Principal Summit Themes

The Summit program is organised around the following principal themes, reflecting the multidimensional nature of systems competencies and workforce development.

01 Policy Theme: Global Systems Context and Needs

This theme explores the policy and strategic context in which systems competencies have become a critical national and international capability. It addresses how growing system complexity, digitalization, AI, and geopolitical pressures reshape economic resilience, innovation capacity, and public trust.

Chair: Jeroen Dijsselbloem, Major of Eindhoven, Chair Brainport Development, former Chair of the Dutch National Growth Fund, President of the Eurogroup, Minister of Finance of the Netherlands;

Associate Chair: Monika Hoekstra, Managing Director Dutch NxtGen HighTech Program;
Invited speakers and suggested topics, tbc

Summit Highlight Keynote: Future Competitiveness depends upon Systems Sovereignty

Policy Keynotes with broad transformational Messages, tbc

02 Highlight Impulse Presentations: Impact of the digital Ecosystem upon global economic and industrial Transformations

The evolving digital Ecosystem – Driver for industrial and social Innovation and the interplay of AI, Software, Autonomy/Automation, Cybersecurity & Robotics

Quantum computing, a fundamental Capability to accelerate complex Systems Analyses, Modelling/Simulations, Architectures, Design and Implementation.

Highlight Panel: Effects of Growing Complexity and Technology Advances upon future Systems Workforces

03 Industry Implementation Theme: System Competencies – as Drivers of Industry Innovation

This theme addresses the practical role of systems competencies in industry, where complex products and services increasingly evolve into software-defined, AI-enabled Systems of Systems.

Chair: Jan van Vlerken, Senior Vice President System Engineering, ASML
Focus Panel: What kind of Systems Workforce Qualifications does Industry need to cope with future System Challenges? Short interventions from different viewpoints

04 Academia and Education Theme: System Competencies Education needs a Paradigm Shift

Focusing on education and talent pipelines, this theme examines how universities and training institutions must rethink curricula, pedagogy, and collaboration with industry to meet growing systems workforce demands.

Chair: Prof. Emma Sparks, Rector and Dean, University of New South Wales, Australia;
Associate Chair, Prof Rob Vingerhoeds, ISAE SUPAERO
Special Netherlands Session, Chair: Peter Stolk, Chair Netherlands HighTech Program;
Focus Panel: How to accelerate the Systems Education Workforce Pipeline?

05 Government and Agencies Theme: Policy Guidance and Systems Implementation

This theme looks at the role of governments and public agencies as both users and producers of systems competencies, particularly in large-scale programmes such as space, defense, energy, transport, and public infrastructure.

Chair: Prof. Larry D. James, Lt Gen, USAF (Ret), Strategic Advisor SmartSat Cooperative Research Centre, former Deputy and COO of NASA JPL;
Associate Chair: David Nichols, CALTECH, former Director Systems and Software, NASA JPL;
Focus Panel: What do Industry and Universities expect from Governments and Agencies?

 

06 Professional Organizations Theme: Cooperation for growing scarce System Workforces

This theme explores how professional organizations can cooperate across disciplines and sectors to support lifelong learning, standards alignment, certification, and global knowledge exchange.

Chair: Clay Mowry, CEO American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, AIAA, Past President International Astronautical Federation, IAF;
Focus Panel: How can Professional Organizations support the needed Growth of System Workforces?