About NGInfra

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 organisations work 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.

NGInfra 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.

Embrace complexity!

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. Our approach is based on the concept of complexity as a scientific challenge. The aim is not to find a solution to complexity, but to take it as the starting point for scientific research at NGInfra. In other words: embrace complexity!

Information and communication technology has pervaded all traditional infrastructures. As a result, infrastructures are more intelligent, but also more vulnerable. Our ‘new economy’ is dependent on reliable infrastructure services. Technological innovation has led to new infrastructure services, such as cable internet and cable telephony. It has also led to the spatial clustering of infrastructures (e.g. at transport nodes, and cables in sewer pipes). The open-market policy of the European Union has led to important institutional changes. Last but not least: society has become much more critical with regard to the environmental effects of infrastructures and infrastructure-related services.

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.

Technical and social approach

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 partners

Collaboration is a key word at NGInfra. We are working with national and international partners to create the next generation of infrastructures. We also work with experts in the field, who regularly volunteer their advice or provide advice on request.

Our Scientific Advisory Board monitors the scientific quality of the programme. Together, we assess the quality of project submissions and decide whether to approve them.

In addition to a Scientific Advisory Board we have a User Council. This group of experts monitors the social relevance of NGInfra’s scientific knowledge base, and the dissemination of results by NGInfra to users.

Our office

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

Scientific Directors: Prof.dr.ir. Margot Weijnen and Prof.dr.ir. Ernst ten Heuvelhof
Managing Directors: Dr. Judith Schueler and Prof.dr.ir. Paulien Herder
Programme Manager: Dr. Leslie Zachariah
Communication team: Marieke de Ruijter (Consultant); Nina Rang (Consultant) and Angelique Nauta (Assistant)
Secretariat: Gerrie van de Beek
SinfraS coordinator: Niels Goos