The digital world is changing rapidly and so are the people that try to make sense of these changes. Reports on topics such as AI, quantum, and data management are published daily. As a structured overview is lacking for the education and research sector, SURF initiated the writing of a biennial Tech Trend report. The first report was launched in 2023. This early October, SURF presented the second Tech Trend report.
The Tech Trends report helps CIOs, policymakers, lecturers, researchers, and IT architects navigate the growing flow of information. The report presents an overview of relevant signals and technological trends, supported by information on how these innovations are developing and what impact they could have on education and research.
Experts from universities, universities of applied sciences, vocational colleges, and university medical centers contributed to the report in different ways. Some experts were closely involved in the research, information gathering and writing process of the chapters and other experts were interviewed to give their perspective. Also some (big) tech companies were interviewed. This broad information gathering, as well qualitative as quantitative helps to paint the broadest possible picture.
Inspiration for the future
The trend report steps outside the daily grind and analyzes which solutions will be needed in five years and beyond. What future scenarios are likely to emerge? Should we, as an organization, tender, or is collaborative construction an option or necessity? And should we make it open source? This allows you to make informed decisions about innovation, that might have an impact nationally as well as internationally. The report helps you better understand technological developments, puts these trends into perspective, and offers inspiration for the future. The results of the trend report focus on the Dutch sector, but might also be relevant for institutes outside the Netherlands, so find out what they are and what you can do with them.
Topics covered in the report
The main topics covered in the report are:
- Artificial Intelligence (AI)
- Cloud Computing
- Compute
- Cybersecurity
- Data Management
- Digital Connectivity
- Immersive Technology
- Quantum
- Web3
- Wild card technologies (less predictable trends such as humanoid robots, smart implant technologies, brain-controlled interfaces and more)
The tech trend report is a biannual report written by and for members within the SURF educational and research cooperative.
Download the SURF Tech Trends report 2026
Read the full online magazine here
