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Research overview: what we focus on

All of our research and education is aimed at making a difference in today’s society while setting up the next generation for the future.

The challenges of our time are greater than before. Scientists, teachers and students of the University of Twente (UT) feel a responsibility to develop societal relevant solutions, in order to be prepared for an unpredictable and highly changeable future.

Our scientific themes

The entrepreneurial mindset and global awareness of our many talented scientists, educators and students lead us to move beyond differences, disciplines and borders. The cross-disciplinary way of working which characterises our university opens up unexpected possibilities - especially in combination with creativity and excellence in scientific disciplines. Our research and education contribute to change, progress and renewal on the following scientific themes:

Our scientific themes
Improving healthcare by personalised technologies

The healthcare sector worldwide faces many challenges. Among the answers emerging in our time is the trend towards personalisation as a means of offering patients more effective treatment.

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Creating intelligent manufacturing systems

The depletion of earth’s resources is pushing us to reduce waste and transportation and to create a more circular economy. Formerly isolated factories and supply chains are merging into so-called Intelligent Manufacturing Systems.

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Shaping our world with smart materials

Today, the challenges society faces call for an entirely new kind of material, with functionalities not yet found in the physical world.

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Engineering our digital society

Digitalisation is forming entirely new worlds, redistributing power, and shaking up our notions of privacy, identity, and democracy.

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Engineering for a resilient world

The UN Global Goals, ambitious and inspiring as they are, reveal a vulnerable planet. Technology can sustainably contribute to the long-term resilience of society.

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High Tech Human Touch

We believe technology and people have a leading role to play in providing solutions for complex societal challenges worldwide. Central to our vision is our High Tech Human Touch philosophy, in which we fuse natural science, data science, biology and engineering with social and behavioural science while maintaining a relentless focus on societal impact. With this unique cross-disciplinary approach and excellence in scientific disciplines, our scientists, teachers and students work every day on our scientific themes.

Research institutes and laboratories

UT is leading in new technology to initiate change, progress and renewal in society. Our talented students, scientists and educators have - together with our business and government partners - access to the best possible conditions. At our innovative campus you will find first-class research institutes and powerful labs focused on:

From knowledge to spinoff

Our leading research institutes combine scientific excellence with a keen eye for commercial knowledge valorisation and social applications. They are successful in generating spin-off businesses. Up to now, this has yielded more than a thousand spin-offs that are often very successful, such as DEMCOM, The Drone Bird Company and SciSports.