1st REMIT Conference

New Perspectives for Technology and Multilateralism

Dates: May 16-17, 2024
Location: Leuven University, Belgium

Leuven in the evening by Bert Beckers

We are pleased to announce REMIT’s 1st conference, to take place in Leuven in May 2024!

This year promises to present an unprecedented test for multilateralism, as dictators and unilateralists actively seek to undermine the rules-based international order, while at the same time, technology is becoming increasingly weaponized. In the face of these challenges, there is an urgent need for countries to collaborate on a global scale to ensure a positive interaction between technology and multilateralism. The REMIT project, funded by the EU Horizon Europe programme, aims to address these issues and recommend pathways forward–how can Europe and its partners rejuvenate multilateralism in this evolving landscape?

The inaugural REMIT Conference will explore these and related questions. It will offer fresh perspectives on the intersection of technology and multilateralism. Set to take place in Leuven on May 16-17, the event will bring together policymakers, diplomats, academics, industry leaders, representatives from civil society, and political decision-makers.

 Multilateralism is not dead—but it does need reviving.

See the final report on the 2024 REMIT Conference HERE.

Info archive:

Funded by the EU’s Horizon Europe programme and led by Maastricht University, REMIT represents a groundbreaking initiative that brings together a network of European researchers. The project focuses on articulating a clear understanding of current global dynamics, employing innovative research methodologies, and developing impactful policy recommendations. These efforts are aimed at reinforcing and revitalizing global democratic structures in the face of rapid technological advancements and changing geopolitical landscapes. REMIT is committed to producing high-impact research and policy recommendations, aiming to position the European Union at the forefront of global digital policy and governance.

Themes include, but are not limited to:

  • The intersections of technology with global governance and multilateralism
  • The role of the EU in global governance and technology
  • Security and defence technologies
  • Digital technologies
  • Health and bio technologies
  • The intersection of finance and technology
  • Current geopolitical challenges and threats related to emerging technologies.

Submissions for our Call for Contributions are now closed. We thank everyone who submitted, and look forward to seeing those selected in Leuven!

For those still interested in attending the conference – see registration details below.

Registration to the conference is now closed.

Time (CET)Session 
Thursday 16 May 2024
9:00Registration / badges 
10:00Opening (plenary)
Prof. Roberta Haar, Maastricht University, The Netherlands;
Prof. Joep Crompvoets, University of Leuven, Belgium 
Keynote: Prof. Luc Soete, Maastricht University, The Netherlands,
“Science, technology and innovation in a new geopolitical landscape”
Keynote: Christian-Marc Lifländer, Head of NATO Cyber & Hybrid Policy Section,
“Strategic Competition – Adjusting to an Era of Unpeace” 		 
11:00-12:30Session 1 The Dynamics of the Multilateral Approaches in the Context of the Two Wars in the EU’s Geopolitical Neighbourhoods 
Moderator: Prof. Valentin Naumescu, Babeș-Bolyai University, Romania
Speakers:  Mihnea Motoc, Principal Adviser, IDEA, European Commission;
Prof. Valentin Naumescu, Babeș-Bolyai University, Romania;
Lt. Col. Curtis Cordon, Air, Space and Nuclear Policy Advisor to USA NATO Delegation;
Assoc.Prof. Raluca Moldovan, Babeș-Bolyai University, Romania; 
Andrei Enghis, Policy Officer, European Commission; 
Florina Caloianu, Babeș-Bolyai University, Romania 		Session 2 Digital Governance between Multi-stakeholderism and Multilateralism 
Moderator: Dr. Dennis Redeker, University of Bremen, Germany;  
Speakers: Prof. Luca Belli, FGV Law School, Brazil;
Dr. Jamal Shahin, Brussels School of Governance/University of Amsterdam/United Nations University-CRIS (Bruges);
Dr. Julia Pohle, WZB Berlin Social Science Center;
Elena Plexida, ICANN;
Dr. Nicola Palladino, University of Salerno, Italy		 
12:30Lunch 
14:00-15:30Session 3  The Governance of Strategic Technologies: Geopolitics and Advocacy 
Moderator: Dr. Katja Creutz, Finnish Institute of International Affairs, Finland  
Speakers: Prof. Thomas Christiansen, LUISS Guido Carli University, Italy;
Dr. Ville Sinkkonen, Finnish Institute of International Affairs, Finland;
Prof. Sophie Vanhoonacker, Maastricht University, Netherlands; 
Catherine Yuk-ping Lo, Maastricht University, Netherlands;
Mahmoud Javadi, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, Netherlands;
Siyan Amber Qiao, Maastricht University, Netherlands;
Dr. Max Smeets, European Cyber Conflict Research Initiative
Discussants: Prof. Mariarosaria Taddeo, University of Oxford, UK;
Prof. Nicholas Thomas, City University of Hong Kong, China		Session 4 The Interconnections Between Cybersecurity and Critical Technologies
Moderator: Dr. James Shires, ECCRI, United Kingdom 
Speakers: Alžběta Bajerová, NATO, Belgium 
Jakob Bund, European Cyber Conflict Research Initiative (ECCRI), Germany 
Nikolas Ott, Microsoft, Belgium 
Dr. Alexandra Paulus, German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), Germany		 
15:30Coffee/tea break 
16:00-16:30Plenary keynote
Prof. Mariarosaria Taddeo, University of Oxford, UK,
“The Ethics of AI in Defence”
introduction by prof. Paul Timmers		 

