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).