Convergence is the future of engineering sciences

TU Delft is increasing its collaboration with the universities and medical centres in Rotterdam and Leiden. This will also have an impact on alumni, says Rector Magnificus Tim van der Hagen. “Ultimately, all of our initiatives aim to benefit society, even if it’s not always noticeable overnight.” 

34 post-docs will have a double appointment at both TU Delft and the Erasmus MC.

At Milan's brand-new Medtech School, students take a six-year degree in medicine, and also obtain a Bachelor's degree in biomedical technology at the same time”, says Prof. Tim van der Hagen. “When they’ve graduated, the medical engineers will provide tailored care, applying their knowledge of such fields as gene therapy, AI and neurorobotics.”

Van der Hagen compares it to the degree in Clinical Technology launched by TU Delft in 2014. ‘Soon, behind every doctor, stands an engineer’, was the thinking behind its introduction. “Armed with the Medtech qualification from Milan, soon every doctor really will be an engineer”, he stresses. “It's a great example of what we call convergence: the integration of technology, natural sciences, biosciences and humanities in such a way that new specialisations emerge. Of course, it also happened in the past – think of biotechnology, nanotechnology or clinical technology: the merging of what were until then separate fields of work.” 

So not completely new, but definitely in vogue. Worldwide, convergence is seen as the best way of resolving complex social issues. Fundamental progress has been made in almost all separate disciplines in recent decades, often facilitated by advanced digitisation. “The idea is that combining all know-ledge and research methods will open up new fields of science, in which we can achieve groundbreaking results faster”, explains Van der Hagen. “This will be crucial, because the challenges we face are urgent.” 

Cross-fertilisation

This is why the Dies Natalis saw the Executive Board announce plans to further intensify collaboration between the universities and medical centres in Delft, Leiden and Rotterdam. “Barriers between specialisations, departments and faculties need to be removed. This not only applies to universities, but also to others involved in research, the business community and government. The ecosystem required to make that convergence a success calls for cross-fertilisation with ideas from our social partners.” 

By strengthening this partnership, TU Delft is building on previous successes, continues Van der Hagen. “We have been collaborating in the field of medical technology in the Medical Delta programme since 2006 and we established the Leiden-Delft-Erasmus alliance in 2012. I would even argue that, in this case, past results actually do provide a guarantee for the future. The call for change is coming from our scientists themselves. It is our responsibility as the management to facilitate and give a further boost to the grass-roots initiatives that have emerged in recent decades.” 

Time will tell whether TU Delft ultimately decides to introduce its own version of the Milan degree. We have begun all kinds of joint initiatives, starting in medical technology. “As you know, healthcare faces major challenges”, says Van der Hagen. “The ageing population is causing demand for care to increase and costs to rise while at the same time there’s a shortage in healthcare personnel. This means efficiency needs to be improved. Of course, prevention is the most efficient, but if you need to undergo medical treatment, this should be tailored as far as possible to the individual patient. Both will soon be possible thanks to the digital twin: a combination of genetic profile, medical history, social and economic information, etc. In other words, big data, which will bring about a revolution in healthcare. It is one of the projects for which we are currently recruiting 34 post-docs, who will have a double appointment at both TU Delft and the Erasmus MC.”

There are also big plans for AI. In 30 joint AI labs, researchers will focus on specific issues in the field of AI. “Material science, for example. The success of the energy transition will depend on new ways of converting, storing and transporting energy. We will need advanced materials for that, but most of what you design on paper will never work in practice. By testing them virtually, we can then choose only to pursue the most promising options.” 

Holistic approach

Social challenges, involving the climate, energy, water safety, circularity, health and mobility, are all interrelated, continues Van den Hagen. “This calls for a holistic approach. Shared cars and self-driving cars, for example, reducing the need for parking spaces. That means more public space and green areas, which in turn benefits air quality and biodiversity. Besides, vegetation can also help to store water and reduce the heat stress caused by climate change. We can design these public spaces in a way that encourages walking and cycling, a healthier lifestyle, in other words. This is exactly what we will be working on in the Rotterdam Delta region. In a network of living labs, we will be testing and putting into practice innovations of this kind in the port, at the airport and in residential areas of the city.” 

So, what differences will you as an alumnus notice? “All kinds, I’d say. Ultimately, all of our convergence initiatives should benefit society, even if it’s not always noticeable overnight. 

You will first notice it as a professional, whether you’re in research,  the business community or in government. Convergence is the future of engineering sciences. This is also an area in which you can rely on us, because through lifelong learning, we will do our best to keep you up-to-date on the latest developments and knowledge. Never forget: TU Delft for Life!”

Barriers between specialisations, departments and faculties need to be removed