Dutch scientists are warning of a shortage of computing power. The demand for computing power in the scientific community in our country is constantly rising, but unfortunately, it is growing faster than the supply. To maintain the Netherlands’ current position in the field of digital infrastructure, new investments are essential. But where should we focus our investments right now, according to these experts? We’ll tell you all about it in this blog!
Report: Computational Needs for Accelerated Scientific Discovery
This report presents the findings of Dutch researchers regarding the future shortage of computing power in our country. The report was prepared by NWO and Surf and clearly shows that the supply and demand for computing power are out of balance. This could cause problems in the future and could cost the Netherlands its leading position in the field of digital infrastructure. There are many reasons for the high demand for computing power in our country. Consider the rapid digitization of science, the rise of artificial intelligence, and the plans to replace the Snellius supercomputer. Researchers in various fields of science are already facing a shortage of computing facilities.
Science is changing rapidly
Across all academic disciplines in the Netherlands, the demand for data and computing power has increased dramatically in recent years. This is hardly surprising, given the rapid pace of digital advancements here. Previously, supercomputers were used primarily by the natural and technical sciences, but that has long since changed. Other disciplines, such as the humanities and social sciences, also make extensive use of large-scale data analysis today.
The rise of AI naturally only increases the demand for computing power, as its applications in science continue to grow in scope and become increasingly compelling. The report by Surf and NWO therefore concludes that this need will only continue to grow in the coming years. We therefore need a solution to this shortage; otherwise, the Netherlands could easily lose its leading position in international scientific research!
Possible solutions to the shortage of computing power
What could be some solutions to the shortage of computing power and data capacity? That, of course, is the big question right now. One thing we can certainly improve is the uncertainty surrounding long-term funding for the necessary facilities. For example, the replacement of the Snellius supercomputer isn’t scheduled until 2027, even though its capacity already lags behind the supercomputers of other European countries. NWO and Surf are therefore advocating for strengthening the digital infrastructure and, ideally, replacing Snellius sooner, so that we can keep up with the competition. Investing in computing capacity is the most important measure that must be taken. This is truly crucial for the Netherlands to maintain its leading position.
Making a phone call via satellite using a regular smartphone? Vodafone claims to be the first telecom provider in the world to make this possible. The company recently even conducted a video call via satellite to test this innovative software. But how does it actually work—making calls via satellite with your smartphone? And what can we expect from this new technology in the future? In this blog, we’ll tell you all about it!
Vodafone's new sat2phone technology
Vodafone’s new technology for making calls via satellite using your smartphone has been dubbed “sat2phone” technology. This technology makes it possible to make voice or even video calls in locations where traditional network coverage is unavailable. You don’t need any special satellite phones, satellite dishes, or other equipment—just your smartphone and a Vodafone subscription. Users can seamlessly switch between satellite networks and terrestrial networks via a so-called space-to-land gateway. Vodafone describes the new technology as a “supplement to the existing 5G network” that also provides additional coverage in areas without fixed or mobile alternatives. Think, for example, of remote mountainous terrain or at sea.
Vodafone is testing video calls via satellite
To test their new technology, Vodafone had a technician from the British Vodafone Group make a video call with the company’s CEO from a windy hill in Wales, using a standard 5G phone and without network coverage. The call took place via AST SpaceMobile’s BlueBird satellites. This Texas-based company launched its first five satellites into space in December 2024. That same month, Vodafone signed a ten-year partnership agreement with the company. This new technology marks the first step in their renewed collaboration, as Vodafone and AST SpaceMobile have been working together on projects since 2019!
Can Vodafone customers now make video calls via satellite?
Does this mean that all Vodafone customers can start using this great new feature right away? No, unfortunately not yet, but it won’t be too long. Vodafone hopes to launch the sat2phone service for consumers as early as the second half of 2025. By 2026, the company aims to provide coverage for its innovative service throughout Europe. So, in a year’s time, it’s quite possible that anyone with a Vodafone subscription will be able to make calls via satellite using their smartphone.
