After the National Congres Autonomous Systems, or NCAS’26 in Drachten, we honestly needed some time to find the right words, what a success it was! The combination of technical depth, concrete applications, and the energy from the ecosystem made this a particularly strong edition. The many reflections that have since been shared on LinkedIn from industry, research, and government underline this impression and confirm the relevance of the congress for the field.
International keynotes set the tone: reliability and real-world adoption
The substantive direction of the congress was strongly set in the plenary program.
The joint opening by Matthieu Gallas (Airbus) positioned autonomous systems directly in an operational context. From the defense domain, he showed that autonomy is no longer a future vision, but is already being applied in mission-critical systems. Topics such as human–machine teaming, AI-driven mission planning, and certification were prominently addressed, including their implications for civilian applications.
The keynote at the end of the day by Professor Shankar Sastry (UC Berkeley) was a true highlight. As a highly engaging speaker, he built upon what had been discussed earlier that day from an academic perspective. He addressed fundamental questions around reliability, safety, and trust in autonomous systems. It became clear that these aspects are decisive for large-scale adoption in practice, and that there are still substantial system and integration challenges to overcome.
Together, these contributions set the tone: the technology is there, but implementation requires robust, validated, and integrated systems.
Four tracks, one value chain: from building block to end application
The program was structured along four parallel tracks: Business, Science, Demo, and Impact, explicitly covering the full value chain.
This chain-oriented approach was also reflected in the contributions:
- AI and enabling technologies: NVIDIA demonstrated how compute, simulation, and digital twins accelerate the development and validation of autonomous systems
- Integration and machine building: companies such as Demcon and KUKA translated autonomy into product strategies and industrial applications
- Concrete applications: Fizyr demonstrated how vision AI is already being deployed operationally in logistics, while Picnic and UMCG illustrated its impact in distribution and healthcare respectively
This structure, from building block to end user, made the program consistently relevant for both technology providers and end users.
From proof-of-concept to scalable systems
What became clear during the day is that autonomous systems are in a clear transition phase. Across multiple sessions and discussions, the same picture emerged: the shift from proof-of-concept to scalable implementation has begun, but brings new complexity.
On the exhibition floor and in the demo track, this became tangible. Demonstrations showed how systems are becoming increasingly robust and better able to handle dynamic environments. At the same time, it was emphasized that integration, validation, and certification are the key bottlenecks toward large-scale deployment.
Contributions from, among others, ASML/TU/e (control systems), ESA (geodata), and various robotics research groups underlined that these challenges are deeply embedded in system architecture.
EEcosystem as a critical success factor
A recurring theme, both on stage and in conversations, was the importance of ecosystem development. Autonomous systems are inherently system innovations, requiring close collaboration between disciplines and organizations.
The congress explicitly brought this collaboration together: from AI companies and machine builders to end users and research institutions. This interaction was widely highlighted in participant reflections as one of the key outcomes of the day.
The widely shared conclusion: the technological foundation is in place, but acceleration toward application requires structured collaboration across the value chain.
Field reflections confirm momentum
The many post-event reflections show a remarkably consistent picture. There is broad recognition that autonomous systems are evolving from experimental technology into a new industrial standard.
At the same time, there is also a sense of urgency: organizations must now position themselves, invest, and collaborate to keep pace with this development. The congress therefore served not only as a knowledge platform, but also as a marker of the phase the field is currently entering.
NCAS’ 26 aftermovie
The NCAS’ 26 aftermovie is fresh out and can be viewed below. The video gives a strong impression of the day and captures the energy, content, and interactions of the congress. A moment to look back for those who attended, and an introduction for those who missed it.
Outlook: from momentum to implementation
The NCAS Congress 2026 makes it clear that the next phase has begun: from technological promise to large-scale implementation.
The conditions are clear: reliable systems, integrated value chains, and intensive collaboration. The challenge now lies in actually realizing this step.
We would like to thank all speakers, partners, and participants for their contribution to this edition. The congress underlines that progress in this domain is only possible through joint effort within the ecosystem.
We look forward to the next step.