Karl-Filip Coenegrachts

Smart City Innovation Accelerator Karl-Filip Coenegrachts is responsible for the long-term strategy of Ghent smart city strategy, data and information management, and future urban strategies for Ghent Group.

He specialised in European Law and subsequently worked for the Federal Ministry of Justice as coordinator for the European Union, the UN and Schengen in the field of criminal legislation and home affairs. In 2001, he chose a career in local government, in Ghent as a political advisor to the Deputy Mayor responsible for personnel and IT. He co-founded Digipolis which uses ICT to improve living and working conditions in the city, and Gentinfo , the first local government civil service center in Europe.

As head of the Department of Strategy, Co-ordination and International Relations of the City of Ghent and Chief Strategy Officer in 2015 he is responsible for the long-term strategy of Ghent smart city strategy, data and information management, and future urban strategies for Ghent Group (local government and government agencies in Ghent). He has a special interest in urban trend watching and foresight and founded the City of People concept.
He is currently expert on the Board of Directors of Digipolis, Ghent representative in the Executive Committee of Eurocities, and Member of the Board of the Knowledge Centre Flemish Cities.

Karl-Filip Coenegrachts will talk about his experiences at the conference Co-Creating the City on Thursday 21 June.