16:30-17:30		Plenary
REMIT Stakeholder Advisory Board Roundtable
Prof. Nicholas Thomas, City University of Hong Kong, China 
Prof. Luca Belli, FGV Law School, Brazil 
Prof. Mariarosaria Taddeo, University of Oxford, UK
Moderator: Prof. Roberta Haar, Maastricht University, The Netherlands		 
20:00-22:00Conference dinner (self-paid)
Recommended is Restaurant d’Artagnan (Naamsestraat 72)		 

Friday 17 May 2024
8.30Registration/badges (for new participants)
9:15Plenary  
Keynote: Prof. Bart Preneel, Prof COSIC, KU Leuven, Belgium
“Global supply chain risks in software and hardware”		 
9:45-11:30Session 5 Regulatory sandboxes with a focus on AI 
Moderator: Triantafyllos Kouloufakos, University of Leuven, Belgium 
Speakers: Filippo Bagni, PhD Candidate in Law &Technology, Scuola IMT Alti Studi Lucca, Italy; 
Nils Brinker, Senior Cybersecurity Expert at Intcube; 
Katerina Yordanova, IMEC KU Leuven, Belgium;
Dr. Taina Junquilho, University of Brasília, Brazil;
Kai Zenner, European Parliament		Session 6 Related initiatives on technology & multilateralism 
Moderator: Prof. Paul Timmers, KU Leuven, Belgium
Speakers: Prof. Roberta Haar, Maastricht University, The Netherlands;
Prof. Hylke Dijkstra, Maastricht University, EU Support for Global Governance Transformation (ENSURED Horizon project);
Prof. Maria Grahn-Farley, University of Gothenburg, Human Rights Justification (HRJust Horizon project);
Prof. Daniel Mügge, University of Amsterdam (Regulaite Initiative), Netherlands 		 
11:30-12:00Coffee/tea break 
12:00-13:00Young Researchers Panel 1
Quantum and Multilateralism
Moderator: Aysajan Abidin, KU Leuven, Belgium
Speakers: Raluca Csernatoni, Carnegie Europe,
Andrea Rodriguez Garcia, ImpaQT;
Kristiaan De Greve, KU Leuven, Belgium;
Wouter Castryck, KU Leuven, Belgium;		Young Researchers Panel 2
AI and Multilateralism: Consensus under the Fragmented Governance?
Moderator: Prof. Daniel Mügge, University of Amsterdam
Speakers: Mahmoud Javadi, Erasmus University Rotterdam;
Maya Müller-Perron, Maastricht University;
Hengyi Yang, Maastricht University;
Zhanwei Wang, Maastricht University;
Siyuan Qiao, Maastricht University		 
13:00-14:00Closing plenary
Keynote: Prof. Peggy Valcke, University of Leuven/BIPT, Belgium
“Council of Europe and Artificial Intelligence”
Keynote: David Ringrose, Digital Transition & Global Gateway at European External Action Service EEAS, Belgium

Closing words
Prof. Roberta Haar, Maastricht University, The Netherlands; 
Prof. Joep Crompvoets, KU Leuven, Belgium;
Prof. Paul Timmers, KU Leuven, Belgium		 
14.00-15.00Conference ending lunch
15:00-16:30PhD Special Session 
Moderator: Dr. Max Smeets, ECCRI, UK		 
Venue description

Below you will find the conference locations and a map illustrating them in relation to Leuven city, the central central station, and the Faculty Club. Clicking on the room names or searching the conference venue aulas and rooms in Google, will lead you to a precise description of their location.

