Exploring Tomorrow's Connected World

Join us on 7 April 2025 at the University of Twente as the EDGE Research Centre, a hub of innovation advancing the frontiers of connectivity, decentralized data processing, and intelligent systems, opens its doors. This event brings together leading academics, researchers, and innovators to explore groundbreaking networking, computing, and intelligence developments and their transformative potential for society.

From real-time decision-making in autonomous vehicles to self-optimizing smart cities and factories, the EDGE Centre is where foundational research meets real-world impact. Pushing intelligence closer to where data is generated, enabling faster, more secure, and energy-efficient systems. 

ABOUT THE EDGE CENTRE 

The EDGE Centre is a multidisciplinary research and collaboration hub where over 100 researchers, industry experts, and government partners work together on: 

• EDGE Computing: Advancing decentralized and efficient data processing. 
• Communication Technologies: Designing secure and high-performance networks. 
• Sensing Systems: Creating intelligent, context-aware devices for a connected world. 

By focusing on localized data handling, the Centre aims to enhance system performance, sustainability, and privacy—laying the groundwork for smarter and more resilient technologies. 

EVENT DETAILS 

Date: 7 April 2025 

Location: University of Twente, De Waaier  

Time: 10:00 – 16:00 hrs 

Program Highlights 

10:00 – 10:45 hrs | Welcome & Introduction to the EDGE Centre 
10:45 – 11:15 hrs | Coffee Break & Networking 
11:15 – 12:30 hrs | Research Highlights: Collaborative Projects at the EDGE 

Experts from innovation partners TNO, Datacadabra, ASTRON (Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy), alongside EDGE researchers, share insights on showcase projects, including Modular Sustainable Data Centers, Smart Construction Sites, and AI-powered programmable hardware for scientific signal processing—from phylogenetics to radio astronomy. 

1. Sustainable Computing Infrastructures: Modular Integrated Sustainable Data Centers (MISD)

By Suzan Bayhan (EDGE | University of Twente) and Elena Lazovik (TNO) 

As cloud adoption and data-processing demands continue to rise, data centers have become a cornerstone of the modern digital economy. However, with increasing need to meet climate targets, it is time to rethink how these infrastructures can be designed, deployed, and operated to be more environmentally sustainable. This talk presents our research and development efforts within the Modular Integrated Sustainable Data Centers (MISD) project, supported by RVO under the IPCEI-CIS initiative. 

2. Exploring programmable hardware with AI engines for scientific signal processing: from Phylogenetics to Radio Astronomy. 

By Steven van der Vlugt (Astron) and Nikolaos Alachiotis (EDGE | University of Twente)

More info will be added soon.

3. Smart Construction Sites featuring ECOLOGIC and Datacadabra 

By Gert Jan Naber, Ties Traanman (Datacadabra) and Rob Bemthuis (EDGE | University of Twente)

Sustainable infrastructure construction requires smart coordination of logistics and emissions. The ECOLOGIC project explores how data-driven technologies can optimize construction processes while reducing environmental impact. In this session, we introduce the ECOLOGIC project, followed by a presentation from Datacadabra on their applied use cases for emission control on construction sites. Supported by TKI Dinalog and the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, this initiative brings together industry and research. 

12:30 – 13:15 hrs | Networking Lunch 
13:15 – 14:00 hrs | Interactive Research Deep-Dive: Young talent presents innovative research in: 

• Networks: Envision a 6G network and the continuously evolving internet. Advanced, fine-grained networks will seamlessly integrate sensors and AI, unlocking groundbreaking applications yet to be imagined. Ensuring their security and sustainability is more critical than ever. 
• Systems: Computing is no longer confined to large data centres. By seamlessly distributing computing functions across the entire continuum—from edge to cloud, from sensor to data centre—we can revolutionize the sustainability and performance of modern ICT infrastructure. This intelligent approach unlocks new possibilities, enabling new applications across industries. 
• Intelligence: Advanced sensing systems and AI are transforming how we understand and interact with the world. By bringing intelligence to the edge, we can enable faster, more efficient, and sustainable solutions—while ensuring that sensitive data stays private where it matters most. 

14:00 – 15:00 hrs | Breakout Sessions: Translating Research into Impact – fostering interdisciplinary discussions and collaborations. Join the thematic session on Networks, Systems, or Intelligence. 

15:10 – 15:25 hrs | Wrap-up and closing 

15:25 – 16:30 hrs | Networking drink 

Stay tuned for additional updates to the program! 

WHY ATTEND? 

• Engage with leading-edge research in networked systems and intelligent technologies. 
• Gain insights into how academia and industry collaborate to tackle key challenges in connectivity, security, and sustainability. 
• Network with researchers, industry leaders, and policymakers shaping the future of connected systems. 
• Discover opportunities for collaboration with the EDGE Centre and explore funding prospects. 

WHO SHOULD ATTEND? 

This event is tailored for: 

• Researchers and academics seeking collaborative opportunities and insights into emerging fields. 
• PhD candidates and early-career researchers looking to connect with peers and mentors. 
• Business leaders looking to partner in developing transformative technologies. 
• Industry professionals interested in the latest advancements in computing and intelligent systems. 
• Policymakers and stakeholders exploring sustainable and secure technological solutions. 

POSTER PRESENTATIONS