Connecting people, sharing knowledge

What makes our partnership with Congress by design so valuable is how our different areas of expertise complement each other. At NBTC, we support scientists and associations in bringing international congresses to the Netherlands. We advise them on the possibilities, guide them through the entire bidding process and connect them with our network. Congress by design then brings the expertise needed to successfully organise these congresses.
For many scientists, organising an international congress is not something they do every day. By joining forces, we can support them throughout the process, allowing them to focus on what matters most: the scientific content, sharing knowledge and connecting with international colleagues.
A strong partnership is about more than having clear roles. What I value most about our long-standing collaboration is the mutual trust and willingness to share knowledge, contacts and opportunities. We know how to find each other, exchange ideas and support each other’s success.
Twenty years of Congress by design shows the value of long-term collaboration. In the end, we share the same ambition: to give Dutch scientists an international platform and create opportunities for people to meet, exchange ideas and form new collaborations, preferably with a lasting impact. That impact often starts long before the first participant arrives and, hopefully, continues for many years afterwards.

Since 2013, Congress by design and Utrecht & Partners have been working together to connect people and knowledge in Utrecht. In 2014, this partnership led to the first congress we brought to Utrecht together: EBJIS2014. Since then, we have continued to work together on scientific congresses that create lasting value for the city and region of Utrecht and its knowledge network.
Together, we strengthen Utrecht’s position as a leading knowledge region by connecting international scientific communities with the knowledge, expertise and strong networks in Utrecht. Congress by design understands what scientific associations need. Together, we connect them with researchers, knowledge institutions and local partners in Utrecht. This creates opportunities for new connections, ideas and collaborations that continue beyond the congress itself.
This fits perfectly with the mission of Utrecht, Heart of Health, where connecting knowledge and innovation is at the heart of everything. Together, we build lasting connections between Utrecht and international scientific associations.

Thanks to the commitment of Erika and Christien we are always assured of the right and familiar special vibe during our international conferences, but every edition with a surprising new touch.  They ensure that we never worry, always in the fullest confidence that everything will eventually turn out well...

After a long period, we wanted to organise a large congress again. We carefully looked for the right partner, and ultimately found Congress by design; a choice we have not regretted for a single moment. We have now been working together for several years with our trusted partner Francesca, along with colleagues such as Marie, Samantha, Jort and others. We are impressed by the professionalism and enthusiasm of the team. We can always rely on them, and they respond quickly and effectively. We truly cannot imagine doing this without Congress by design.

We are organising the 11th International Congress on Industrial and Applied Mathematics (ICIAM 2027), with preparations starting back in 2022 and with your support and guidance from the very beginning. At first, it felt somewhat unreal to be preparing for a congress so far ahead. Together with you and other members of the Local Organising Committee, we travelled to Tokyo for ICIAM 2023. It was a great experience and gave us valuable insights into what we can build on and what we can improve. In February 2025, we had our kick-off meeting, very well organised by you. From that moment on, the real work began. Since then, you have helped us stay on track, always keeping an eye on the bigger picture as well as the important deadlines. Thank you, Lisa, we look forward to continuing this journey together and making ICIAM 2027 a truly memorable congress.

You keep the threads of all the Conference together, and coordinate all the partners, the hardest task of all, in a great and experienced way. And what's most important, you always bring a laugh and positive energy to the meetings even on dark winter days. We got each other's backs and are a great team. Thanks to your coordination, I am already sure that the Conference will turn out to be a fantastic event. In my native language we say: you deserve a statue at the end of the Conference!

Conference organisation is often stressful, but the call for abstracts for this year was a breeze! I've never approached a call for abstracts in such a relaxed way and it is mostly thanks to you. Your availability and careful explanations, together with your extensive experience with the call for abstracts module, really made the difference. And on top of this, your kindness, something that this world needs more of, stands out and inspires me.

Working with you over the years has been a true pleasure. Your dedication, care, professionalism, and constant focus on quality never go unnoticed. You always find solutions with such calm and positivity, and it genuinely feels like working with friends. A special thank you to Anna for coordinating everything so seamlessly, always with a smile and never a hint of stress. It makes all the difference.