Stay up to date with the BIGDATPOL research programme. Our bi-annual newsletter offers background insights, project updates, and the latest developments from our team. Explore the current and past editions below.

1 December 2025

Robin Khalfa was nominated for Cybercrime Researcher of the Year at the Belgian Cyber Security Awards, held at the Africa Palace in Tervuren and organised by the Cyber Security Coalition.

His research focuses on predictive models, explainable AI, and the use of diverse data sources to study and address cybercrime, urban security, and related forms of digital and hybrid crime. The nomination reflects ongoing work within BIGDATPOL to develop empirically grounded, data-driven approaches to understanding and responding to cybercrime.

Congratulations to all the category winners!

12 November 2025

Prof. Hardyns received the “Brilliant Failure” Award at the iBestuur Congress on AI and Government in Utrecht, recognising the 2023 predictive-policing pilot conducted with the police of Zennevallei. The jury highlighted the study as a valuable learning experience that demonstrates the importance of understanding frictions and obstacles when developing responsible AI for policing. These insights now inform the ongoing BIGDATPOL research programme and support the next steps toward realistic and accountable AI use in the public sector.

6 November 2025

The first BIGDATPOL doctoral degree was awarded under the supervision of Prof. Wim Hardyns. Robin Khalfa—now Dr. Khalfa—successfully defended his dissertation, “Predicting Crime in Place and Time: Comparing Models, Spatial Context, Data and Interpretations.” His research investigates how emerging data sources and artificial intelligence can be leveraged to predict spatiotemporal crime risks across various European cities.

6 February 2025

During the annual IUNGOS members’ meeting in Brugge, Professor Wim Hardyns was honoured with the prestigious Innovation Award 2024. This recognition underscores his commitment to innovation and security, particularly through the BIGDATPOL research programme.

The award serves as a strong motivation to continue advancing the research, focusing on developing innovative and AI-driven security solutions based on big data.

Our thanks to IUNGOS, its members, the Board of Directors, and Chairman Chris Bombeke for this esteemed recognition.

12 September 2024

The BIGDATPOL research team presented a pre-arranged panel during the 24th Annual Conference of the European Society of Criminology in Bucharest.