[en] The Walloon Region adopted its own AI strategy in 2019, called DigitalWallonia.4ai. This paper analyses it and explores the coproduction (Jasanoff, 2004) of AI adoption and of Wallonia’s future by means of Jasanoff and Kim’s (2009) concept of sociotechnical imaginary. Given its industrial history, the Walloon Region is an interesting case to analyse the interplay of cultural traits, artefacts, and imaginaries, which has been scarcely explored in the interpretive literature on AI. Studying this Region also contributes to the broadening of the scope of research on sociotechnical imaginaries. A document analysis was conducted, along with interviews of prominent AI promoters. The data were interpreted through discourse analysis, and tropes were used as heuristics to reconstruct the desirable future at the heart of the imaginary. The results show that the latter is entrepreneurial and deeply embedded (Jasanoff, 2015b) with the Region’s economic history and connected with transnational, continental, and national imaginaries.
Research Center/Unit :
Spiral Institut de la décision publique UR Cité
Disciplines :
Sociology & social sciences Social & behavioral sciences, psychology: Multidisciplinary, general & others Political science, public administration & international relations
Author, co-author :
Flore, Nathan ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de science politique
Language :
English
Title :
“A Train We Can’t Miss” for Economic Recovery: The Sociotechnical Imaginary of Artificial Intelligence in the Walloon Region
Publication date :
15 May 2026
Journal title :
Science and Technology Studies
eISSN :
2243-4690
Publisher :
The Finnish Society for Science and Technology Studies, Helsinki, Finland
F.R.S.-FNRS - Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique Fondation Roi Baudouin. Fonds David-Constant
Commentary :
La présente contribution a reçu le prix du médaillé
David-Constant (indication de l’année de la promotion). Ce prix est décerné à une
contribution scientifique rédigée dans l’année qui suit sa proclamation par le lauréat de la
Médaille David-Constant. Cette médaille récompense le meilleur étudiant en droit, en science
politique ou en criminologie, pour l’ensemble des résultats obtenus au cours de ses études à
la Faculté de Droit, de Science politique et de Criminologie de l’Université de Liège.
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ii Identities are one of the “four main sites of coproduction” investigated by the contributors of the “States of Knowledge” (Jasanoff, 2004: 6).
iii Question of M-M. Schyns of 5 November 2021, C.R.I.C., Walloon Parliament, 2021-2022, n°116.
iii Question of M-M. Schyns of 5 November 2021, C.R.I.C., Walloon Parliament, 2021-2022, n°116.
iv See also Question of E. Lomba of 5 November 2021, C.R.I.C., Walloon Parliament, 2021-2022, n°117; Question of M. Hardy of 12 March 2021, C.R.I.C., Walloon Parliament, 2021-2022, n°310; Question of M-M. Schyns of 17 November 2021, C.R.I.C., Walloon Parliament, 2021-2022, n°64; Question of J. Kampopole, C.R.I.C., Walloon Parliament, 2019-2020, 11 October 2020, n°17, p. 20; Question of E. Fontaine, C.R.I.C., Walloon Parliament, 2016-2017, 2 May 2017, n°163, p. 41.
v The Grappes technologies were set up after the release of the Prométhée project (1998-2000), which consisted in an assessment of innovation fields in Wallonia, supported by the European fund of regional development.
vi Décret wallon du 18 janvier 2007 relatif au soutien et au développement des réseaux d’entreprises ou clusters, Moniteur belge, 9 février 2007; Arrêté d’application du gouvernement wallon du 16 mai 2007, Moniteur belge, 13 juin 2007.
vii Décret-programme du 23 février 2006 relatif aux actions prioritaires pour lavenir wallon, Moniteur Belge, 7 mars 2006.
viii ARIAC is also part of Wallonia’s economic specialisation strategy as it is aimed at strengthening the position of Walloon companies in specific sectors.
ix Décret-programme du 23 février 2006 relatif aux actions prioritaires pour l’avenir wallon, Moniteur Belge, 7 mars 2006.
