New data talent discovered at Data & AI Challenge
Last week on Thursday, the final of the Data & AI Challenge took place in Leuven. An initiative by partner Editx (an online job platform for IT profiles), with De Lijn as the proud main sponsor. Through this challenge, the top Data and AI talents from all over Belgium were challenged to test their knowledge, speed, and problem-solving abilities.
04 December 2025 - Tips, information and news
About the Data & AI Challenge
In the online preliminary round, 693 participants took part: from experienced data scientists and AI engineers to students and young professionals with a passion for data. In just 10 minutes, they had to solve 20 questions about data science, AI, machine learning, and logical reasoning. With an average score of 53%, it proved to be a challenging task.
The best 50 participants advanced to the final on November 27 in Leuven, where an evening full of keynotes, fun, networking, and the awards ceremony was planned. Philippe Le Cerf, Director of ICT and Digitization, was also there to present one of the awards.
The Winners
The final game consisted of an interactive quiz with another 20 data & AI questions, some of which had a direct link to De Lijn. The evening concluded with the announcement of the three laureates:
🥇 1st place: Stefan Panggabean. He won free participation in the Vlerick Digital Strategy & AI Program.
🥈 2nd place: Chidi Nweke. He won a €200 Amazon voucher.
🥉 3rd place: Avisha Bhiryani. She won a €100 Amazon voucher.
All the attending finalists also went home with duo tickets for Kinepolis. Congratulations to the winners!
Why De Lijn Participates
For De Lijn, this initiative is more than a competition. It is an opportunity to:
Connect with new IT talent
Provide visibility to our digital transformation
Showcase our commitment to innovation, smart technology, and future-oriented mobility
Contribute to the community where the Belgian data world meets and inspires each other
Our role as the main sponsor fits within our ambition to become an innovative, data-driven mobility partner for Flanders.
A Successful Edition
The final once again highlighted the great enthusiasm surrounding data and AI in Belgium. It was an inspiring evening that not only showcased talent but also emphasized the value of collaboration between companies, professionals, and students.
“Data & AI are among the most challenging and fascinating domains of our time. The possibilities seem endless, but the real challenge lies in their practical application. During the competition, future IT leaders were challenged to combine strategic insight with in-depth knowledge of data and machine learning to solve concrete problems. This also leads to new insights for us and offers the chance to attract IT profiles. For De Lijn, it is truly valuable to participate in this.”
Michiel Mentens, Enterprise Data Management Officer