The 2024 edition of the Summit took place from 18-20 September in Ghent, Belgium.
Below you'll find a brief summary about the program, speakers, and topics.
Or take a look at the aftermovie to soak up the atmosphere!
Summit 2024
Summit 2024 aftermovie
What was it about?
A variety of topics
The STRN Summit focused on a variety of topics such as:
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The latest scientific breakthroughs and how these could lead to actual products and services to be used in the field
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Lessons learned from university-industry partnerships when it comes to innovations relevant for sports and the broader society
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Needs and desires from real-life contexts such as team or individual sports, and how to set up innovation projects including the end-user early in the process
Who attended the Summit?
The event attracted a variety of attendees, such as:
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Academics who want to explore partnerships with external stakeholders such as startups, companies, teams, federations, etc.
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Research and Innovation managers looking for inspiration, talent and good practices from like-minded people and organizations
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Practitioners looking forward to embracing the latest innovations early in the process
Some of the attending organizations
Summit speakers
Kristof De MeyPhD in sports physical therapy at Ghent University and Sports Technology, Innovation & Business Developer at the same institution since 2013.
Sam Robertson
Steven VerstocktProfessor - Research lead at Ghent University, IDLab. Machine Learning / Image recognition / AI & Sports / AI & Mobility.
Senne BonnaerensCo-founder & CEO of OnTracx
Inge Van BoxelaerEndocrinologist at AZ St-Lucas Hospital Ghent | President of BSED | Founder of Diabetotech
Petter A. H. JølstadPhD candidate at Norwegian School of Sport Sciences - Tracking technologies in elite sports | Sport Scientist at the Norwegian Alpine Skiing Team
Wouter TimmermanPhD Student @ Edith Cowan University. Former Belgian international junior triathlete with a passion for endurance sports & their underpinning science.
Hans ConstandtCEO at FAQIR Institute. Passionate Tech Entrepreneur who believes in #DataSavesLives.
Simon LaugsandCEO ABEL Technologies AS
Thibault FouquaertTeaching assistant & PhD Researcher Sportmanagement UGent. Keen interest in innovation, technology, sports, market research and coaching/teaching.
Jasmine LongFIBA Equipment & Venue Centre Senior Associate
Jade Haycraft
Simon HelleputtePostdoctoral researcher @GhentUniversity @FWOVlaanderen | PhD in Type 1 Diabetes - CV Health - CGM - Exercise Physiology-Metabolism.
Inge EveraertDiabetes Liga, Knowledge center and Policy Manager
Ellen WangCEO & Founder of SenTech AI BV; Mental Performance Pioneer; Wearable AI Tech Doctor.
Yannick LambrichtsHead of Performance at Raw Stadia | UEFA A Coach
Susie ReinerHead of Science at Aletha Health
Ben GreenhoughHead of Sports Research at Rezzil
Joris De WinterPhd Researcher in AI and Robotics @ VUB | Passionate about Rehabilitation Technology
Arne JaspersHealth & performance by science & technology. Sport scientist at RBFA, KU Leuven, Raw Stadia.
Wim DeraveMuscle physiology; sport nutrition; leader of the VICTORIS sport research valorization consortium at Ghent University
Ismael Fernández CuevasMBA and PhD in Sport Sciences. I turned my PhD topic in a company called ThermoHuman. We use infrared thermography to prevent and monitor injuries
Erik MannensDirector at imec UAntwerp IDLAB
John KielyAssociate Professor in Performance and Innovation, University of Limerick, Ireland
Wout HardyCo-Founder of TrackBox | MSc Business Engineering: Financial Engineering at the University of Antwerp
Tiago MalaquiasData Scientist at Al Qadsiah FC
Sam Van RossomRecently retired professional basketball player.
Jess ZendlerBiomechanist, engineer, researcher. Science-driven sport & health tech, validation, best practices, education, communication, safety.
Patrick Scott WelshHuman Performance Innovator | Doctoral Candidate | Behavioral Scientist | Mental Health Champion | Ex Corporate Lab Leader
Cheri BradishLoretta Rogers Research Chair in Sport Marketing at Toronto Metropolitan University
Ine Van CaekenbergheScientific Coordinator @ BOIC | Ass. Professor @ VUB | Sports Biomechanics Consultant-
rachel hybart
Lode GoossensFounded Hylyght; a SaaS platform dedicated to testing and screening. Injury prevention, return to sport, talent ID & development and growth/maturity.
Torstein Dalen-LorentsenResearch Manager Health and performance technology @ SINTEF one of Europe’s largest independent research organisation. MSc/PhD in sports medicine
Matthias GilgienNorwegian School of Sport Sciences / Norwegian Alpine Ski Team / Engadin Health and Innovation Foundation.
Tobias ConsmüllerChief Scientific Officer at Betterguards Technology
Erika LutinData Scientist at imec | Brailsports
Dhruv SeshadriWearable Devices | Bioelectronics | Digital Health
Pedro EstevesProfessor in Sports Science | Research & Entrepreneurship | Pushing the boundaries of knowledge & innovation in the field of sports
Joeri TulkensPhD in Health Sciences | Co-Founder IntelliProve
Ben SmithPerformance, Innovation & Research / BreakAway Data
Sebastian MayrData scientist at Salzburg Research
David LipmanHealth and Human Performance Specialist | Using Storytelling to Create Impact
Warren GregsonDriving strategic performance initiatives in the football industry | Delivering innovation in player development through science & technology-
Tom Bertrand
Leon BrudyBusiness Development Manager - Garmin Health
Kieran CollinsResearch Scientist | Applied Exercise Physiology | Academic | Interested in Performance and Data.
Daniel WestmattelmannAssistant Professor at University of Münster & Co-Founder at Veelz
Answering the big questions
The STRN Summit also aimed to collectively define and (partly) answer some of the big questions in the sports and health domain, such as:
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How to evaluate the quality of technology?
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How to facilitate the transfer of knowhow from academia to society?
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How to set up successful partnerships with limited resources?
This edition's focus
This edition, we paid special attention to the crossroads between the Sports and Health tech fields, meaning:
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We discussed how technology used in elite sport could benefit sport for all and healthy living conditions
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How advancements in the health and medical domains might be of benefit in a sports, fitness or physical activity context (+ vice versa)
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How different research, startup and funding ecosystems could be brought closer together for the benefit of sports and society
The venue
A unique setting with a history
Summit 2024 took place in the iconic Wintercircus: a former indoor circus that has recently been renovated and reopened to the public.
Built in 1885, the “New Circus” was built with the purpose of entertainment: several circus companies gave year-round performances in the building, even during winter.
In 1920 the building was heavily damaged due to a fire, and was reconstructed thereafter. After World War II the circus interior was altered for good, as car mechanic Ghislain Mahy bought and transformed the building into a car workshop.
The workshop continued its activities until 1978, after which the Wintercircus was used as a depot for vintage cars.
The revival of the circus
Fast forward to 2024: the building reopens again to the public after 5 year of intensive renovations.
Innovating start-ups and scale-ups breathe new life into the former workshops and share their knowledge in the meeting rooms or the auditorium during lectures and presentations.
The underground level houses a concert hall seating 500 spectators. A perfectly grand and unique setting for the STRN Summit!
