North Star

What we do: North Star is a Belgian nonprofit organization dedicated to building an open, collaborative ecosystem for AI and robotics innovation in Belgium and Europe. We focus on empowering engineers, innovators, and startups by sharing cutting-edge knowledge, organizing hackathons, workshops, and community events. Our mission is to foster local talent, reduce friction in the European AI landscape, and create a unified platform for AI and robotics development. We offer tailored educational sessions, host conventions and innovation sprints, and connect diverse communities to drive impactful progress in AI for good.

Where we are located: Our headquarters are in Antwerp, Belgium, serving as the central hub for our activities across the country and Europe.

Short history: Founded with a vision to unite Belgium’s AI and robotics communities, North Star started from a grassroots initiative and has rapidly grown to over 150 active members. In just a few months, we have hosted multiple events, including hackathons, expert meetups, and educational workshops, establishing ourselves as a key player in the Belgian AI ecosystem.

Organization & culture: North Star is a community-driven organization with a passionate team focused on collaboration, education, and innovation. Our culture values openness, inclusivity, and hands-on action, welcoming engineers, innovators, and anyone with drive but limited resources. We believe in the power of collective effort to shape the future of AI and robotics in Europe.

Recent developments: We recently co-organized Belgium’s first 2-day robotics hackathon with HuggingFace, launched the Belgian chapter of the Worldwide Kids AI Vibecoding Hackathon, and hosted SIGNAL II, featuring expert talks and live demos in AI and robotics.