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| Shaping the future |
| June 2025 |
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| Which (new) technologies are emerging? And what impact will those new technologies have on education and research? SURF shares an overview of relevant developments in this quarterly futuring update. |
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| Towards Digital Sovereignty: Open Source as a Strategic Choice by Wladimir Mufty, Programme manager public values at SURF |
One of today’s greatest challenges is the lack of true freedom of choice. Society, including education and research, relies heavily on a few dominant tech companies. This leads to vendor lock-in, platform dependency, and reduced autonomy.
At SURF, we’ve long offered an alternative: open source. Not out of activism or rebellion, but as a strategic choice. Open source supports key values like transparency, privacy, interoperability, reusability, autonomy, sustainability, and inclusivity. It's not always perfect or user friendly. Just like proprietary tools, it must be judged on function, cost, and alignment with our values. Think Firefox, Linux, Android, or SURFfilesender: open, community-driven, and just as secure (or insecure) as closed alternatives.
Now, SURF is taking the next step by rolling out Nextcloud internally. This collaborative platform supports file sharing, communication, calendars, emails, and forms. It shows we’re not just naming the Big Tech problem. We’re actively working on solutions.
Openness demands collaboration, courage, and long-term vision. Let’s shape a digital future driven by the values of education and research, not the interests of tech giants. |
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| Seminar Foresight Practices & Tech Trends 2026 |
| We are organising an afternoon with break-out sessions led by our working groups to open up the dialogue about tech developments and their impact on education, research & (business) operations. This afternoon is combined with a seminar in the morning. |
| Register now |
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| Report: Ethical risks (and opportunities) of personalised AI in higher education |
| What might higher education look like in 2040 if artificial intelligence fully personalises the learning experience? Students Nati Sack and Ben Little outline a scenario where AI tailors educational content entirely to individual student preferences. |
| Read more |
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| Podcast: What you need to know about quantum cryptography |
| Can we still safely store and transmit data if there are fast quantum computers? No, not with current security. But that's where post-quantum cryptography offers a solution. How does this technology work? And what can we do with it? In this podcast, Joeri de Ruiter, technical product manager security engineering at SURF, dives into this technology. |
| Listen to the podcast |
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| Successful 1.2 Tbit/s Test Secures AIReady Network |
| SURF, CSC, and Nokia tested a quantum-safe 1.2 Tbit/s data transfer over 3,500 km from Amsterdam to Kajaani. The trial proves that long-haul fiber networks are ready for AI workloads and international supercomputing collaboration. |
| Read more |
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| Brighter Together: TNC25 closes after an amazing week in Brighton | GÉANT CONNECT Online |
| TNC25, the biggest yet, brought over 900 participants from 72 countries together in Brighton. From AI and quantum to silent discos and rollercoasters, the week celebrated digital transformation, global collaboration, and a shared mission to shape the future of research, education, and society. |
| Read the article |
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| Futuring practice – Sharing is caring! |
| We are curious to hear how each institution is anticipating what’s coming next! We know a lot is happening. Share your approach and learnings not only with us but also with your colleagues at other institutions, as that makes us a cooperative. Therefore, we encourage you to contact us! |
| Share your futuring activity |
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| 10x Interesting news and reports |
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| Do you know someone who’d enjoy this newsletter too? Feel free to forward it to them! Is this newsletter forwarded to you? Subscribe now! |
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| Questions, tips or inspiration? Contact us |
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