Will you be using this new service?
On February 2, the first part of the European AI Act came into effect. This means that some AI applications are now prohibited from use within Europe. As a business, it’s wise to be well-informed about what you can and cannot do with AI, especially if you rely heavily on it for your daily operations. In this article, we’ll tell you everything about the AI applications that have been banned in Europe since this month, so you’re fully up to date!
1. Artificial intelligence that manipulates or misleads
First, AI applications that manipulate or mislead people have been banned in Europe as of this month. Of course, this can be interpreted in many ways, because when does something actually constitute manipulation or deception? The European Court of Justice defines it as follows: “Systems that exploit people’s vulnerabilities, such as age or disability, to influence them.” Therefore, you may not use artificial intelligence that in any way exploits a person’s disability, or, for example, their advanced or conversely younger age.
2. AI applications that use social scoring are now prohibited
AI applications that use social scoring have also been strictly prohibited in Europe as of this month. You’ve probably heard of the term “social scoring.” It refers to assigning a specific rating to people based on their behavior—in other words, a social score. This means you can no longer use artificial intelligence that evaluates people based on their social behavior or certain personal characteristics. For example, if you use AI to scan job applications or resumes, you must ensure that this system does not evaluate applicants based on age, gender, or ethnicity. It has long been known that certain AI applications still have a strong tendency to discriminate, so be very careful with this!
3. Systems that exploit vulnerable groups
Unfortunately, artificial intelligence can also be used to exploit vulnerable groups in a “sophisticated” manner. Starting this month, the use of applications that do this in any way is also prohibited. Examples of vulnerable groups include the elderly, people with certain disabilities or impairments, people facing language barriers, or people in specific socioeconomic situations. AI applications specifically designed to exploit these types of groups may no longer be used.
4. Emotion recognition in the workplace and in education
Emotion recognition using AI in the workplace and in education is another form of AI that is now banned in Europe. But what exactly is emotion recognition, and how can an employer or teacher use it? In the workplace, it primarily involves the continuous monitoring of employees. This can be done in various ways, such as through eye-tracking, typing speed, or voice recognition. Another method we’re seeing more often these days is monitoring via wearables worn by employees. This is used to measure stress and fatigue levels, often to prevent accidents in the workplace.
Employers often claim to use these tools to promote the health and safety of their staff, but there is, of course, a significant downside. For employees, this leads to anxiety and a sense of being monitored. In addition, it can lead to an excessive workload and even burnout, emotional exhaustion, and reduced job satisfaction. For this reason, employers are no longer permitted to use AI for emotion recognition among staff.
5. Real-time biometric identification in public spaces
The final type of AI application that is now prohibited is AI that uses real-time biometrics to identify people in public spaces. This includes, for example, AI systems that identify people using real-time facial recognition. There are a few exceptions to this ban. Biometric identification in public spaces using artificial intelligence is permitted for the purpose of locating missing persons or preventing serious threats.
Ensure your organization has sufficient AI expertise
In addition to banning certain forms of AI, the European AI Act requires companies to ensure that their staff have sufficient knowledge of AI. This knowledge must be appropriate for their role within the organization and the context in which the company uses AI. It is important for your company to have this knowledge in-house, rather than relying on external experts. Failure to comply with the AI Act can result in very high fines of up to 35 million euros or seven percent of your company’s annual turnover. So make sure you stop using the AI applications that are now banned in the EU!
Cybersecurity is becoming increasingly complex with all the new innovations and technologies that are emerging, but that only makes it all the more important. This applies to individuals, but for businesses, it is of course an even more pressing concern. After all, businesses are more likely to be targeted by serious cybercriminals than individuals. A key component of strong cybersecurity for a business is sufficient awareness among your staff. Cybercriminals can often gain access to your systems most easily through them. It is therefore important that they are fully aware of the dangers and warning signs. In this article, we’ll give you 5 tips to improve cybersecurity awareness among your staff!
