Second nextMaterials Scientists get-together - 22 May 2026

Second nextMaterials Scientists get-together

Are you interested in doing research in materials?
Are you up to meet your peers in the Netherlands?
Are you searching for possibilities to collaborate?
Are you eager to learn more about funding possibilities for your research?  

Preliminary Programme

13:00 – 13:30 Introduction by the next 4TU.HTM Committee
13:30 – 14:30 Funding possibilities & Impact Strategy for materials scientists in the Netherlands - Presentation by the Dutch Research Council (NWO)

Break

15:00 – 16:00 "This is what I do, what's in it for us" - Pitches* by early-career materials researchers 
16:00 – 17:00 Networking with drinks & bites

^{* We will facilitate pitches of max. 5 min, depending on the number of pitches we will select.}

Early-career pitch session
Are you working on an exciting research idea, looking for collaboration, and exploring new opportunities in academia? Apply for the early-career pitch session of the nextMaterials Scientists get-together in which we aim to create a dynamic space to share knowledge and ideas, to connect, and to inspire!

During this session, participants will have the opportunity to present their work and reflect on key questions such as:

• What am I doing, or what do I want to do?
• What do I need to push my research forward?
• Who are potential academic partners in the Netherlands?
• What can I offer in a research collaboration?

It is a chance to sharpen your ideas, discover synergies, and build meaningful academic partnerships. Whether you are at an early stage or already developing a project, your perspective is valuable.

Sign up, be part of an engaging discussion, share fresh insights, and take the opportunity to connect with fellow researchers within the field of materials science and engineering.

What is the next4TU.HTM Committee?
The next4TU.HTM Committee is a board of enthusiastic, early-career materials scientists and engineers, part of the 4TU.Centre High-Tech Materials (4TU.HTM). The Committee has been established to build and serve a thriving, diverse, and inclusive materials science and engineering community in the Netherlands. It is composed by members of TU/e, TU Delft, UTwente, WUR, and RUG.

nextMaterials Scientists get-togethers
The first nextMaterials Scientists get-together was held on 3 October 2025, and brought together about 25 early-career materials scientists. Together with representatives of the Materials innovation instutute (M2i) they discussed some funding possibilities for materials research in the Netherlands, and  the support M2i offers connecting industry, academia and research institutes across the Netherlands and Europe.

Furthermore, one of our early-career researchers shared their experiences, after which we continued talking over a drink. This turned out to be a meeting concept that should be repeated. Let's get-together again on the 22nd of May!

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