Science Meets Business Returns with High‑Energy Focus on Resilience and Security
On Monday, 30 March, the Science meets Business series made a strong comeback after a few years at the Gilze‑Rijen military air base. Professionals from universities, industry, the Ministry of Defence, and TKI Dinalog gathered for an inspiring afternoon dedicated to Resilience and Security in Service Supply Chains.
The event opened with dynamic presentations by Abhishta and Jan‑Willem Bullée from the University of Twente, showcasing their work on the DReSC project.
Abhishta emphasised a shift in mindset: with perfect digital security being unattainable, organisations must prioritize resilience in their IT landscapes. Jan‑Willem - also affiliated with Awareways - highlighted the crucial role of human behaviour in boosting safety, security, and overall resilience. His message was clear: technology matters, but people matter just as much.
A lively poster session followed, featuring six Master’s and PhD researchers from TU Eindhoven, University of Twente, Tilburg University, and Fontys University of Applied Sciences. Visitors explored new insights on servitization in SMEs, maintenance optimisation, spare parts inventory control, and IT security.
After the break, attention turned to the conclusion of the DASLOCA project. Bram Westerweel (NLDA) and Major Tom van Tent Beking (Royal Netherlands Air and Space Force) presented the impressive work -largely conducted by Joost de Kruijff - which resulted in a research paper and a practical decision-support tool.
Developed together with Air and Space Force specialists and Capgemini, the tool helps determine when helicopters can continue missions from a forward operating base and when they must relocate to a safer location for maintenance. A remarkable achievement with clear operational impact.
The afternoon wrapped up in true Dutch fashion, with drinks, bitterballs, and plenty of conversation as participants exchanged thoughts on the day’s insights.
A big thank‑you to all presenters and attendees for making the event a success!