1. Watch out for suspicious emails
It seems so simple, but it still goes wrong all too often: fake emails. At first glance, suspicious emails are becoming less and less obvious. That’s because cybercriminals are getting better and better at mimicking these emails. Recognizing suspicious emails has therefore become much more difficult in recent years. That’s why it’s even more important to keep your staff on high alert. Check carefully for spelling mistakes, strange senders, or logos that don’t quite look right. Also, provide clear instructions regarding links in emails, text messages, or WhatsApp messages. Want to check if a link in an email is trustworthy? If you hover your mouse over it for a moment, WITHOUT clicking, the real link will appear after a few seconds, and you can see whether it’s suspicious or not.
2. Don't be too careless with passwords
This is, of course, something people are often warned about, but we’re going to bring it up again. Many Dutch people still use the same passwords across multiple platforms and sometimes forget to change them on time. Research even shows that most Dutch people only change their passwords when they absolutely have to, for example, in the event of a data breach or if a system requires you to update your password every so often. It’s best to change your passwords every 90 days and to use a different password everywhere, especially within your company. For the best security in 2025, we recommend setting up two-factor authentication, for example via an SMS message or an authentication app. This makes it much harder for hackers. Do you ever hear your employees complain about logging in with two-factor authentication? Then that’s a great opportunity to put these cybersecurity awareness tips into practice.
3. Be careful with sensitive information
Always exercise caution when sharing sensitive or personal information. Companies, service providers, or banks will never ask for this information out of the blue. This includes information such as your login credentials, email addresses, or passwords. Cybercriminals only need access to a single account belonging to one of your employees to cause damage to your systems and processes. So make sure to remind your employees never to share this information with anyone without good reason. Additionally, it’s important that they don’t log in to their work accounts via unsecured connections. You never know who might be watching!
4. One of the often-overlooked tips for cybersecurity awareness: Keep everything up to date
As annoying as updates can sometimes be, we strongly recommend that you never ignore them. No matter what software you’re using, updates are crucial for maintaining security. Many software updates also include security patches. Technological advancements are currently moving so fast that cybercriminals are constantly finding new ways to hack systems or networks or cause damage in other ways. It is therefore essential for software developers to update their software to stay one step ahead of cybercriminals. So next time, think twice before clicking “postpone” when a program asks for an update 😉
5. Be careful with automatic login
Of course, it’s very convenient to save your passwords and set up automatic login on various websites and systems. But it’s usually not secure. If your laptop is stolen, you don’t want anyone to be able to log in to all your accounts and systems. This is one of the most important tips when it comes to cybersecurity awareness, since people tend to prioritize convenience over security. If you haven’t set up automatic login, you still need to be careful not to leave your online accounts open without logging out. Finished working? Always log out everywhere!
The digital landscape is becoming increasingly sophisticated and complex, but this also makes people more vulnerable in the online world. Especially if you’re not very tech-savvy, there are a lot of things you need to watch out for. After all, cybercriminals are getting smarter all the time, and every innovation brings them a new opportunity. What can your business expect in terms of cybersecurity trends by 2025? What do you need to keep in mind? We’ll dive deeper into that in this article!
Companies are investing more in cybersecurity
Since experts expect a surge of new threats in the online world, many companies will be investing more in cybersecurity this year. Unfortunately, this won’t always be a voluntary decision; as a business owner, it’s almost impossible to avoid. After all, if your company gets hit by a virus, you’ll often end up losing a lot more money. It’s common for cybercriminals to “hold systems hostage,” leaving companies unable to operate until they pay a ransom. In most cases, companies are no longer covered by insurance for this if they fail to take sufficient cybersecurity measures. It would therefore be very unwise not to invest in the online security of your systems.
