The National Congress Autonomous Systems in Drachten brings together the entire value chain, from building blocks to a wide range of end users.
Autonomous systems are at a tipping point. What was developed primarily in research environments for many years is now rapidly finding its way into factories, hospitals, distribution centers, and critical infrastructure. According to the organizers of the National Congress Autonomous Systems (NCAS’26), taking place on April 2 in Drachten, autonomy is evolving from a technological promise into a driver of economic and societal impact.
The central theme of the congress — From Lab to Life — captures this transition. “Autonomous systems are rapidly evolving from experimental technology into a new industrial standard,” says Hans Praat, business developer at the Northern Netherlands Development Agency (NOM) and organizer of the congress. “The shift is visible: autonomy is becoming a key technology for productivity growth, competitiveness, and addressing societal challenges.”
The Entire Value Chain on One Stage
NCAS’26, the logical follow-up to the successful first edition held a year ago, aims not only to inspire but, above all, to connect. The congress therefore brings together the full value chain of autonomous technology: from building blocks such as AI chips and sensor technology to system integrators and end users applying the technology in practice. “Collaboration across the value chain is essential for the successful deployment of autonomous systems,” Praat explains.
This is reflected in the program, which is more international in scope than the term ‘national congress’ might suggest. Major technology providers such as NVIDIA and vision-AI specialist Fizyr will showcase the foundations on which autonomous systems are built. Machine builders and system integrators like Demcon and KUKA will demonstrate how traditional automation is evolving into intelligent, self-steering machines. Meanwhile, end users such as UMCG and online supermarket Picnic illustrate how autonomy is transforming real-world processes, from patient care to logistics.
Autonomous systems are now impacting virtually every sector: manufacturing, agriculture, logistics, healthcare, energy, water management, and smart cities. The congress addresses this broad application landscape, with additional attention this year for defense and security. Not coincidentally, autonomous applications often lead the way in these domains and provide valuable lessons for civilian sectors.
Strategic Importance for the Netherlands
The plenary opening will be delivered by TNO CTO Christa Hooijer, who will outline the strategic importance of autonomy for the Netherlands and Europe. Autonomous systems are seen as a key technology within the so-called “Autonomy Economy,” where AI, sensors, and robotics converge in new products and services.
This will be followed by a keynote from Shankar Sastry (UC Berkeley), one of the pioneers of autonomous systems. His talk on reliable autonomous technology focuses on how safety, trust, and certification can be ensured when machines operate independently in complex environments. According to Praat, this touches the core of the current phase: “The transition from lab to real-world application requires not only technology, but also trust and clear frameworks. We are very proud to have a leading figure like Sastry share his insights.”
Building Blocks and Breakthroughs
The role of AI and chip technology will be prominently featured. NVIDIA will demonstrate how computing power, simulation, and digital twins accelerate the design and training of autonomous systems. At the same time, embedded AI enables real-time perception and decision-making, which is essential for safe deployment in dynamic environments.
Fizyr will illustrate how vision AI is already being applied in logistics and food processing. Through accurate object recognition, robots can independently sort and process products. These applications make it clear that autonomy is no longer a distant prospect, but a concrete product strategy for machine builders aiming to make their systems smarter and more flexible.
From Technology to Application
The congress also highlights that the real breakthrough is happening on the user side. In healthcare, UMCG expects that a significant portion of patient care can be supported by autonomous systems in the future, although this places high demands on safety and regulation. In retail, Picnic demonstrates how autonomous logistics and data-driven processes enable new business models.
Defense and security will also be addressed, with contributions from Airbus. In this domain, autonomous systems are already an operational reality, playing roles in reconnaissance, logistics, and cooperation between manned and unmanned systems. Lessons from this sector—particularly around reliability, certification, and human-machine collaboration—are considered highly relevant for civilian applications.
Autonomy as a Product Strategy
The common thread throughout the program is that autonomous systems are outgrowing the experimental phase. Companies are developing and integrating the technology, while users are increasingly confident in applying it. “AI building blocks, deep-tech innovation, and high-tech machine building are coming together in working solutions,” says Praat. “This leads not only to technological progress, but also to structural economic and societal returns.”
As a result, autonomy is emerging as a strategic pillar for industry—not only to improve efficiency, but also to address labor shortages, enhance sustainability, and develop new services. The congress in Drachten aims to show that the future of autonomous systems is no longer in the lab, but in real-world applications, and that collaboration across the value chain is crucial to accelerating this transition.
Anyone who wants to see how autonomous the Netherlands and Europe are becoming would do well to attend the event in Drachten on April 2. Tickets for the National Congress Autonomous Systems are now available.
This article was publisched at IO+. All rights belong to their respectful owners.