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Global researchers, policymakers, civil society, and innovators are invited to gather in Groningen to shape sustainable futures beyond 2030.
If it were up to brands like Tesla or Mercedes-Benz, self-driving cars would be the new normal in the future. But is it really safe for a vehicle without a driver to circulate in regular traffic? To gain a better understanding of the challenges posed by autonomous vehicles, the RDW (Netherlands Vehicle Authority) is organizing the Self Driving Challenge. A team of students from the UG is taking part.
In collaboration with the Jantina Tammes School of Digital Society, Technology & AI (University of Groningen), DASH: Data Science Center in Health (UMCG), and EVRgreen Studio, 8D is launching a public-private research project.
What can artificial intelligence learn from a court case? A great deal, says Professor of AI Bart Verheij. According to Verheij, intelligence is all about the exchange of arguments, just like in the courtroom. ‘My dream is that experts from as many other fields as possible will help to develop AI.’
Blockchain and artificial intelligence are impressive technologies, but they are far from miracle solutions to our societal problems. That is the argument made by Malcolm Campbell-Verduyn, a researcher at the University of Groningen. In this episode of the JTS Scholar Series, he calls for a broader public debate on how technology is developed and applied. Universities, he argues, have a crucial role to play in that conversation. ‘The academic community has become too reactive.’
With the support of the JTS Grassroots Grant, a round-table session was recently organized on the use of AI systems in healthcare and mobility. The meeting at the Law Faculty of the University of Groningen on March 27 led to new insights and opportunities for future research.
‘That’s a good question.’ Or: ‘Let me get back to you.’ Evasive or non-answers are everywhere. UG scientist Sasan Mansouri uses language models to detect and analyse evasive language used by listed companies. In this episode of JTS Scholars, he talks about his work.
Through the new ‘serious game’, set in the fictional VITAI hospital, children learn about the influence of humans on artificial intelligence. At the House of Connections in Groningen, the first group of supervisors recently got to work with the game.
Bayu Jayawardhana controls robots with mathematical formulas. He does this, for instance, in the new project FARMLAB, in which various types of agricultural robots work together to monitor crops in real time.
The University of Groningen is among the world leaders in the field of Systems and Control. At the Jan C. Willems Centre for Systems and Control, researchers from the University are working on the mathematics behind a wide range of applications, such as high-tech manufacturing processes or a knee prosthesis.
As societies strive to meet the challenge of decarbonisation, a variety of technological, institutional and social innovations are changing the way we live our lives. Two major transformations are particularly important today: the green transition and the digital transition.
Sepide Taleb builds brains (embedded control systems) for tiny robots that operate in a swarm. Together, they can inspect pipes or bridges for structural faults. Designing and testing these brains is a challenge. ‘Some work on software, others on hardware. My job is to do both and design a robot that is robust enough for practical use.’
Will you join this year and involve curious residents of Groningen in your research? Are you joining (again) this year with an experiment, mini-lecture, installation, workshop, debate, science show, or do you have another idea? Or are you taking this opportunity to collect data or get participants interested in your research? (Read about the experiences of Francesca Bulian and Jesca de Jager in this article.) If so, please sign up using this form by May 15, 2026.
On April 2nd 2026, the Second National Congress on Autonomous Systems took place in Drachten. It brought together scientists, technology suppliers, businesses, and policy-makers to explore the potential of autonomous systems and how we can deploy them responsibly and effectively.
The scientific career of Dario Rodighiero, Assistant Professor of Science and Technology Studies at the UG, is difficult to confine to a single discipline. Combining computational techniques with design, he explores how complex information can be made visible. In this episode of the interview series JTS Scholars, Rodighiero discusses his work.
Artificial intelligence is no longer a distant prospect for criminal justice — it is already processing intercepted communications, summarising witness interviews, predicting recidivism, and authenticating evidence in court. Yet current AI systems cannot explain their outputs, be cross-examined, or produce reliable results across different cases.
From tailor-made shaving tools to personalized healthcare: the potential of autonomous robots, especially when they work in teams, is huge. How do we control the decisions these complex systems make so that they can operate safely and efficiently? Professor of Networks and Robotics, Ming Cao (Faculty of Science and Engineering), and his team are working hard to find out.