Preface
Before you lies the 2023 annual report of ICT-research Platform Netherlands (IPN), the platform that unites scientists in the academic ICT-field and acts as the authority for ICT when comes to questions about future demands, wishes and possibilities of ICT science and how research in this area can be prioritised. In 2025, IPN will celebrate its 25th anniversary, a milestone that will not go unnoticed. The Platform is supported by the Dutch Research Council (NWO).
IPN originated from a small group of enthusiastic scientists and has grown into a mature platform with a board, members, and extraordinary members. It is supported by 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).
IPN has achieved a lot in the past year with the people in the ICT-field. For example, in 2022-2023, a computer science Sector Image and a computer science Sector Plan were written in a short time, the IPN special interest groups were active and the IPN Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Working Group produced a report with recommendations for improving equality, diversity and inclusion in the Dutch ICT-research community. The annual ICT with Industry workshop, with the support of IPN, has again produced a number of innovative solutions for scientifically challenging, commercial business cases. The ICT.OPEN event is now undeniably the leading Dutch event in the ICT-research field, and the Evening Event organised by IPN is a permanent part of this.
With the help and efforts of IPN, in good cooperation with NWO, many connections have been established, networks formed, and cooperation initiated between knowledge institutions, but also outside of them with companies and public organisations. And that is desperately needed. We live in an intriguing time full of challenges. For example, the Netherlands has the ambition to be among the best in the world as a knowledge economy, we must achieve more with fewer resources, and we must live and produce more sustainably. All this requires smart, innovative applications of ICT, while ICT itself is developing at a fascinating pace.
I am proud of what we have achieved with IPN and look to the future of this community with great confidence.
Catholijn Jonker
Read further in the IPN Annual Report 2023 (Pdf)