§Workshop · Brussels

New technologies for evidence-based policy making

A free afternoon workshop during the IARIW 39th General Conference week, co-organized by the Axiom Foundation and PolicyEngine with CAPE and BEAMM. Where tax-benefit microsimulation is heading: open models, simulation-ready microdata, and law encoded as executable, cited rules — with the people who run the models inside Belgian government.

Register — free
WhenThursday 27 August 2026, 13:00–17:00
WhereUCLouvain Saint-Louis, Room P02 — Boulevard du Jardin botanique 43, 1000 Brussels
CostFree and open — registration requested
FormatTalks, a live demo, and a roundtable — coffee on both ends

Program

  • 13:00
    Coffee and arrivals
  • 13:30
    Welcome

    Tom Truyts (CAPE, UCLouvain Saint-Louis) and Max Ghenis (Axiom Foundation and PolicyEngine).

  • 13:45–14:35
    BEAMM: Belgium's open microsimulation platform

    Talk and live demo — Tom Truyts, CAPE / UCLouvain Saint-Louis.

  • 14:40–15:30
    From open models to executable law: PolicyEngine and Axiom

    Open US and UK models, simulation-ready microdata, and encoding and certifying policy rules — talk and live demo — Max Ghenis, Axiom Foundation and PolicyEngine.

  • 15:30–16:00
    Coffee break
  • 16:00–17:00
    Roundtable: AI and new technologies for open, evidence-based policy making
    • Hélène Latzer — UCLouvain Saint-Louis (moderator)
    • Koen Algoed — Secretary General, Budget and Finance Department, Flemish Region
    • Jean-Baptiste Traversa — Head of microsimulation modelling, Federal Public Service Finance
    • Tom Truyts — CAPE, UCLouvain Saint-Louis
    • Max Ghenis — Axiom Foundation and PolicyEngine
  • 17:00
    Walk together to the IARIW reception

Venue and access

UCLouvain Saint-Louis is a ten-minute walk from the National Bank of Belgium conference venue. Enter via the car park at Rue des Marais 119: walk to the back-right corner, through the “Préfecture” door — Room P02 is immediately to the right. At 17:00 we walk together to the IARIW reception.

Co-organizers

The Axiom Foundation and PolicyEngine, with CAPE and BEAMM at UCLouvain Saint-Louis. Questions: hello@axiom.org.