One of the key cybersecurity trends for 2025: Artificial intelligence brings new threats
The advent of artificial intelligence has, of course, already brought about many exciting innovations. AI assistants are increasingly able to support security professionals in securing systems and detecting risks and vulnerabilities. Unfortunately, this means that cybercriminals can also take advantage of this. The EU has partially restricted the use of AI since this year, but the laws are not yet strict enough to prevent cybercriminals from using artificial intelligence. By 2025, criminals will increasingly use AI to scam people online or hack into corporate systems. Consider, for example, phishing emails generated by AI that are nearly indistinguishable from genuine ones. Experts predict that by 2027, 17% of cyberattacks will be enabled by generative AI.
Identity fraud and verification
Another prediction is that identity fraud will become more common by 2025. Cybercriminals gain access to your email or similar accounts through backdoors, which indirectly gives them access to other data—such as information belonging to an acquaintance or colleague of yours, or other accounts you use yourself. To combat this, it is important for companies to strengthen their access and identity management. One effective way to do this is to implement two-factor authentication for all company resources. Additionally, it is important to keep your employees constantly vigilant against fraud and cybercrime. Zero Trust is therefore expected to be a major trend this year. This means that every user, every device, and every connection must be verified at all times to ensure it is trustworthy. Blind trust in the digital world is no longer an option in 2025!
According to a recent analysis by Synergy Research Group, the capacity of hyperscale data centers will be three times higher by 2030 than it is today. What’s the reason behind this? You can probably guess: yes, AI! In recent years, the trend has always been that the critical load on hyperscale data centers has been steadily increasing, but that growth has only accelerated thanks to AI services and generative AI technology!
The pressure on data centers is constantly increasing due to AI
Since the advent of AI and various generative solutions, the pressure on data centers has been steadily increasing. Energy demand in data centers is constantly rising, but how are they responding to this? After all, this is not the only challenge facing data center operators. Rising energy costs and stricter environmental regulations do not make it any easier to meet the ever-growing demand. Nevertheless, experts predict that the capacity of hyperscale data centers will continue to grow significantly and will be at least three times higher than it is today by the time we reach the year 2030.
More data centers, but also larger data centers
Capacity must therefore be increased. To achieve this, companies are not only building new data centers, but also larger ones. According to the Synergy report, there were 1,103 operational hyperscale data centers worldwide at the end of 2024. In addition, 497 more facilities were in the planning stages. Alongside planning new locations, many data centers are being expanded to increase capacity. The total number of data centers will certainly continue to grow this year, but what stands out most is that they are becoming significantly larger. On average, new data centers are twice as large as their predecessors. One reason for this is the introduction of GPU-oriented infrastructure, which is indispensable for the workloads associated with artificial intelligence. Existing data centers were primarily CPU-based, but AI requires a shift toward GPUs and other specialized hardware. So not only are more data centers being added this year, but they are all getting bigger as well.
Energy-efficient data centers
The energy consumption of data centers naturally remains a topic of debate, especially as more and larger data centers are built. Environmental regulations are becoming increasingly strict, so it is essential to develop low-carbon alternatives for data centers as well. A report by Atlantic Ventures and Nutanix indicates that data centers could reduce their CO2 emissions by 19 million tons over the next six years. That is comparable to the emissions of 4.1 million cars and is certainly not negligible. These savings can be achieved through energy efficiency and the use of on-demand compute capacity in the cloud. The transition to HCI can also lead to annual energy savings of 27% compared to traditional data center architectures. According to the report, these energy savings could yield around 25 billion euros by 2030!
ABN Amro Bank expects the Technology, Media & Telecom sector to continue growing in 2025 at the same rate as in recent years—namely, by 5%—and by 4% in 2026. The reason for this is the ongoing digitization, cloud migration, and innovations surrounding AI in the Netherlands. This means that the TMI sector is returning to its historical trend. The analysis indicating this expected growth was prepared by sector economist Mario Bersem. In this article, we’ll tell you about all the interesting findings in the analysis!
Impact of the tight labor market on
The tight labor market persists, which naturally also affects the Technology, Media & Telecom sector. Approximately 20% of the people currently working in this sector are self-employed. ICT experts are in high demand across many sectors today, leading to a shortage of ICT specialists within the TMI sector as well. After all, ICT is now a vital component of most businesses. What is also striking is that many experts within the TMI sector work in permanent positions. Flexible work arrangements are therefore rare in this sector.
