OUR FIRST EDITION
Under the motto Wetenschap als brug — La Ciencia como Puente (Science as a Bridge), the first edition of SCIENCE ÑL brought together leading scientists and policymakers from Spain and the Netherlands for keynote lectures and panel discussions. The program explored opportunities for collaboration across academia, industry, and government, addressing shared global challenges and strengthening bilateral ties.
The event concluded with a networking borrel, creating space for informal exchange and new partnerships that leverage the expertise of both countries for mutual benefit.
SCIENCE ÑL took place at the historic Het Trippenhuis in Amsterdam, an exceptional venue with deep cultural and architectural significance. Built between 1660 and 1662, it stands as one of the last examples of Dutch classicism and is listed among the Top 100 National Monuments of the Netherlands. Since 1812, it has housed the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), as well as The Young Academy and the Academy of Arts.
Here you can find our former programme:
Open doors
12h00
Open doors and registration, reception with food and drinks. Showcase of the SCIENTIA exposition.
Institutional Welcome
12h30 – 13h15
Prof. Dr. Marileen Dogterom, President, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW)
Ms. Consuelo Femenía, Ambassador of Spain in the Netherlands, Embassy of Spain in the Netherlands.
Mr. Rodrigo García Valiente, President of the Association of Spanish Scientists in the Netherlands (CENL-SWNL) and President of the Network of Associations of Spanish Researchers and Scientists Abroad (RAICEX).
Mr. Raimundo Pérez-Hernández y Torra, Director of the Ramón Areces Foundation.
Opening lecture – SP
13h15 – 13h30
Opening lecture by Dr. Francisco Colomer,
Former Director of JIVE ERIC (European Infrastructure hosted by the Netherlands in ASTRON/NWO),
former coordinator of the science area for the Spanish Presidency of the EU Council in 2023,
Programs Director at the dDG for International Consortia, Organisms and Research Infrastructures, at the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation. and Universities.
Honorary Member of CENL.
Opening lecture – NL
13h35 – 13h50
Opening lecture by Prof. Dr. Marileen Dogterom,
President of the Koninklijke Nederlandse Akademie van Wetenschappen.
Roundtable Session I
Science as a bridge: collaboration networks.
14h00 – 14h50
Dr. Izaskun Lacunza. Head of the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT)
Prof. Dr. Marileen Dogterom, President of the KNAW
Mr. Rodrigo García, President of RAICEX (Spain), Network of Associations of Spanish Researchers and Scientists Abroad
Prof. Dr. Marco De Baar, director of DIFFER – Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research.
Moderator: Dr. Francisco Colomer (CENL), Programs Director at the dDG for International Consortia, Organisms and Research Infrastructures, at the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation. and Universities.
Roundtable Session II
Emerging Trends in Biomedicine.
15h00 – 15h50
Dr. Esther Peters. Director of Leiden Bio Science Park Foundation.
Dr. Paula Pérez-Pardo. Assistant Professor at the University of Utrecht.
Prof. Dr. Josep Samitier. Director of IBEC and Full Professor in the Physics Faculty, University of Barcelona.
Dr. Eva Moreno. Business developer, Biotech Booster.
Moderator: Dr. Eduardo Guisasola (CENL), Institutional relations officer at CENL,
project manager at Eindhoven University of Technology
Roundtable Session III
Artificial intelligence as a catalyst for change
16h10 – 17h00
Prof. Dr. Raquel Fernández. Professor of Computational Linguistics and Dialogue Systems,
Vice Director of Research at the Institute for Logic, Language, and Computation (ILLC) at the University of Amsterdam.
Prof. Dr. Marcel van Gerven, Head of the Artificial Intelligence department at the
Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour.
Dr. Olya Kudina. Assistant professor of ethics and philosophy of technology at Delft University of Technology.
Mr. Miguel Valle del Olmo. Digital Transformation Attaché, EU Artificial Intelligence
regulatory framework.
Moderator: Dr. Pablo Rodríguez (CENL), Research Software Engineer at the Netherlands eScience Center, Scientific Communicator at Naukas, and translator of the first edition of the Canon van Nederland into Spanish.
Roundtable Session IV
Advances in renewable energies,
eco-sustainability and environmental care.
17h10 – 18h00
Prof. Dr. Laura Villanueva. Head of the Department of Marine Microbiology and Biogeochemistry,
NIOZ Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research.
Prof. Javier Garcia-Martinez. Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Alicante, and former president of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry and the Young Academy of Spain.
Dr. Francisco J. Arjona Madueño. Senior Knowledge Transfer Officer, Faculty of Science, Radboud University.
Mr. Henk Jan Vink. Managing Director of TNO Energy & Materials Transition (EMT).
Moderator: Mr. Antonio Martínez (CENL). R&D manager at SaXcell.
Conclusion
18h00 – 18h10
RAICEX
Spanish borrel & networking session
18h00 – 19h30
Foster connections between academia, industry, and government representatives.
Our Venue
Built between 1660-1662, it is one of the last examples of Dutch classicism in Amsterdam. Its monumental rear facade and historical importance make it a distinguished location for any event. It is part of the Top 100 of the National Service for the Preservation of Monuments given its cultural and historical value.
Since 1812, the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) has resided in the Trippenhuis. It is also the residence of The Young Academy and the Academy of Arts.
Kloveniersburgwal 29,
Amsterdam, 1011 JV
North Holland,
The Netherlands