Kintsugi

Kintsugi embodies an ancient Japanese technique that revalues broken objects by repairing their imperfections using a special lacquer mixed with gold, silver or platinum powder. As a broader concept, it also stands for resilience, the acceptance of change and the celebration of what is imperfect, temporary and incomplete. This approach is often seen as a metaphor for the trials of human life and encourages us to recognise and appreciate scars rather than hide them.

The integration of the concept of Kintsugi with the theme of health in the Belgian Pavilion offers an enriching perspective on healing and recovery. In terms of health, Kintsugi can be seen as a powerful metaphor for the healing process, emphasising not only resilience but also the beauty and value that can emerge from recovery following illness or injury.

Image
© Created with AI by @Profirst (Member of the VJ Consortium)

The consortium

Who is behind the design? 

The consortium for the Belgian Visitor Journey at Expo 2025 Osaka comprised a number of highly capable and internationally renowned Belgian companies specialising in aerospace materials and experience design.

Dirty Monitor

Dirty Monitor is an artists' collective founded by Orphée and Mauro Cataldo in Charleroi in 2004. Together, they developed their first artistic projects for local cultural centres and museums. Pioneers in digital art and video mapping, their high-profile collaborations with leading Belgian artistic directors such as Luc Petit and Franco Dragone have enabled them to spread their expertise around the world.

Profirst

Profirst is a Belgian events and communications agency founded by Bruno Pani in 1989. Combining artistic direction, strategy and top-of-the-range production, each event is designed as an effective communication lever to reinforce the brand's image. Specialising in luxury, fashion and beauty, Profirst enjoys a worldwide reputation thanks to its many international clients.

Tempora

Tempora is a Belgian agency specialising in the design, production, promotion and management of exhibitions and cultural facilities. Based in Brussels, it develops major projects both in Belgium and internationally. Every year, the company welcomes more than 800,000 visitors to all the sites and exhibitions it operates.

Showtex Asia

Active in the entertainment and events industry since 1983, Showtex is the world leader in the invention, manufacture, sale and installation of innovative fireproof curtains. Its sewing workshops enable rapid production of top-of-the-range, made-to-measure scenic elements. Also, a supplier of technical elements and stage lighting, ShowTex is an excellent example of Belgian know-how, in constant search of innovation.

Barco

Founded in 1934 in Poperinge by Lucien de Puydt, Barco began by assembling radios from parts imported from the United States, hence the name ‘Barco’ (Belgium American Radio Corporation). Today, Barco is still a Belgian company specialising in digital projection and imaging technology. It focuses on three main markets: entertainment, business and healthcare. With more than 400 patents to its credit, Barco develops innovative solutions to bring added value to its customers around the world.

Belgium

Belgium continues to make a significant global contribution to vaccine development and it is recognised worldwide for its extensive expertise, which extends far beyond the production of these life-saving vaccines. Belgium has a comprehensive ecosystem that integrates every critical phase of vaccine development and distribution, enabling it to remain at the forefront of innovation in global health.

At the heart of this ecosystem are the academic institutions that conduct pioneering research, thereby laying the foundations for new discoveries in the field of vaccines. This research is seamlessly translated into practical applications through robust research and development efforts, transforming promising discoveries into viable vaccine candidates. Rigorous clinical trials are conducted to ensure the safety and efficacy of these vaccines, a process in which Belgian institutions excel. Once a vaccine has been proven effective, leading Belgian pharmaceutical companies take charge of large-scale production, utilising state-of-the-art technology and stringent quality controls.

The journey of a vaccine from the laboratory in Belgium to the patient anywhere in the world is supported by Belgium’s advanced logistics network. Efficient transport systems and advanced refrigeration capabilities ensure that vaccines are distributed quickly and safely and that they retain their efficacy until they reach healthcare providers. Belgium’s expertise in global exports is another crucial element of this ecosystem, with an established reputation for navigating international regulations and delivering vaccines to every corner of the globe. This overall framework is further strengthened by favourable government policies offering financial support, tax incentives and streamlined regulatory processes, thereby fostering an environment in which innovation and the distribution of vaccines can thrive.

Brussels

During a walk through the Brussels section, visitors were able to catch a glimpse of the progress Brussels has made in the field of medical robotics. Brussels aims to establish itself as an innovation hub for medical robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) and is demonstrating impressive advances that are transforming healthcare. The unique combination of academic excellence, cutting-edge research institutions and a thriving technological ecosystem positions the city at the forefront of this dynamic field. With a focus on the development of intelligent systems, Brussels is pioneering the integration of robotics and AI to improve medical procedures and patient outcomes and streamline healthcare.

A key example is Axiles Bionics, a company that has revolutionised the field of prosthetics with advanced joint solutions. Axiles Bionics is a spin-out from the Vrije Universiteit Brussel and has developed groundbreaking prosthetics that combine AI and haptic technology to create highly functional and adaptive bionic joints. Their revolutionary framework has earned them the prestigious Henry Van De Velde Design Award, highlighting their excellence in design and innovation.

