DIGISET Forum Brussels: A milestone for creative impact and digital transformation
Brussels, December 10, 2025 — If you walked past the venue yesterday, you might have felt the hum. It wasn’t just the sound of a conference; it was the frequency of collective intelligence clicking into gear.
CollectiveUP had the privilege of orchestrating the DIGISET Forum: Creative Industries for a Sustainable Future. We didn't just host a room full of people; we gathered a powerhouse of innovators, researchers, and changemakers to answer one burning question: How can creativity and AI actually drive a sustainable future?
If you missed it, here is the story of what happened—and why you need to be part of what comes next.
Act I: The wake-up call (AI is your muse, not your oracle)
The afternoon kicked off with a challenge to the status quo. Liliana Carrillo and Gijs Gootjes, set the stage for a day of "bold ideas" and "collaboration". But it was Bryan Cassady’s keynote that cracked the room wide open.
His message was blunt and brilliant: "The future of the world is Generative." But there’s a trap. Most people are using AI wrong—treating it like an Oracle (an all-knowing replacement) rather than a Muse (a creative partner).
Bryan broke down the behavioral barriers holding us back, like the "Overconfidence Bias" where we trust AI's confident tone too much, and "Cognitive Offloading," where we stop thinking just because the machine starts writing.
The solution? He handed us the keys to the C.A.R. Method (Context, Action, Result) and the SPARKS framework—teaching us to "Speak It Out," "Pivot Roles," and "Stop and Think" to get brilliance out of our tools, not just mediocrity.
Act II: Deep dives into impact
The energy from the keynote spilled directly into three high-octane panels, expertly moderated to peel back the layers of buzzwords and find the real work underneath.
1. Innovation with purpose: AI for social good
Moderated by Susannah Montgomery, this panel tackled the "tech for good" narrative head-on. We heard from Daithí Ó Murchú, a "pedagogical disruptor" who champions "teacher first, AI afterwards". Alice Demaret from FARI Citizen Engagement Hub reminded us that technology must serve democracy and inclusion. And Ciro Reynoso from Tech To The Rescue showed us the scale of the possible, sharing how they’ve facilitated over 1,000 tech partnerships to support nonprofits worldwide.
2. Impact funding: Beyond good intentions
Money talks, but does it listen? Gijs Gootjes led a crucial conversation on financing the future. Dirk Kunze introduced the concept of "Impact Engineering," challenging us to move beyond echo chambers and use "audience portfolios" to de-risk investments. With insights from Tino Chibebe on early-stage climate tech investing and Arthur Steiner on the intersection of arts and philanthropy, the verdict was clear: Algorithms don't care about good intentions—funding strategies must be engineered for measurable reality.
3. Impact measurement: Making data speak
If you can't measure it, did it happen? Esztella Rostasi guided us through the murky waters of metrics. Alice Sartori from leonardo.impact showcased how AI can turn complex community perspectives into "decision-ready insights". Alongside Cecile Ney (Impact Hub Network) and Elisa Marrocu (Open Impact), the panel proved that data isn't just numbers—it's the voice of the people we serve.
Act III: The true north challenge
We didn’t just sit and listen. We built.
In the closing workshop, Bryan Cassady returned to lead "The True North Challenge". The room transformed into a workshop of habit-designers. The goal? Design one simple, daily AI habit that drives impact and takes less than 10 minutes.
Teams scrambled to define their M.A.T. (Motivation, Ability, Trigger). The result wasn’t just a list of ideas; it was a blueprint for how to stop using AI passively and start working with it to solve real problems.
The Verdict? The Vibe was Unstoppable.
Checking the reactions online, the sentiment is unanimous. As one attendee put it, "The energy was bold, generous, and deeply future-oriented." The room was filled not just with talkers, but with builders.
This event was a testament to what happens when you bring the right people together. It was made possible by the DIGISET project, co-financed by the European Commission, and the relentless drive of our partners at EIT Culture & Creativity.
What’s your true north?
The DIGISET Forum is over, but the work is just beginning.
If you are looking to:
- Navigate the AI revolution without losing your human edge.
- Design better futures through collective intelligence.
- Engineer impact that attracts funding and delivers real results.
You need a partner who understands the landscape.
At CollectiveUP, we don’t just host events; we build ecosystems. We connect communities, generate bold ideas, and drive collaboration across Europe’s innovation landscape.
Ready to turn yesterday’s inspiration into tomorrow’s strategy?
👉 Contact CollectiveUP today Let's build your True North together.
Did you attend? Tag us on LinkedIn with @CollectiveUP and share your 'Daily AI Habit' from the workshop!
