Between Human and Machine: Reflections on Knowledge for Growth 2025

On May 8th, valantic colleagues Eddy Peeters and Kasim El Bastani attended Knowledge for Growth 2025 in Antwerp. They returned with insights that were both nuanced and hopeful: about AI, health, innovation, and, above all, the role of humans bringing it all together.

Those expecting a conference about “growth” to center on exponential technologies and artificial intelligence might have been surprised. Knowledge for Growth 2025 turned out to be surprisingly human-centered—and, in a sense, grounded. The AI hype that dominates other sectors took a backseat here. And that might be precisely why this event remains relevant.

Two Paths, One Story

Within valantic, Eddy and Kasim split up to enable the coverage of different tracks. Eddy dedicated himself in the more scientific sessions, where academics and researchers spoke about the latest advancements in cell therapy and diagnostics for personalized medicine. Kasim chose the business tracks, where strategists, policymakers, and startups discussed market access, investments, and the structural challenges facing the sector.

Both perspectives complemented each other – and revealed an intriguing tension between technological innovations, regulations, ethics, liabilities, costs, and the social impact.

Where’s the AI and Big Tech?

The absence of AI as a main protagonist was immediately noticeable. Yes, AI was present in supporting forms – think pattern recognition in imaging or simulations in molecule development. But nowhere was the technology presented as the game-changer it is often claimed to be in other sectors.

Eddy remarked: “You could feel a great respect for the complexity of the human body among the researchers. AI was viewed as a tool – never as an autonomous player. The people in the room were just as important as the models on the screen.” Kasim, who followed more of the economic side, confirmed this sentiment: “In business sessions, AI came up mainly as an aid that helps the specialist and the patient, but certainly not as a catch all solution.”

Big Tech on the other hand definitely took its place during the event. A striking example: the recent announcements from Apple bringing certified and FDA approved hearing aid features to its AirPods product line was mentioned multiple times in different sessions. Not a total surprise, on the one hand, Big Tech is crossing the consumer electronics space into the MedTech one, because there simply consumer demand for it. But on the other hand, it opens discussions about trust and liability. What if such a device makes a mistake? Who is responsible? The user, the doctor, or the tech giant? Or what if a doctor would ignore the data from such a device? “Those are not trivial questions,” noted Kasim. “Especially in a health context, today human interpretation still weighs more than an algorithm. People forgive other people faster than they forgive machines.”

Interesting also considering this topic is that Big Tech doesn’t completely own this market and probably never will be, leaving also room for innovative start-ups.

Concrete Applications and Realistic Enthusiasm

The presentations showcased a wide variety of topics. From evolutions on existing treatments around microbiome, to novel biocompatible and bioresorbable polymers in the treatment of breast cancer – the creativity and scientific depth switched with business impacts were tangible. But just as tangible was the realization that technology is a means, not an end. Eddy shared: “In many sessions, you heard: ‘Technology combined with knowledge is vital however we still face challenges with xyz.’ That kind of openness was refreshing.”

In one business track, a speaker talked about the “last mile” of innovation – the moment when a technological breakthrough must be socially embedded. Kasim explained: “That’s where you often see uncertainty and or resistance. Not because the technology fails, but because people hesitate. And that’s okay. Technology needs time to mature—and trust must be earned.”

Connection in the Service of Care

What stands out after a whole day of panels, pitches, and discussions? For Eddy and Kasim, it’s the belief that the future of healthcare needs technology but must be used in a correct way: safe and according to the sometimes-tedious guidelines we all love to hate. Startups and scale-ups often spoke about impact, not just revenue. Prevention, sustainability, ethics, and social acceptance are becoming increasingly central to make sure the huge costs are kept under control.