Walking from one side of the city (Faculty Club) to another (Train Station) takes somewhere between 25 and 45 minutes at regular pace. 

Please note that unfortunately, the aulas do not have wheelchair access. We sincerely apologize for this.

Registration area for both days
M01.E50 Zaal Couvreur (Centre AGORA, Edward van Evenstraat 4, 3000 Leuven)

Thursday’s aulas
AV00.17 (Auditoriacomplex, Parkstraat 49, 3000 Leuven)
AV04.17 (Auditoriacomplex, Parkstraat 49, 3000 Leuven)

Friday’s aulas
AV03.12 (Auditoriacomplex, Parkstraat 49, 3000 Leuven)
AV04.17 (Auditoriacomplex, Parkstraat 49, 3000 Leuven)

Travel

Leuven is centrally located in Belgium, close to Brussels and Brussels Airport Zaventem. Travelling into the city from these locations will take between 15 minutes and 1 hour, depending on traffic and service conditions.

Cars are increasingly being phased out of the city and finding parking spots is not always easy. You may prefer travelling by train. There are regular and speedy train services from Brussels and from Brussels Airport Zaventem to Leuven. The conference venue is a 20 minute walk from the train station. The Belgian train service provider and Google Maps offer accurate and realtime route planner services on these websites:

https://www.belgiantrain.be/en

https://www.google.com/maps

Leuven taxi services:

Taxi Jenny / +32 (0)16 26 10 10 / www.taxijenny.be

Leuvense Taxi Maatschappij / +32 (0)495 222 000 / www.taxi-leuven.be

Brussels taxi services:

Taxis Verts / +32 (0)2 349 49 49 / www.taxisverts.be

Autolux / +32 (0)2 512 31 23 / www.taxisautolux.be

Uber is available in Brussels.

Accommodation

You are strongly encouraged to book as soon as possible since there is a lot of demand for hotel rooms in Leuven and Brussels around this time.

Please see below for a selection of hotels at accessible locations in Leuven and Brussels (Airport). Accommodation near Brussels North or Central Stations is a very good option considering availability and train connections to Leuven (keep in mind that Brussels train stations are not safe at night). Quality hotel rooms in Leuven are selling out fast. Platform websites like Booking.com offer a good overview of options.

Park Inn Leuven by Radisson (quality hotel close to Leuven train station)
https://www.radissonhotels.com/nl-nl/hotels/park-inn-leuven

Ibis budget Leuven Centrum (budget hotel with good comfort close to Leuven’s centre)
https://all.accor.com/hotel/6682/index.en.shtml

Hotel De Pastorij Leuven (quaint economy hotel in Leuven’s city centre)
https://depastorij.com/

Irish College Leuven (Dormitory-style budget hotel on university premises)
https://reservations.cubilis.eu/be/the-leuven-institute-for-ireland-in-europe-leuven?Language=en-GB

Thon Hotel Brussels City Centre (large, quality hotel near Brussels North Station)
https://www.thonhotels.com/our-hotels/belgium/brussel/thon-hotel-eu/

9Hotel Sablon (Priceworthy quality hotel in the trendy Sablon area)
https://www.9-hotel-sablon-brussels.be/en/page/rooms.6118.html

NH Brussels Carrefour de l’Europe (quality hotel near Brussels Central Station)
https://www.nh-hotels.com/en/hotel/nh-brussels-carrefour-de-l-europe

Hilton Grand Place (4 star hotel 10 minutes from Brussels Central Station)
https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/brugrhi-hilton-brussels-grand-place/

Warwick Brussels (4 star hotel 10 minutes from Brussels Central Station)
https://www.warwickhotels.com/warwick-brussels

Sheraton Brussels Airport (4 star hotel next to Brussels Airport)
https://www.sheratonbrusselsairport.be/