AI innovations are driving significant growth in the Technology, Media & Telecom sector
One of the driving forces behind the rapid growth of the TMI sector is the wave of recent and planned AI innovations. The AI hype began in 2022, largely with the public release of ChatGPT. Since then, the sector has been actively developing and experimenting with artificial intelligence. In some sectors, AI naturally has a less positive impact, for example due to job losses. You can already see this to some extent in the translation sector. Nevertheless, major breakthroughs in AI are also expected that will actually lead to increased productivity for employees across various sectors. According to the ABN Amro report, 2025 could well be a major turning point for artificial intelligence in the TMI sector. This is mainly because new innovations that have been tested and improved over the past year can now be fully implemented in the business world. For the tech sector, ABN Amro expects economic growth of 7% in 2025 thanks to AI applications!
A lot of competition within the TMI sector
There is currently a lot of competition within the telecommunications sector, particularly when it comes to attracting customers. You’ve probably noticed this. Many telecom companies have started promoting their products and services more aggressively. At the moment, they are focusing primarily on internet plans, as fewer and fewer people are signing up for TV subscriptions. Odido has taken a major step in this direction by starting to support high-speed internet via 5G. In this way, the provider is directly competing with KPN’s fiber-optic service. The battle among telecom companies is manifesting itself in pressure on prices and innovations within the sector. They cannot fall behind the competition, because they would lose their customers in no time. ABN Amro expects the telecom sector to grow by only 1% by 2025. AI also has a significant impact on the sector, as it provides telecom providers with a means to introduce innovations that allow them to differentiate themselves from the competition.
In June, the Senate voted on whether or not to enact the WGS Data Sharing Act. This new law enables the government to exchange and analyze data more easily. The government cites combating social problems and crime as the reason for introducing this law, but privacy experts have raised significant concerns. They fear that this law will not benefit the privacy of “ordinary citizens.” But why is that? We’ll explain it to you in this article!
Why are experts concerned about the WGS?
If the Data Processing and Partnerships Act takes effect on March 1, 2025, the government will suddenly have a great deal of leeway to collect and analyze vast amounts of data on citizens. According to the investigative platform Follow the Money, this comes dangerously close to the limits set by the Constitution regarding privacy. Experts in data privacy have long been concerned about the privacy of the population and the government’s ever-increasing control over it. Consider, for example, the Digital ID, CBDC, and the idea of a European Medical Record.
What exactly does the WGS entail?
The idea behind this new bill is for government agencies to collaborate on data matters. In the Netherlands, this involves municipalities, the police, the Public Prosecution Service, the Employee Insurance Agency (UWV), and the Tax and Customs Administration, as well as various banks and other financial institutions. These organizations will exchange data with one another regarding specific cases. This has already been happening in some situations since 2008, but until now there was no legal basis for it. Starting in March 2025, however, there will be. Since the bill was sent to the Senate last June, it has undergone significant revisions. As a result, the law now imposes strict conditions on the sharing of information within four collaborative frameworks in healthcare, the justice system, and public administration. If your data is shared among these organizations, you will be notified, but you cannot prevent it!
What are some potential negative consequences of the WGS?
Experts are, of course, still concerned about the consequences of the new legislation, and with good reason. There was significant opposition from, among others, the FNV trade union and the National Clients’ Council, which represents people receiving benefits. They fear that the new law could lead to new “benefit scandals.” Data can result in an inaccurate profile of a citizen. Furthermore, the person whose information is being shared has no opportunity to defend themselves or provide an explanation. This can lead to misinterpretation of data and, consequently, to unjustified conclusions. The Dutch Data Protection Authority was also unhappy with the bill, partly for this reason. Nevertheless, the law was passed by the Senate in June, and it is now known that it will take effect on March 1, 2025.
