
  • Local facilitation

Coworking or incubator

Practical session space, startup network access and short formats for entrepreneurs.

  • Startup network
  • Equipped room
  • Practical events

Telecom or infrastructure partner

Connectivity, network equipment, technical advice and support for lightweight secure architecture.

  • Fibre
  • Router / switch
  • Technical support

IT company or independent expert

Mentoring, equipment, good practices, security tools, technical content or workshop facilitation.

  • Expertise
  • Equipment
  • Mentoring

School, university or training centre

Students, applied research, teaching content and supervised projects.

  • Students
  • Research
  • Pedagogy
04

Proposed process

  1. 01

    First contact

    The partner presents the venue, proposed contribution, constraints and contact person.

  2. 02

    Qualification

    IBCSC checks usefulness, feasibility, technical limits, security and compatibility with the non-profit purpose.

  3. 03

    Written framework

    If accepted, terms are documented: duration, access, responsibilities, data, communication and use limits.

  4. 04

    Pilot action

    A first activity may be organised: citizen workshop, clinic, demonstration or startup/SME session.

  5. 05

    Evaluation

    The partnership is adjusted according to feedback, attendance, available resources and actual public value.

05

Useful information to include

To review a proposal quickly, please include concrete details in the first message.

  • Contribution type: venue, fibre, equipment, expertise, workshop, funding or outreach
  • Address or geographical area
  • Surface, availability and access conditions
  • Available Internet connection and known characteristics
  • Power, ventilation, security and accessibility
  • Existing or proposed equipment
  • Contact person and professional details
  • Possible constraints: schedule, insurance, noise, security or communication
Submit a proposal
06

Non-negotiable principles

  • Compliance with law, GDPR and fundamental rights
  • No offensive, intrusive or surveillance-like activity
  • Data protection, minimisation and confidentiality
  • Transparency about contributions and partnership limits
  • IBCSC independence in content, analysis and recommendations
  • No promise of commercial or technical results

Would you like to help launch the Lab?

Send a concise proposal. IBCSC will follow up if the framework, resources and public value allow progress.

Submit a proposal