Looking ahead together: launch of the Tech Trends Report 2028
The insights from the Tech Trends report enable organisations to make strategic decisions and determine which technological developments they wish to focus on in the coming years. This edition is published one year after the launch of the previous report.
Identifying trends together
The new Tech Trends report will be published in October 2027, and its content will take shape over the coming months. The guiding principle is to look ahead together to identify technologies that may influence education and research in the Netherlands.
For this edition, that collaboration is being placed even more prominently at the centre. That is why we have brought together a group of trend curators from vocational education (mbo), higher professional education (hbo), university education (wo) and university medical centres. Drawing on their different institutions, disciplines and experiences, they bring together perspectives that complement and challenge one another.
By jointly identifying trends, asking critical questions and interpreting developments, a picture emerges that is not determined by a single organisation or area of expertise, but is drawn from across the sector as a whole.
From good questions to key trends
During the kick-off, the trend curators got to know one another and discussed the process. Conversations soon arose about the questions that might take centre stage in the coming months. After all, which developments deserve our attention? What opportunities do new technologies offer, but also: what should we be critical of? And should we focus primarily on promising developments, or should we also consider scenarios that are less rosy?
The responses were immediately enthusiastic: “It is precisely by bringing together different perspectives that we can look beyond our own areas of expertise. I hope that, with this report, we can help the sector to look ahead, ask the right questions and then take concrete steps within their own organisations.” And: “A huge number of excellent questions are being asked – things very different from what I would have thought of myself – so I’m really looking forward to it.” *
Over the coming months, the trend curators will meet on a few occasions. They will explore technological developments, share insights and subject each other to critical scrutiny. The aim is not to draw up a list of trends as quickly as possible, but to determine together which developments matter for education and research, and which questions we as a sector need to ask in this regard.
* It has been agreed to follow the Chatham House Rules, which is why no names are given alongside these quotes.
Who are the trend curators?
De group consists of the following profesionnals:
- Alfons Looman, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences
- Anna-Carolina Zuiderduin, Delft University of Technology
- Claudia van Oppen, Maastricht University
- Dorien Sleyfer, ROC Aventus
- Emiel Jansen, Graafschap College
- Frits van der Weerd, Inholland University of Applied Sciences
- Jelle van de Kamp, UMC Utrecht
- Leendert van den Dool, UMC Utrecht
- Lucia Collara, University of Amsterdam
- Mansouraya Pieters, Utrecht University
- Laura Brongers, SURF
- Mark Cole, SURF
- Maud Donga, Fontys University of Applied Sciences
- Monique Mulders, Graafschap College
- René Groen, Windesheim Christian University of Applied Sciences
- Sanna Dijk, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences
- Tijmen Leurs, MBO Digitaal
- Harriët Damen, Leiden University
- Wouter Zaman, Avans University of Applied Sciences
Join us as a visiting curator
Would you like to contribute your perspective to the Tech Trends 2028 process? Visiting curators can join one of the working sessions to share their expertise and perspective with the group.
Would you like to get involved? If so, please get in touch via futuring@surf.nl. Please let us know your role, the organisation you work for, and what knowledge or expertise you’d like to contribute during the session.
| What? | When? |
| Working session 1 | Friday 30 October 2026 |
| Working session 2 | Monday 14 December 2026 |
| Working session 3 | Monday 18 January 2027 |
| Working session 4 | Monday 22 March 2027 |
| Working session 5 | Tuesday 18 May 2027 |
What is the Tech Trends report?
The Tech Trends report is a biennial publication by SURF on technological developments that may be relevant to education and research. The report is based on international trend studies and market reports and is enriched with insights from experts within the SURF cooperative and beyond.
It focuses not only on the maturity and potential of new technologies, but also on the associated social and public values, such as privacy, autonomy, inclusivity and sustainability.
The new edition of the Tech Trends report will be published in October 2027.