On 2 December, the annual 4TU.NIRICT Community Day took place at the Crowne Plaza in Utrecht. With around 45 participants , the day was filled with inspiring discussions, networking, and forward-looking insights into the future of ICT research in the Netherlands.
The event began with a walk-in lunch, followed by the official opening of the Community Day. The program offered a balanced mix of in-depth presentations, interactive sessions, and opportunities to strengthen the 4TU.NIRICT community.
Neuromorphic Computing: A Glimpse into the Future
The first keynote was delivered by Rajendra Bishnoi (TU Delft), who introduced attendees to the world of neuromorphic computing. Dr. Bishnoi demonstrated how brain-inspired architectures offer a promising alternative to traditional, energy-intensive computing systems. Through examples of both digital and analog neuromorphic hardware, the talk highlighted how this technology could lay the foundation for the next generation of intelligent, energy-efficient systems.
(Photo Credit: Media Monkeyz)
Following the keynote, participants engaged in small group discussions on the Future of Computing, which was followed by a lively open-mic session where community members took the stage to share their ongoing research or future plans as well as announcements about the events they are organizing. AGORA-6G, recently funded under NIRICT Research Funding Call 2025, was also presented in this session.
From Idea to Impact
After the coffee break, Claire Visser (4TU Impact) took the stage to present how the 4TU Ideation Labs help researchers turn ideas into real-world impact. The session was engaging and informative, offering clear guidance on how new partners can get involved. Attendees left with practical insights and a clear sense of the Labs’ value in accelerating innovation.
(Photo Credit: Media Monkeyz)
4TU.NIRICT Funded Projects
A key part of the Community Day is the presentation of 4TU.NIRICT funded projects. This year, the following projects were highlighted:
- Measuring and Reducing Carbon Emissions in End-to-End Networked Systems – Antonia Affinito (UT)
- Systems meet AI – Nirvana Meratnia (TU/e)
- DIY Sound Instrument & Frequency Analysis to Promote ICT – Alle-Jan van der Veen (TU Delft)
- Quantum4EnergyNL – June Sallou (WUR)
These sessions showcased the diversity and societal relevance of ongoing ICT research within the 4TU community.
In addition to these projects, many other initiatives have received funding through NIRICT over the past years. A complete overview of all funded projects can be found on our website.
The 4TU.NIRICT Community Day 2025 once again demonstrated the value of bringing together researchers, educators, and innovators. Together, we continue to strengthen a connected and future-oriented ICT community in the Netherlands.
We are already looking forward to the next edition!
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(Photo Credit: Media Monkeyz)