It always seemed like science fiction: cars that drive themselves without us humans having to do a thing. We all know by now that this is no longer science fiction, but that it’s actually within reach. Now it’s becoming a reality in our country too: the Netherlands will begin testing self-driving cars starting in 2027. But how does that actually work? That’s what we’ll be discussing in this article!
Why is the Netherlands suddenly testing self-driving cars?
It might seem to come out of nowhere, since our country hasn’t exactly been focusing much on this lately. The government would like to start testing autonomous vehicles in a few years, because otherwise they fear that manufacturers will conduct more testing abroad. This could result in self-driving cars being less attuned to Dutch roads. After all, roads in the Netherlands are generally much busier than roads in other countries. If we want to drive autonomous cars here, it’s important that those cars take that traffic into account.
Changes to the law in 2022
Since 2022, the Netherlands has been required to allow testing of self-driving cars. This is due to European regulations adopted that year. These regulations enable automakers to apply for approval of autonomous vehicles. To do so, the vehicles must first be tested on public roads; otherwise, they cannot be approved. In addition, government agencies and car manufacturers want to be able to test self-driving cars on public roads for other reasons. In this case, for example, it concerns models that are not yet ready for type approval. By testing these vehicles on public roads anyway, you also immediately test the interaction between humans, the vehicle system, and the road!
What makes Dutch roads so different?
Why is it actually so important for the Netherlands that self-driving cars also undergo testing on our roads? Both car manufacturers and government agencies want to know how the autonomous vehicle system interacts with typical Dutch traffic conditions. Things like road markings and driver behavior tend to vary quite a bit from country to country. That makes it necessary to test the system in each country to ensure it can be deployed safely. In Germany, for example, this would be important because drivers there are generally allowed to drive faster than in neighboring countries. Another benefit of these tests is that road authorities gain insight into what a road must meet to be suitable for self-driving systems.
The Netherlands is testing self-driving cars, but is that really safe?
We can imagine that testing autonomous cars on public roads sounds very unsafe to some people. Car manufacturers and government agencies naturally take the necessary precautions to ensure testing remains safe for other road users. They do this with the help of a so-called “safety driver.” This means that an additional driver is either physically present or remotely monitoring the actions of the self-driving system. Additionally, testing on public roads may only begin after the system has successfully completed all other forms of testing without any issues or areas for improvement. So you don’t need to worry that the tests will increase the risk of accidents!
Greater redundancy and a move away from monoculture
In the Netherlands, there is still a monoculture when it comes to internet networks and fiber-optic cables. This means that many networks lack backup cables or systems in the event of a failure or sabotage. We still see this frequently in the digital sector in our country. This monoculture now poses significant financial and digital risks. If undersea cables are sabotaged, essential networks could simply go down because they have no backup. This problem, of course, became very clear some time ago when airports and hospitals were shut down due to an update to Microsoft’s antivirus program.
How can you increase redundancy?
The question now, of course, is: how do we ensure greater redundancy in the Netherlands? According to political advisor Marijn van Vliet, we would do well to follow Germany’s example. There, the Center for Digital Sovereignty (ZenDiS) works to make the government less vulnerable. This initiative also promotes greater use of open-source software. Thanks to ZenDiS, the German government has an exit strategy—something we unfortunately lack in our country right now. Thanks to this initiative, public institutions can always fall back on an alternative. This makes institutions more independent and therefore better secured!
Surely that’s possible in the Netherlands too?
Yes, that should certainly be possible in the Netherlands as well. All open-source software is integrated, and then maintenance and patching are outsourced to a service provider, while hosting is handled by a cloud provider. The Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations must address this in collaboration with the Ministry of Economic Affairs. But in addition to this problem, we also have the vulnerable undersea cables near the Netherlands Antilles. In this area, there are only two fiber-optic cable routes, both of which belong to the same provider. If something goes wrong here, the entire Caribbean region goes down. So, in fact, an additional cable needs to be laid here. The Ministry of Defense is currently in talks with DINL regarding the physical security of the undersea cables.