Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica

🌟 Join the CWI Spring School Control Theory and Reinforcement Learning 2025🌟 Are you an advanced Master's student, early PhD researcher, or professional passionate about control theory and reinforcement learning? Join us this spring for an exceptional opportunity to learn, collaborate, and contribute to breakthroughs in these rapidly evolving fields. 🎓 Programme Highlights Spring School (17–21 March 2025): 📍 Turing Hall, CWI, Amsterdam A preparatory PhD-level course designed for advanced Master's students and early PhD researchers, covering foundational and advanced techniques in these intertwined fields. Workshop (24–25 March 2025): 📍 Turing Hall, CWI, Amsterdam Engage with professionals and contribute to discussions on current challenges and opportunities across control theory and reinforcement learning. 💡 Why Attend? CWI’s research semester programmes are a platform for collaboration, innovation, and discovery. This edition offers students, (junior) researchers and professionals unparalleled access to leading experts, fresh perspectives, and the chance to contribute to meaningful advances in science and society. 💻 Register now: https://lnkd.in/eU-2_mDu Tag your colleagues, peers, and students! 🌐 #ControlTheory #ReinforcementLearning #PhD #SpringSchool #CWI #Amsterdam #ResearchLeadership

Great news 👏! Work by our Distributed & Interactive Systems Group (DIS) | Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI) in collaboration with Delft University of Technology and USI researchers has been recognized with the Best Demo Award at the 23rd International Conference on Mobile and Ubiquitous Multimedia (MUM 2024), held in Stockholm, Sweden.   The award-winning demo, titled “MobiTouch: Enhancing Pneumatic Wearable Haptics with Vibrotactile Actuation,” showcases a remarkable leap in haptic technology. Spearheaded by TU Delft master’s student Mark Kruijthoff as part of his master’s thesis, MobiTouch combines pneumatic and vibrotactile technologies to deliver richer, more dynamic touch sensations. 🏅 Congratulations Mark Kruijthoff and the entire team, including supervisors Abdallah El Ali (CWI/Utrecht University, NL), Himanshu Verma (TU Delft, NL), Sebastian Günther (@Urban Software Institute, DE), and Kaspar Jansen (TU Delft, NL), for their dedication and innovation. Read more on our website: https://lnkd.in/evx-smuN

It's Purple Friday today 💜! Schools are marking the day by celebrating diversity, including sexual and gender diversity 🌈. It's about embracing who you are, whatever your identity, hobbies, skin colour, beliefs, or who you love. #purplefriday #diversity #lifeatcwi

This week, CWI PhD student Willem Feijen has successfully defended his thesis, "Fast, Right, or Best? Algorithms for Practical Optimization Problems." Feijen's research, conducted at CWI’s Networks and Optimization group, focuses on optimizing algorithms for real-world challenges such as route planning, logistics, and resource allocation. By integrating machine learning into traditional optimization methods, Feijen developed innovative approaches, including enhancements to Dijkstra's algorithm, making route planning faster and more efficient. He also tackled industrial-scale challenges such as optimizing resource allocation in metal foundries and improving grocery delivery routes under strict constraints. This research could lead to cost savings and reduced environmental impact in logistics. Congrats, Willem! 🎉 Read more about Feijen's research in his PhD thesis: https://lnkd.in/drfzG2Yx The PhD defence took place at the University of Amsterdam on 9 December. Picture: Willem Feijen (in the middle) with his paranymphs Ruben van Vliet and Sophie Klumper (CWI). (Own picture.)

How can computers 🖥 help us get the best deal 🤝 for us and for the other party? CWI group leader Tim Baarslag told the audience at the completely sold-out Gala van de Wetenschap on 7 November how AI is already used to bid on houses 🏘️. After his presentation dancers Hannah Creutzburg and Merel van Vliet did a 'negotiation dance' 💃 . You can watch it here ➡️ ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eEnwT2Tz (video by Robin de Ridder) "𝙄𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙮 𝙛𝙪𝙣 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙘𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙧𝙩, 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙡 𝙣𝙚𝙜𝙤𝙩𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙝𝙚 '𝙤𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙡 𝙣𝙚𝙜𝙤𝙩𝙞𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚' 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙣 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙤𝙛 Internationaal Theater Amsterdam!", Tim says. Tim Baarslag currently investigates how negotiation AI can coordinate multiple deals. This research is part of an NWO Vidi grant, called COMBINE: Coordinating Multi-deal Bilateral Negotiations. 🔗 https://bit.ly/43JdcgE Gala van de Wetenschap is organized by New Scientist.

