Futuring
Reports and publications
Publication - 08 October 2025
1. Tech Trends report 2026
What are the most important digital trends and innovations for education and research? You can read it in the new Tech Trends report. Our biannual trend report helps you make the right innovation choices in a complex world. Experts from universities, universities of applied sciences, mbo's umc's and SURF worked on it, to paint as broad a picture as possible.
Publication - 24 April 2025
2. Ethical risks (and opportunities) of personalised education with AI
What will higher education look like in 2040 if AI personalises education? In a new ethical risk report, written as part of SURF's Future Campus project, students Nati Sack and Ben Little outline a future where AI fully tailors students' learning pathways to their wants and needs.
Publication - 06 March 2025
3. Introducing the concept of quantum communication
Quantum communication offers unprecedented opportunities for the security and reliability of digital infrastructures. But what does this mean for education and research? In our new white paper, we provide insights into the principles, applications and global developments of quantum communication.
Publication - 1 October 2024
4. Game-Based Learning: discover the future of learning
Game-based learning (GBL) makes learning more fun, motivating and personal with digital and analogue game techniques. In our white paper, you as a teacher, educational innovator or policymaker will discover the opportunities of GBL and how to apply it in practice. By working together and embracing this innovative approach, we create education that is not only more modern and effective, but also more focused on pupils' well-being and personal development.
Publication - May 2024
5. Brain-computer interfaces
Will we be able to communicate with computers through our brains in the future? The technology that makes this possible, brain-computer interface, could change people's lives enormously. The white paper "Brain-computer interfaces for education and research?" gives you an in-depth insight into the technology, history and potential of BCIs. You will also discover different scenarios for the application of BCIs in the future.
Publication - 1 October 2023
6. Introducing Metaverse for education and research
The Metaverse is a new immersive 3D internet experience in which physical and virtual worlds come together through XR technology. Although the concept is gaining traction, many questions still exist about its definition and future. In this report, we chart what leading experts and institutions say about:
- the terminology surrounding the concept of the Metaverse
- the proposed timeline for a mature Metaverse
- the conditions for achieving a Metaverse mature enough for education and research in the Netherlands.
Publication - 05 March 2024
7. Is the 'Supercloud' the next phase of the cloud?
In the rising use of storing and retrieving data, the cloud is becoming bigger and more important, including for education and research. As the need for cloud computing increases, so does the complexity of working with different cloud providers, both for users and administrators. Can the concept of a single Supercloud help alleviate these challenges? More inspiration in this white paper.
Publication - May 2023
8. SURF Tech Trends report 2023
The SURF Tech Trends report is a biennial report for members within our education and research cooperative. It provides an overview of the most relevant technologies and helps our cooperation organisation navigate through the complexity of technological developments.