The Dutch Prize for ICT Research 2024 has been awarded to Dr. Ivano Malavolta, associate professor in the Software and Sustainability Research group at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Malavolta is at the helm of research into energy-efficient robotics software.
In an era in which robotization is flourishing in the high-tech industry and autonomous robots, such as self-driving cars and drones, are on the rise, energy consumption in these systems is becoming a crucial design consideration, including for the software that controls these systems. The development of ‘green robotics software’ is growing at a rapid pace. Malavolta has undeniably made substantial progress in this innovative field of computer science. The prize comes with a sum of €50,000, which the winner may use freely to strengthen his research.
The jury for the Dutch Prize for ICT Research 2024 consists of Prof. Dr. P. (Patricia) Lago, VU, Prof. Dr. ir. P. (Paris) Avgeriou, RUG and G.A. (Grace) Lewis PhD, Carnegie Mellon University (USA), supervised by Dr. ir. M.J.M. (Marc) de Jong, KHMW, was impressed by the versatile range of a total nine entries of exceptional quality. The jury decided to declare Malavolta the winner because, as an outstanding scientist with excellent leadership qualities Malavolta managed to expand the scope of his research far beyond his field of expertise.
The prestigious Dutch Prize for ICT research is awarded annually to a scientific researcher who has carried out innovative research or who has been responsible for a scientific breakthrough in ICT within 15 years of earning their PhD. Since 2023 the prize is funded by almost all members* of the ICT research platform Netherlands (IPN) with a grant from COMMIT\, through the Royal Holland Society of Sciences and Humanities (KHMW). In addition to the above-mentioned prize money for the winner. Dr. Malavolta will record a video to explain his award-winning work and its significance. This will be distributed to schools and other knowledge institutes.
Malavolta will receive his award at a ceremony during ICT.OPEN2024, which will take place on 10 and 11 April 2024 in Utrecht.
The previous winners of the Dutch Prize for ICT research are:
- Dr. Cristiano Giuffrida– VU University (2023)
- Dr Jasmin Blanchette – VU University (2022)
- Dr Felienne Hermans – Leiden University (2021)
- Dr Pablo Cesar – Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI) (2020)
- Professor Elmar Eisemann – Delft University of Technology (2019)
- Professor Joost Batenburg – CWI / Leiden University (2018)
- Dr Peter Schwabe – Nijmegen University (2017)
- Professor Alexandru Iosup – Delft University of Technology/ VU Amsterdam (2016)
- Dr Birna van Riemsdijk – Delft University of Technology (2015)
- Professor Marieke Huisman – University of Twente (2013)
- Dr Cees Snoek – University of Amsterdam (2012)
- Professor Bettina Speckmann – Eindhoven University of Technology (2011)
About KHMW
The Royal Holland Society for Sciences and Humanities was founded in 1752. Its goal is to promote science and to build bridges between science and society. It does so by holding competitions, presenting awards for scientific achievements, organizing lectures and staging scientific conferences. The Royal Holland Society for Sciences and Humanities has been based at Hodshon House in Haarlem since 1841. www.khmw.nl
* Except WUR