📅 When & where
April 16, 2026
🕒 15:15–16:15 hrs
📍 De Doelen, Rotterdam, 3.12 Van Beuningen Zaal
Track chairs
- Geoffrey Nelissen (TU/e)
- Suzan Bayhan (UT)
In this session organized by 4TU.NIRICT, we will have a closer look to the role of ICT in the National Technology Strategy (NTS) of the Netherlands.
The goal of the session is twofold:
- Highlight emerging research and innovation directions in line with or supporting the NTS
- Identify what we, as the ICT community, need to realize the NTS ambitions.
We aim to identify current ICT research initiatives that can be built upon and generate new collaborations & teams to pursue the NTS goals.
Program
- Opening and welcome by Geoffrey Nelissen (TU/e) and Suzan Bayhan (UT)
- Keynote on National Technology Strategy of the Netherlands: Action Agendas by Frits Grotenhuis (Digital Holland)
Dr. Frits Grotenhuis is director of Digital Holland (https://digital-holland.nl/) since 2021. Digital Holland (previously known also as Topsector ICT) initiates, supports and coordinates research and innovation in and with digital and information technologies, based on her knowledge and innovation agenda the KIA Digitalization (https://kia-digitalisering.nl/). Priorities for Digital Holland are embedded within the national technology strategy (NTS), a policy framework for the Ministry of Economic Affairs with regard to innovation policy. In his talk, Frits will further elaborate on the digital action agendas AI / Data and Cybersecurity Technologies, including cross-overs to other NTS agendas. - Quantum4EnergyNL project
- Preparing Dutch Logistics SMEs for Machine Learning: From Intuition to Data-Driven Decision by Job Vogels (Fontys Applied University)
Small and medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) play a vital role in the Dutch national economy; however, many logistics SMEs still rely on intuition driven decision-making and fragmented information systems. In an environment characterized by increasing data availability and rapidly changing market conditions, this reliance on such practices limits operational efficiency, resilience, and competitiveness. Machine Learning (ML) and AI technologies are vital for SMEs to transition toward data driven operations, but adoption remains low due to concerns about cost, skills, data readiness, and organizational impact.
This whitepaper proposes a structured and pragmatic roadmap approach tailored to logistics SMEs. It outlines key economic, environmental, and societal benefits, including cost efficiency, improved forecasting accuracy, optimized logistics planning, and reduced environmental impact. Drawing on practical examples, the whitepaper demonstrates that small-scale, targeted AI initiatives can deliver measurable benefits within short implementation horizons. At the same time, we address common barriers such as data quality, integration complexity, workforce acceptance, and the need for cultural change toward evidence-based decision-making.
By following this roadmap, logistics SMEs can strengthen operational efficiency, improve sustainability performance, and build a more adaptive organization prepared for an AI-enabled future.
- Discussion and Q&A
We invite everyone to participate in the session and hope to see many of you on April 16, 2026!