About Next Generation Infrastructures

Chinese version 

International science and industry are taking on the challenge of preparing networks for the future. Cooperation is the magic word. Our research institute, Next Generation Infrastructures is a platform within knowledge institutions, market players and government organizations working together on current issues, as well as issues that won't be current for another 20 years. Our work involves thinking ahead, solving ‘puzzles’, researching actual cases, taking a critical look at current infrastructures and devising solutions. Infrastructures that perform badly have a significant negative impact on economic growth and cause considerable dissatisfaction among users. The main challenge is to identify the technical and social aspects of infrastructure systems. A dynamic team of scientists from various disciplines and countries are working with policymakers, regulators, managers, investors, designers, contractors and operators in order to develop theories, models and instruments designed to ensure that infrastructures function to their full potential – now and in the future.

Next Generation Infrastructures was established in response to the growing public concern about the future reliability and quality of infrastructure-related services. New approaches to the design, control, management and regulation of infrastructure systems (leaner, and more flexible, reliable and intelligent) are required to counter new risks and vulnerabilities and avoid substantial social costs in the event of infrastructure malfunctions.

Improving by Understanding

Next Generation Infrastructures was established in response to the growing public concern about the future reliability and quality of infrastructure-related services. New approaches to the design, control, management and regulation of infrastructure systems (leaner, and more flexible, reliable and intelligent) are required to counter new risks and vulnerabilities and avoid substantial social costs in the event of infrastructure malfunctions.
International science and industry are taking on the challenge of preparing networks for the future. Cooperation is the magic word. Our research institute, Next Generation Infrastructures is a platform within knowledge institutions, market players and government organizations working together on current issues, as well as issues that won't be current for another 20 years. Our work involves thinking ahead, solving ‘puzzles’, researching actual cases, taking a critical look at current infrastructures and devising solutions. Infrastructures that perform badly have a significant negative impact on economic growth and cause considerable dissatisfaction among users. The main challenge is to identify the technical and social aspects of infrastructure systems. A dynamic team of scientists from various disciplines and countries are working with policymakers, regulators, managers, investors, designers, contractors and operators in order to develop theories, models and instruments designed to ensure that infrastructures function to their full potential – now and in the future.

Why?

In recent decades, the infrastructure sector has undergone radical changes. And that is precisely why we speak of ‘next-generation infrastructures’. We are building a new generation of reliable infrastructures. Understanding how infrastructures develop and behave has become a major scientific challenge. Equipped with this knowledge, we will be better able to develop action strategies and tools for flexible, reliable and intelligent infrastructures.
We are one of the few institutions in the world that carry out integrated research into the working of infrastructures as complex systems. Our research is not restricted to individual components; we research all relevant aspects – technical, social and organisational – and how they relate to each other.
We are convinced that this is the winning strategy for tackling the enormous complexity of current infrastructure problems. Our mission is to understand how infrastructures work and to develop practical solutions that will steer infrastructural developments.

Our office

The research programme is supported by a small team of staff.

Scientific Directors: Prof.dr.ir. Margot Weijnen, Prof.dr.ir. Ernst ten Heuvelhof, Prof.dr.ir. Paulien Herder
Managing Director: Dr. Judith Schueler
Programme support: Connie van Dop
Account manager : Jacqueline Meerkerk
Manager monitoring : Felicita Viglietti
Finance and control : Martijn van Laarhoven en Benito Minnella