About us

Partnership by design

Growth and development start with an idea. Research takes it further and sharing knowledge creates mutual exchange and co-creation. You want to make the latest professional insights accessible; we help you share and multiply that knowledge. When science connects, anything is possible.

Our vision

We believe in the strength of sharing knowledge to shape a better future. We do this by bringing people and science together in a way that suits the needs and goals of your organisation. Whether live, online or hybrid: we make sure that it is designed and arranged in such a way as to create a rich environment for new insights, cross-links, and scientific and social progress.

Trusted congress advisors

With over 20 years of experience and more than 350 national and international conferences in our portfolio, we are a Professional Congress Organiser (PCO) who works with dedication and attention to detail for and with you. We primarily work for scientific associations, corporates, and governments and often maintain long-term partnerships with our clients, including as a core PCO. We distinguish ourselves through our design approach and see it as our responsibility to add value. This is reflected in our advice and decisions. No nonsense, only strategic, well-considered congresses with a solid plan that takes the burden off your shoulders.

IAPCO certified
We have a strong affinity with medical, agricultural, and knowledge-intensive topics and work for various universities and university medical centres. With offices in Alphen aan den Rijn and Groningen, we are closely connected to regional networks and issues. In addition, we have city alliances with Utrecht, The Hague, Leiden, Rotterdam, and Groningen, and we are IAPCO-certified.

Part of GMI

Since 1 September 2021, Congress by design is part of GMI Collective, a creative communication collective in the Netherlands, which also includes event agency Obsession. Together, the companies have more than fifty years of knowledge and experience in developing and organising live, online and hybrid events.

We are proud to use our expertise, strength and network not only for our clients, but also for organisations that make a real difference in the lives of others. Since 2025, we have been a proud partner of the Partners for Live Foundation. The foundation supports small charities and community initiatives in creating impactful events. For organisations with big ambitions and even bigger hearts, but not always the resources to achieve them.

Find out more about the Partners for Live Foundation

Local team in Groningen

Our office in Groningen is located on the university grounds, in the heart of the scientific world. This puts us close to important clients such as RUG and the UMCG, but also close to start-ups in the digital world. The local team members come from Groningen and are familiar with the regional network and issues. We are also working on making the city of Groningen more attractive, in part by bringing in more congresses that tie in with the city's five core sectors.

Professional conference organisers (PCO)