Johan Loeckx

deeptech AI expert / songwriter
(Brussels, Belgium)
CORE EXPERTISE
 
AI ENGINEERING

My core expertise is the design of technical AI systems at both the architectural (matching algorithms) and coding levels. I have knowledge and have implemented white-box simulators, symbolic AI, logic programming, machine learning, and hybrid agentic systems.

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

I have performed 35+ R&D projects in AI with industry at the AI lab of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel.  I am an expert reviewer of grant applications and academic journals, a member of several startup advisory boards and have experience in grant writing. Find my publications here. 

LIFELONG LEARNING & TeACHING

I designed two postgraduate programmes (FARI and VUB/ULB), trained 300+ professionals, from policymakers to engineers), taught bachelor’s and master’s AI students, supervised 30+ MA students, 9+ pre-doc, and 6 post-doctoral researchers.

SONGWRITING / PIANO

I composed over 250 songs, of which about 20 have been professionally recorded.

Find my discography here. I also played as  a session musician to several albums. Listen to my music on this website and Spotify.

FULL-STACK SOFTWARE ENGINEERING

I sold my first application for lawyers when I was 16, other softwares later. I understand the full stack from chip to functionality.

I also co-designed the encryption system for exchanging health records for which a patent was filed.

STRATEGIC INNOVATION WITH AI

I guide organisations to develop and implement an AI strategy, rethink their business model to benefit from an optimal human – machine intelligence division of work. 

I offer my expertise as coaching, workshops and masterclasses.

All
AI & technology
Education
Songwriting
amIfit?
Education
stAI – Act before it happens: Preventing and fighting Early Leaving from Education and Training with Artificial Intelligence
AI & technology
Heikki Rasilo – Before I’m covered
Songwriting
Managua – Managua
Songwriting
CyberActive – Strengthening Cybersecurity for Manufacturing & Digital Services
Education
Law
AI & technology
Vitalink / threshold encryption
AI & technology
SAIRE: Smart devices en Artificiële Intelligentie voor REvalidatie
AI & technology
CAsK: Applying distributed multi-agent models for the detection of cyber attacks across the kill chain
AI & technology
A people-oriented AI training through serious game experiences
Education
aSIEMmetry – AI-Powered Entropy Models for Next-Gen Cybersecurity
AI & technology
AI Cake Texture
AI & technology
S.HE goes digital – Executive Master in IT essentials
Education
Rise Again – No Angry Young Man
Songwriting
No Angry Young Man – No Angry Young Man
Songwriting
Paris Rains – No Angry Young Man
Songwriting
Postgraduate “AI for the Common Good”
Education
WORK EXPERIENCE

July 2015 till today

Head Applied R&D – Artificial Intelligence Lab, VUB, Brussels

30+ R&D projects with Collibra, AXS Guard, Federal police, Puratos,…
Training of employees from the European Parliament, Telenet

2023

Curriculum design for “S.HE goes digital”, Executive Master in IT essentials

2019

Co-organiser of BNAIC, the Belgian-Netherlands AI conference

2013

Co-founded the second Freinet school in Brussels

2009 – 2012

IT consultant in the research department of Smals
I focused on high availability & scalability. In this function, I co-designed the encryption system to securely exchange patient data in Flanders.

2011

Patent filed for the treshold encryption scheme to secure patient health records exchange in Flanders.

2010

PhD in micro-electronics (computer-assisted design), K.U.Leuven

2009

No Angry Young Man‘s first album

2004

Created iCall, software for billing and routing telephone calls

2004 
2003

Master in Artificial Intelligence, K.U.Leuven
Ba & Master in Electronics engineering, K.U.Leuven

1996

First “startup“: a software suite for lawyers

1992

Initial fiddling with AI, rebuilding classics like ELIZA, SHRDLU & expert systems
My passions

Songwriting, education and AI

Artificial Intelligence

I started programming in 1990 when I was 10 years old, after I got a little bit bored from playing computer games on a Commodore 64. I sold my first software application to lawyers when I was 16, to manage their cases.  Soon I started dreaming of intelligent software that would give more interesting and autonomous answers. So I went to the library and tried to recreate AI classics like SHRDLU, Eliza and Bayesian expert systems. It was quite crappy, to be honest, especially because I lacked the mathematical and software engineering background. However, the passion for AI stayed. I studied electronic engineering (MSc) at the K.U.Leuven where I took many AI classes, continued with a one-year Master in AI, and a PhD at K.U.Leuven University, where I used AI-like algorithms and simulators to model the effect of Electromagnetic Radiation on Integrated Circuits and to improve their resilience to it. After my PhD, I thought “never back to academia”! However, I was asked to work on a project combining my three passions. I then returned to academia to work at the Artificial Intelligence Lab of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, where I currently lead a small “Applied Research” team comprising three postdoctoral researchers and five PhD students.

Education

Figuring out how I could best put myself at the service of society, have a positive impact, took me quite a long time. Thanks to a dear friend, I’ve converted to strongly believing in the value of education, and doing it right. I had the luck to experience different educational systems, both in regular education (Freinet, classic) and music (Orff, classic solfège) and this richness has never left me. I’ve since attempted to share my experiences and my passion, in teaching but also in designing programmes and adapted learning experiences for lifelong learners.

Music

My biggest passion, however, is songwriting: putting words to melodies and music. The contribution of the arts, and music in particular, to the wellbeing of people and societies cannot be overstated . (We tend to forget as it’s always there). Music is extremely rewarding as composition and playing involves the “whole” of you and concerns the physical, psychological, emotional, and philosophical. I have composed and contributed to songs as well as played in sessions for different artists. Please find my discography here on Discogs.

johan@sarandib.ai

EMAIL
Linkedin
Spotify
Medium
GET IN TOUCH

If you have a project that you think might interest me, or you think I might be of any help, please contact me!

Mail Me
johan@sarandib.ai
Visit Me
FARI, Brussels
EMAIL
LINKEDIN
INSTAGRAM
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