Ben De Coninck Email & Phone Number

Brussels, Brussels Region, Belgium

Brussels, Brussels Region, Belgium

Doctoral researcher exploring how open innovation approaches (e.g., ecosystems, triple helix models, living labs, crowdsourcing) can accelerate digital transformation in the public sector. Joint research program at Vlerick Business School, KU Leuven, and the Royal Military Academy of Belgium.Notable collaborations:• For 2 years, I served as an advisor to the Chief of Staff of the Federal Minister of Defense and Public Service on topics related to digital transformation and innovation in federal administrations.• I served as an expert for the advice of the Flemish Advisory Council for Innovation (VARIO) to the Flemish Government on a Buy-from-Startups program.• I collaborated with the Federal Cabinet of Public Service, the FPS Policy and Support (FOD BOSA), and Digipolis Antwerpen (the public, not-for-profit ICT service provider of Antwerp) to deliver workshops on Innovation Procurement to public managers in Belgium. This work was endorsed by the Belgian Minister of Defense and Civil Service.• I collaborated with OECD to validate and refine the OECD framework on 'Core Skills for Public Sector Innovation' with digital government experts from EU countries.• I collaborated with the Association of Flemish Cities and Municipalities (VVSG) and the Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG) to explore how municipalities can leverage crowdsourcing to accelerate digital innovation.• With Bundl (a corporate venture development firm) I developed an instrument for innovation contests in large organizations that can be tailored & fully customized.

Brussels, Brussels Region, Belgium

Practitioner-oriented researcher focusing on topics related to digital transformation, including: co-creation, business process reengineering, IT strategy, and IT-business alignment.Notable collaborations:• I facilitated the first Deep Orange program at Arcadis (a leading asset design and consultancy firm). Deep Orange is a co-creation week based on design thinking and design sprints methodology to tackle challenges of ecosystem partners.• I worked with Fagron (a multinational healthcare company) to develop a teaching case on IT strategy, IT governance, and IT-business alignment. The case is targeted at executive audiences in business schools.• I collaborated with multiple large Belgian banks to deliver trainings and consultancy services on issues related to privacy & security, ecosystem innovation, and fintech.• I trained various organizations (incl. Danone, Eurocontrol, TOMRA) on business process modelling, management, and reengineering.

Brussels, Brussels Region, Belgium

I worked alongside Belgium's Public Sector Partner to shift the operating model from a traditional bodyshopper to a strategic partner for public administrations in Belgium. We developed and deployed a go-to-market strategy that leverages bottom-up thinking (i.e., starting from real-world cases) and top-down thinking (i.e., starting from DXC's global offerings).Notable projects and achievements:• I developed and deployed an Account Plan for DXC's consulting activities targeting the Flemish Government (a DXC platinum account generating over $50 million a year). The Account Plan included: the value proposition, a solutioning catalogue, identification & quantification of opportunities (incl. quick wins), resourcing pyramid, and flanking measures (e.g., competences).• I was responsible for the design and roll-out of a large-scale onboarding program for the registration of COVID-19 vaccinations in Belgium (Flanders, Wallonia, Brussels, German-speaking community). Activities included: coordinating across agencies at various governance levels, mapping and streamlining processes, developing learning & development artefacts, and setting up a national service desk.• I co-led the development of a new offering focused on the digitalization of transactional processes in government through low code technology. Methodologies included: design thinking, business process reengineering, and rapid prototyping.• I led negotiations of a new corporate partnership between DXC Technology and a Belgian ICT service provider. The partnership focused on digital transformation in the public sector by targeting greenfield opportunities.

• I grew the Dutch-speaking community to over 800.000 accounts, averaging around 160.000 active users on a monthly basis.• I recruited and managed a support team of 15 people to manage the end-to-end operations of the community (handling over 1000 monthly tickets; averaging a first response time of 3 hours; and achieving a customer satisfaction score (CSAT) of 92%).• I collaborated with other departments (e.g., product management, development, marketing) to achieve sustainable growth in the community.

• I co-developed the strategy and processes of the newly-established student organization focused on social entrepreneurship.• I identified and negotiated with organizations for strategic partnerships.

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd, Business Economics

Research on how open innovation approaches can accelerate digital transformation in the public sector. Joint research program at Vlerick.

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd, Social And Military Sciences

Research on how open innovation approaches can accelerate digital transformation in the public sector. Joint research program at Vlerick.

Executive Education, Digital Leadership

Executive education program (targeted at senior executives) on formulating and implementing transformational change through digital.

Executive Education, Mastering It Management

Executive education program (targeted at business and IT managers) on IT management from a strategic, tactical, and operational perspective.

Master’S Degree, General Management

Master's degree focused on managerial aspects of organizations. Recipient of the Vlerick scholarship for entrepreneurial attitude.

Summer School, Public Finance

Summer school focused on key policy issues related to the spending, taxing, and financing activities of governments (incl. welfare.

Master’S Degree, Business Economics

Bachelor and Master's degree focused on diverse domains of organizations, with a specialization in strategy and innovation.

Summer School, European Politics And Policies

Summer school focused on the structures, policies, and decision-making processes in European Union institutions.