Brussels’ collaboration with FARI, a Brussels-based institute that places general well-being at the heart of AI, data and robotics research, highlights the city’s commitment to fostering interdisciplinary partnerships and using AI to push the boundaries of medical technology. These initiatives form part of a broader movement in Brussels to integrate advanced robotics into healthcare, as illustrated by the city’s upcoming exhibitions featuring advanced exoskeletons. These wearable robotic devices have the potential to drastically improve the mobility and rehabilitation of patients with physical disabilities, highlighting yet another facet of Brussels’ leadership in the field of medical robotics.

Flanders

Flanders chose the theme ‘Cycle of Life’, inspired by the innovative ‘Body of the Future’ concept recently developed by Health House (the health technology experience centre in Leuven) with the support of the Medvia innovation cluster and many other partners. The exhibition showcased Flemish expertise in health technologies and took visitors on a compelling journey through human life, from birth to old age. The exhibition focused on the entire human lifespan and demonstrated how Flanders’ advanced medical technologies support and improve health at every stage of life.

The exhibition demonstrated how advanced technologies can assist and improve human life at every stage, even before birth in the womb. Visitors learnt that Flanders offers advanced diagnostic and treatment technologies that help tackle the complex health issues faced by adults. The journey concluded with an exploration of innovations in elderly care, illustrating how health technologies in Flanders improve the quality of life and independence of older people. The exhibition focused primarily on recently developed health technologies, but also looked to the future, where the boundaries of human possibility will continue to be pushed.

Flanders’ expertise in health technology is evident not only in the development of these innovations, but also in the holistic approach to healthcare that seamlessly integrates this progress into daily life. The exhibition highlighted Flanders’ specialisation in creating technologies that accompany and support the human body at every stage of life, from cradle to grave, and which ensure a continuum of care that adapts to the changing needs of individuals.

Wallonia

Wallonia opted for an exhibition on artificial intelligence in healthcare, with a focus on ‘digital twins’. This technology makes it possible to tailor treatments to the unique genetic and physiological characteristics of each individual.

A digital twin is a virtual model built from a collection of as much medical data as possible about a human individual or a specific organ, on which the effects of certain medicines or external factors, such as a change in lifestyle, can be virtually simulated through the application of AI models. The applications are vast, such as discovering new medicines and designing new diagnostic tools. Wallonia, which is at the forefront of the development and implementation of these advanced AI simulations, wants this futuristic topic to be understood by the general public.

To this end, the Walloon Agency for Export and Foreign Investment and Wallonie-Bruxelles International (which coordinate Wallonia’s and the Wallonia-Brussels Federation’s participation in the Osaka Expo) are collaborating with TRAIL (Trusted AI Labs) and MedReSyst (Network and Systems Medicine) to promote the progress being made in this sector.

TRAIL

The TRAIL Institute (Trusted AI Labs) brings together the expertise of all the French-speaking Belgian universities and the 4 research centres active in AI (Multitel, Cetic, Sirris, Cenaero). The idea is to unite the strengths in the field to accelerate cutting-edge AI research and training, with the aim of stepping up the take-up of AI by businesses and public services.

MedReSyst

MedReSyst is the medical branch of TRAIL. It also brings together the 5 French-speaking universities, the Multitel and Cetic research centres and a number of key hospitals, and aims to develop the tools needed to implement network and systems-based medicine, making it possible to understand the patient as a whole and improve his or her care from screening to treatment.

How can this be achieved? By centralising and analysing databases using several levels of artificial intelligence. From the DNA genome to environmental influences, everything is intertwined as a cause of disease. The MedReSyst initiative aims to understand all these interactions in order to find the best way to treat as many diseases as possible.

Illustration Digital Twins

The illustration below showcases Digital Twin technology in healthcare, a field where Wallonia excels. Data from sensors and a patient’s biological analyses are used to create a digital twin, predicting their response to treatment. Tailored to each individual, these predictions help doctors personalize care. The process is a virtuous loop: post-treatment data further refines the model.

Wallonia is a key player in this innovative sector, home to pioneering companies and universities. The illustration highlights mature technologies (in blue) versus those in development (pink), underscoring the region’s commitment to cutting-edge progress.

Credits:
Deward Adeline, Illumine (www.illuminesciences.be)

Preventing illness.

The Pavilion highlights Belgium's ability to develop and implement technologies and strategies to prevent disease and promote health on a global scale, including innovations in vaccination and disease surveillance. Adapting the human organism so that it reacts better to its environment and strengthening its immunity to counter certain diseases requires major innovations in processes and therapies. Vaccines, the theme chosen by Belgium's federal government, are a perfect illustration of this challenge.

Repair.

This curative vocation is expressed through healing mechanisms (medicines, prostheses, etc.) and the development of new tools for researchers and medicine. Artificial intelligence is playing an increasingly central role in the research process, as demonstrated by the theme chosen by Bruxelles-Capitale, as well as the technology of digital twins, highlighted by the Walloon Region. These virtual models make it possible to collect and compare data to study the impact of medical processes on an individual.

Pushing back the limits of human life. 

This challenge concerns all phases of life, from the fight against infertility, to the development of regenerative gene therapies (speech, memory, etc.), or ways of enabling ageing populations to live in good health. This sub-theme is the contribution of the Flemish Region.

The Belgian mascot

BeluBelu, the mascot of the Belgian pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka, was designed around the concept of a cell, the building block of all life. As a symbol of growth, connection and transformation, this mascot welcomed visitors on special occasions.