Preface
The IPN board is happy to present the 2025 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 started in 2000 by a small group of computer scientists that saw the importance of collaboration and a joint lobby for the field. Over the years, it has changed into a mature platform with a board, members, and associated members, who are working to strengthen the public view on computer science, as well as the computer science community itself.
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 their help and efforts, and in good cooperation with NWO, many connections are established, networks formed, and cooperation initiated between knowledge institutions, but also with companies and public organisations.
Some highlights in 2025
- We celebrated the 25 years existence of IPN throughout the year, with a series of special online colloquia featuring world-renowned computer scientists: Moshe Vardi, Juliana Freire, Edward A. Lee, Bart Preneel, Marietje Schaake, and Andreas Zeller. These talks reflected on progress and the future of computer science, attracting a global audience.
- Other anniversary activities included launching a redesigned IPN website, handing out the first IPN Distinguished Service Award, celebrating during the IPN strategic dinner at NWO ICT.OPEN2025, and sharing festive moments such as distributing cakes at each SIG’s annual meeting.
- We organised our first leadership training, to prepare senior researchers to take on leadership roles e.g. in their department or within IPN.
- IPN brought the Special Interest Groups (SIGs) together through the first cross-SIG meeting and ensured all SIGs are represented in the KIA Digitalisation advisory board, reinforcing collaboration and strategic alignment.
- IPN maintains regular and constructive dialogue with Topsector ICT on political developments, innovation priorities, industry collaboration, and the National Technology Strategy (NTS) action agendas for AI & Data and Cybersecurity.
- We published the sector analysis update, which provides an interim assessment of the progress made since the implementation of the Sector Plans in 2019 and 2022 and related these at the European level.
- The IPN community actively drives Working Groups (WG) on Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI), Ethics, and Mental Well-being. The EDI Alice & Eve workshop 2025 in Groningen was rewarded with the NWO Diversity & Inclusion Initiative Award in 2025.
For 2026, we will continue with these activities. In addition, we plan to strengthen our profile towards external stakeholders and further improve the communication about IPN to the computer science community at large and investigate how we can help the research community further.
In April 2026, we will close the celebration of IPN’s 25th anniversary.
It is great to see what has been achieved and how IPN has grown in the last 25 years, and we believe many more wonderful things will happen in the next 25 years.
On behalf of the IPN board, Marieke Huisman
- Read further in the IPN Annual Report 2025 (Pdf)