A behind-the-scenes look at the Research Day
Carole Grootenboer is the programme manager of the SURF Research Day. Each year, she works with a programme committee to create a programme that combines content and connection. “Researchers and research support professionals work closely together, but they view the same work from very different perspectives. Bringing those two worlds together is exactly what sparks new insights.”
One community, shared challenges
Most visitors to the Research Day work in support roles, such as data engineers, data stewards, or data specialists. They come from a wide range of domains, from astronomy to healthcare, from social sciences to climate research. Yet their questions are remarkably similar. “Whether you work in healthcare or astronomy, everyone struggles with the same things. How do I deal with ever-growing volumes of data? How do I use AI responsibly? How do I stay up to date in my field? Those shared challenges are exactly what we build on.”
From needs to programme
The programme is not created behind a desk, but in conversation with the community. After the summer, Carole assembles a programme committee of SURF colleagues with subject-matter expertise and broad networks. Together, they explore what’s happening in the field. “We always start with the question: what will bring people to Hilversum? This year, we also asked participants directly. Almost half responded and shared the challenges they face. We used that input to shape the programme.”
Call for Proposals
This year’s open Call for Proposals resulted in no fewer than 65 submissions for 30 slots.“We have to make sharp choices. That also means rejecting strong proposals. But the bar is high and that’s exactly why the programme is strong.”Two criteria guide the selection: is it concrete enough to act on the very next day? And is it innovative enough to fit SURF?
From innovation to practice
The balance between practice and innovation is reflected in the programme. ASTRON will show how they collect and process data from the LOFAR radio telescope, the largest in the world, using SURF services. Not a theoretical story, but real-world practice at an enormous scale.
There is also strong attention to everyday practice. A university of applied sciences will demonstrate AI tools for sustainability research. Not whether you can use AI, but how, and what it delivers.
“Technology is evolving at a rapid pace. That also demands something from the people working with it. How do you keep up? How do you adapt your curriculum? These are topics we explicitly address this year.”
Connecting Minds
This year’s theme, Connecting Minds, takes shape particularly in the new format of challenge sessions. Participants can submit their own challenges in advance. This input has been translated into 6 central themes: digital autonomy, sovereign AI, open science, skills, data quality, and research infrastructure. “In these sessions, we bring together people with similar questions, as well as those who are further ahead. No presentations, but dialogue: that’s how real exchange happens.”
“We facilitate the meeting. But the knowledge is already in the room.”
Research Support Luminary Award
This year also features a special moment during the day. The Research Support Luminary Award highlights innovators in research support: people whose work inspires others and raises the bar for the entire field. This year saw 13 nominations. The winner will be announced during the Research Day.
A growing event
The SURF Research Day has become a fixed highlight in the research community’s calendar. Each year, spots fill up faster, even before a single session is announced.
“A large number of spots are already reserved before the programme is known. That says a lot about the value people attach to it.”
This year, the SURF Research Day will take place on Tuesday, 19 May 2026, at Gooiland in Hilversum. Want to join? Register here SURF Research Day 2026 | SURF.nl
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