Author: Juul Brouwers

The executive board of the NWO Domain Science has appointed seven disciplinary consultation committees, the so-called ‘round tables’. They are made up of researchers, and are intended to ensure that the research field is organised to provide advice to the Domain Science Board.

Solicited and unsolicited input

The Round Table Computer Science invites the research field to deliver solicited and unsolicited input and to draw the Table’s attention to relevant developments in the field, so that the Table is in a position to represent the research field in a well-informed and well-supported way.

Information: Round Table Computer Science | NWO

Contact: Hajo Reijers

Save-the-date announcement: The ICT research platform Netherlands (IPN) exists 25 years. During these 25 years, IPN has created a national community in the domain of ICT research, and it has developed policies and activities to advance the field.

To celebrate the achievements of 25 years IPN, we are organising a special, online series of colloquia in which world-renowned computer scientists give their view on the progress in, and future of the field of computer science. These colloquia wil feature thought-provoking presentations that are of interest to a broad (academic) computer science audience. Although these colloquia are initially aimed at the Dutch computer science community, they are open to interested people around the world!

The first colloquium

The first colloquium will take place on May 19, 2025, 16:00 – 17:00 (CEST). Professor Moshe Vardi (Rice University, USA) will talk about Efficiency, Resilience, and Artificial Intelligence. Details on how to connect to the online talk will follow soon.

Abstract

In both computer science and economics, efficiency is a cherished property. The field of algorithms is almost solely focused on their efficiency. The goal of AI research is to increase efficiency by reducing human labor. In economics, the main advantage of the free market is that it promises “economic efficiency”. A major lesson from many recent disasters is that both fields have over-emphasized efficiency and under-emphasized resilience. I argue that resilience is a more important property than efficiency, and discuss how the two fields can broaden their focus to make resilience a primary consideration. I will conclude by raising serious questions on the goal of the AI research program.

You can read the latest issue of I/O Magazine here.

Previous editions of I/O Magazine can be found on the overview page.

We are happy to report that the election for new IPN board members has been concluded. The 14 IPN members (the ICT departments of universities in the Netherlands) have cast their votes. New this time was the included selection for a Next Generation board member. That board member has the special responsibility to represent the interests of the next academic generation. In alphabetical order these are the new members of the IPN board:

• Balder ten Cate (UvA, next generation)
• Geert-Jan Houben (TUD)
• Dimka Karastoyanova (RUG)
• Judith Masthoff (UU)
• Nava Tintarev (UM)

Of the current board only Marieke Huisman (UT) will stay on.

left to right: Balder ten Cate, Geert-Jan Houben, Marieke Huisman, Dimka Karastoyanova, Judith Masthoff, Nava Tintarev 

The term of the current IPN board members ends in 2025. As this means that a wealth of expertise will depart, the board (with the approval of the IPN members) has decided that during 2025, two new members will officially start right now (temporarily extending the board with 2 additional members), and three new members will officially start in 2026. The new and old board together will work on a smooth transfer of portfolio’s.

March 24, 2025

Preface

The IPN board is happy to present the 2024 annual report of ICT-research Platform Netherlands (IPN), the platform that brings together the scientific ICT-community and acts as a single point of contact when it comes to questions about future demands, wishes and possibilities of ICT science and how research in this area can be prioritised. IPN is supported by the Dutch Research Council (NWO).

IPN originated 25 years ago from a small group of enthusiastic scientists. Over the years, it has changed into a mature platform with a board, members, and extraordinary members. It is supported by NWO employees who work with great passion and enthusiasm. IPN undertakes concrete actions, organises events and discusses ICT-related topics with policy makers, research administrators and other relevant stakeholders. The IPN board includes representatives from ICT research from Dutch universities. IPN members are all computer science research departments of Dutch academic institutions and the Center for Mathematics and computer science (CWI).

With the help and efforts of all IPN members, and in good cooperation with NWO, many connections have been established, networks formed, and cooperation initiated between knowledge institutions, but also outside with companiesand public organisations.

Some highlights of what we achieved in 2024 are:

• The IPN website features a series of portraits of Dutch computer scientists and what drives them.
• We connect young researchers to the work of IPN, by inviting them to our annual strategic dinner (part of NWO ICT.OPEN), and opening a special board member position for a junior researcher.
• We installed the new IPN Distinguished Service award, as a recognition for outstanding service to the IPN community.
• Two new Special Interests Groups (SIG’s) were added; Algorithmics and Complexity, and Human-Computer Interaction. With the creation of these two new SIG’s, we feel that the IPN SIG’s together form a good representation of the scientific ICT community.
• We announced two new IPN courses to support our future academic leader. The course targeting new department heads, potential IPN board members and researchers aiming to have national influence will start in March 2025. The junior course is planned to start in 2026.
• We started an initiative to discuss possibilities for a European sector plan computer science.

For 2025 we will continue with these activities. In addition, we plan to strengthen the communication and collaboration between the IPN board and the SIG’s, as well as between the SIG’s. We also like to further strengthen the work of the Ethics working group, and plan to create a working group that focuses on the well-being of ICT-academics. In 2025, IPN will celebrate its 25th anniversary, a milestone that will not go unnoticed. We will organise various moments to celebrate the achievements of IPN together with the whole scientific ICT community. It is great to see what has been achieved within IPN in the last 25 years, and we believe many more wonderful things will happen in the next 25 years.

Marieke Huisman

Read further in the IPN Annual Report 2024 (Pdf).