⏳ 9 𝐃𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐋𝐞𝐟𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐗𝐑 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓! ⏳⁣ ⁣ Don’t miss this unique opportunity to learn from experts in immersive technologies and Social XR 🌐💡 ⁣ Join us for insights into the latest challenges, trends, and future possibilities of Social XR! 🧠💡⁣ ⁣ ⚠️ 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞: December 15th, 2024⁣ 📝 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐧𝐨𝐰: https://lnkd.in/dk7jDra4 ⁣ Don’t miss your chance to be part of this unique experience on #SocialXR organised by our Distributed & Interactive Systems Group (DIS) | Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI)! 🚀⁣ ___________________________________________⁣ ⁣ 📆 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬: April 7th-10th, 2025⁣ 📍𝐋𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: CWI, Amsterdam⁣ Science Park 👥 𝐎𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐬: Silvia Rossi Irene Viola Thomas Röggla Omar Niamut Pablo César https://lnkd.in/gqvXQRae

We’re reflecting on a great Dijkstra Fellowship event last November, which drew a fantastic crowd of database enthusiasts! 🎉 In this aftermovie, Dijkstra Fellow and Snowflake co-founder Marcin Zukowski shares memories of his time at CWI and valuable lessons from his journey in tech. Special appearances 🎥 by Carnegie Mellon University professor Andy Pavlo and Madelon Hulsebos 🎬. ✨ https://lnkd.in/eGZ5KFCs ✨ More information 🔗 https://bit.ly/4glTBKc #databaseArchitecture #analyticalDatabase #warehouseArchitecture #data #dijkstraFellowship #databaseResearch

To help organizations prepare for Q-Day - the day when quantum computers can break certain widely used cryptography - the General Intelligence and Security Service (Algemene Inlichtingen- en Veiligheidsdienst - AIVD), CWI’s Cryptology group and TNO have published a renewed handbook for quantum-safe cryptography. During the Post-Quantum Cryptography Symposium in The Hague yesterday, 3 December, this handbook was officially presented to Zsolt Szabó, Minister for Digitalisation and Kingdom Relations. This updated and expanded second edition of the PQC Migration Handbook provides the latest developments and practical advice for transitioning to a quantum-safe environment. Ronald Cramer (CWI and Leiden University), head of CWI’s Cryptology group, emphasizes the importance of “acting now, not later,” reflecting the symposium series’ theme. He adds: "With the first NIST PQC standards now finalized, this episode marks an important step towards international collaboration. The next challenge lies in aligning legislation, governance, and technical innovation across Europe. We hope future editions will further expand this platform." 🔗 Read more > https://lnkd.in/dCuaYtfw #PQC #cryptography #Q-Day

White Paper Highlights the Potential of Neuromorphic Computing in the Netherlands 🧠💡 We’re excited to share the release of the white paper “Neuromorphic Computing in the Netherlands,” coordinated by Johan Mentink of Radboud University. This paper underscores the country’s significant expertise in brain-inspired computing and advocates for a national coalition to coordinate efforts in this transformative field. 👉 Why Neuromorphic Computing? As traditional IT faces growing sustainability challenges, neuromorphic computing offers a game-changing solution. By mimicking the brain’s ability to process and store data simultaneously, this technology promises energy-efficient, high-speed data processing—addressing global concerns around energy, climate, and security. 👉 A Collaborative Effort The white paper showcases the Netherlands’ vibrant ecosystem of academic institutions, industries, and startups driving neuromorphic innovation. Among the diverse experts, CWI's Sander Bohté, Group Leader of the Machine Learning research group and professor University of Amsterdam contributed to outline the future perspective on neuromorphic algorithms and applications. 👉 Looking Ahead The paper is a call to action to establish Neuromorphic Computing NL, a coalition to align efforts across AI, quantum computing, photonics, and more. It also sets the stage for an international fact-finding mission, fostering global collaboration on brain-inspired technology. 👉 Explore Neuromorphic Computing, read the white paper to learn more: https://lnkd.in/eUUbkECD #Innovation #NeuromorphicComputing #Sustainability #BrainInspiredTech #EfficientAI Image: Shutterstock

👏 We are proud to announce that the CWI's Distributed & Interactive Systems Group (DIS) | Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI) is part of a TU Delft-led research project which aims to break down barriers for the 1 in 4 Dutch affected by disabilities, received a 3,2 million euro NWO (Dutch Research Council) PERSPECTIEF grant. Even though disabilities such as a visual or hearing impediment are relatively common, those affected regularly, encounter problems when trying to access or share information. This can lead to social inequality and exclusion. Ahead of the introduction of the European Commission's Accessibility Act in June 2025, the TACIT research project aims to change this. TACIT is focused on Inclusive Technologies for Access and Social Participation. Researchers will develop new technologies, such as artificial intelligence, virtual reality and augmented reality, which makes digital services more accessible to people with disabilities. The Distributed and Interactive Systems (DIS) research group at CWI combines data science with XR technologies and user-centric research to design intelligent, empathic systems. Their focus on user experiences and interactive communication directly advances accessibility by creating systems that adapt to diverse user needs and improve inclusivity in digital environments. The two applicants from DIS are Prof. Pablo César, leader of the group and Professor of Human-Centered Multimedia Systems at TU Delft, and Dr. Abdallah El Ali, tenured research scientist at CWI and Assistant Professor at Utrecht University. We look forward to working together with research parters TU Delft | Industrial Design Engineering, TU Delft | Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science, Koninklijke Auris Groep, Nederlands Gebarencentrum, Accessibility Foundation, KB nationale bibliotheek, Nederlands Instituut voor Beeld en Geluid and Berengroep! Read more https://lnkd.in/ejdnxbQt