The Osaka World Expo has just closed its doors and the results are particularly positive for Belgium, whose pavilion was awarded the bronze medal. This is a great recognition for the teams of Louviérois architect Cyril Rousseau, who designed the pavilion, and all those who worked on its scenography, dedicated to the health of the future. This unique immersive experience was created by the Charleroi-based studio Dirty Monitor and highlighted Wallonia's excellence in AI, with a focus on digital twins.
The Belgian pavilion attracted nearly 900,000 visitors over the six months and organized more than 140 events combining culture, gastronomy, and innovation. This third place out of 160 countries rewards Belgium for its bold and successful interpretation of the Expo theme, “Designing tomorrow's society for our lives.”
Alongside Germany (silver) and Italy (gold), the Bureau International des Expositions praised our country for the excellence and consistency of its architectural design, based on the theme of water, and its scenography, centered on the concept of “human regeneration.” A pavilion that reflects Belgium: visionary, human, and focused on a future where science heals, supports, and elevates.
“This recognition is a tribute to Belgium's expertise and creativity, to the dedication of our teams, and to the spirit of collaboration that made this pavilion possible,” said Pieter De Crem, Commissioner General of the Belgian pavilion. “Today, as Expo closes its doors, we look back with pride and gratitude and forward with hope for the future that this Expo has helped to inspire.”
A World Expo, much like a global forum, is above all a place where countries can share their vision of the world and society of tomorrow. A future where science and innovation can improve lives, while remaining at the service of humanity.
The Charleroi-based studio Dirty Monitor, which specializes in video mapping, teamed up with the creative events agency Profirst (Rixensart) and the agency Tempora (Brussels) to design a powerful scenography that is both poetic and rich in meaning. They drew inspiration from Kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold, exploring the art of restoring, improving, and prolonging human life.
An immersive dive into the heart of tomorrow's technologies: those that prevent disease, repair the body, and push the boundaries of what is possible. Through cutting-edge innovations in biotechnology, medical research, and pharmaceuticals, Belgium is establishing itself as a key player in global health. Wallonia and the Wallonia-Brussels Federation have chosen to place particular emphasis on artificial intelligence applied to healthcare and digital twins, which are set to revolutionize medicine and well-being. This work has been made possible thanks to the expertise and enthusiasm of the TRAIL and MedResyst teams.
TRAIL (Trusted AI Labs) mobilizes AI research and innovation for the socio-economic development of Wallonia and Brussels, in collaboration with universities and research centers.
MedReSyst, a strategic initiative of Wallonia, promotes 4P medicine (Personalized, Preventive, Predictive, and Participatory), combining biological, environmental, and clinical data with AI to refine patient care.
The World Expo in Osaka, Japan, attracted more than 27 million visitors between April 13 and October 13, 2025. The next World Expo is scheduled to take place in 2030 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Photo credits ©WBI, J. Van Belle
Marie Ledru (AWEX)
