When science connects...
When science connects, it creates fertile ground for new insights, breakthroughs, cross-pollination and innovation. It is in these moments of connection, these ‘meetings of minds’ between scientists, policymakers and researchers from across the globe, that answers are found, and new questions emerge around the pressing challenges of our time, including sustainability, safety and health. When science connects is both an invitation and a provocation: a call to shape the future of science together. It also forms the core promise of Congress by design’s new multi-year strategy.
“Science is more important than ever. It underpins progress and innovation, and strengthens the Netherlands’ position on the global stage. This is not something to cut back on, it’s something to cherish and advance. As a PCO, we contribute by designing and delivering conferences that foster cross-pollination between scientists worldwide. A thoughtfully designed congress is much more than just an inspiring day of presentations, it sparks new insights and research questions. It fuels connections and partnerships. And it strengthens cities, communities and networks, allowing us to make a real impact in scientific knowledge exchange and societal progress.”
Beyond design
That’s how Maureen de Graauw, Operations Director at Congress by design, describes the importance of the new strategic focus. “Since joining the GMI Group in 2021, we’ve grown into conference consultants with a strong focus on meeting design and a sustainable approach. The ‘by design’ in our name has become part of our DNA, core to how we support associations. It has led to a strong market presence, steady growth of our team, inspiring city partnerships and long-term collaborations as core PCO with organisations such as NWO, ESVS and TU Delft. This foundation is solid and we’re ready to build on it further. Our focus for 2025–2027 will centre around when science connects.”
Enabling deep knowledge exchange
“When science connects invites us to engage in conversations together,” Maureen continues. “To challenge the status quo and break away from how things have always been done. The impact we make goes beyond the congress itself. What are we giving back to the local community? What legacy do we leave behind? How do we make sponsorship meaningful, and how do we engage the surrounding ecosystem? These are the kinds of conversations we want to be having. It doesn’t always have to be grand or dramatic. Social return is often found in the small things and in learning to see differently: reusing materials, creating timeless designs, and most of all, designing the congress in such a way that we can extract the full potential from science and knowledge sharing.”
Cbd Academy
“Together, we’re building towards impactful congresses, sustainability initiatives and long-term sectoral legacy,” Maureen summarises. “It all starts with teamwork, from our colleagues and the partners we work with: clients, suppliers and stakeholders. We’re also investing in people’s development through our Cbd Academy. Every two months, we focus on a different topic, diving deeper into areas such as compliance, sponsorship, VAT and AI. The aim is to exchange knowledge and streamline work processes, making them more uniform, transparent and efficient.”
Shaping the future of science
“We’re also starting a B Corp certification journey. This not only aligns perfectly with our ambitions, it also provides a solid framework to set a new standard for climate-neutral event organisation. It informs the advice we give and the choices we make. We look across the entire value chain, including the sustainable practices of our preferred suppliers. For us, strategically and consciously designing conferences, in the broadest sense of the word, is not a question, but an opportunity. An opportunity to truly contribute to progress and transformation. Together, we shape the future of science and knowledge sharing… when science connects.”