AGP Executive Report

Cybersecurity: Critical PHP flaws triggered precautionary shutdowns of government websites in the Netherlands and elsewhere; Dutch cyber authorities are investigating as attacks spread. ASML: CEO Christophe Fouquet is tying his pay to employee satisfaction after a major corporate shake-up. Research Funding: More than 100 Dutch researchers have received Vidi grants, supporting the next stage of their work. Food Science: Dutch food-safety pioneer Huub Lelieveld has been named the 2026 World Food Prize laureate. Electric Aviation: A prominent Dutch researcher says booking an electric flight in Europe could be possible within a decade. Photonics: Dutch startup Photon Bridge raised €10 million to scale optical chip production and help ease a looming AI laser bottleneck.

Food Safety: Dutch food scientist Huub Lelieveld has won the 2026 World Food Prize for advancing global food-safety standards. His Global Harmonization Initiative brings together more than 1,600 experts across 113 countries. Cybersecurity: AI-assisted research uncovered serious flaws in PHP, the software behind many websites. Millions of attack attempts followed, and Dutch cybersecurity officials are investigating suspected hacks. Research Funding: NWO has awarded 109 Vidi grants of up to €850,000 to Dutch researchers, including teams using AI to identify early osteoarthritis and predict sudden cardiac failure. Kingdom Resilience: Dutch security assessments warn that tsunamis could pose a catastrophic threat to Caribbean islands, while local volcanoes remain active despite a low eruption risk. Nuclear Research: Dutch research institute TNO and reactor developer Thorizon have launched a project to study materials for next-generation reactors.

Cybersecurity: AI-assisted discovery of critical PHP flaws prompted Dutch agencies to take websites offline as a precaution. The National Cyber Security Centre is investigating reports of successful attacks, though it had no confirmed Dutch victims at the time. Telecoms: Odido has chosen Synamedia Go, a cloud-based platform, to modernise its TV streaming service and speed up new features. Food Science: Dutch scientist Huub Lelieveld won the $500,000 World Food Prize for advancing global food-safety standards and coordination. Industrial Security: Amsterdam-based Indurex raised €7 million to expand its cybersecurity platform for connected industrial systems. Clean Energy Research: Thorizon and TNO have launched research into materials for advanced nuclear reactors.

Cybersecurity: AI-assisted research exposed critical PHP flaws that put a large share of the web at risk. Governments, including the Netherlands, temporarily took some websites offline while applying emergency fixes; no successful Dutch breach was confirmed in the reports. Dutch Tech: Amsterdam-based Indurex raised €7 million to expand its cybersecurity platform for industrial and other connected systems. Aerospace AI: Pratt & Whitney has acquired Dutch startup Aiir Innovations, whose AI tools speed up aircraft-engine inspections and have been tested on several engine types. Energy Research: TNO and Thorizon launched research into reactor materials, while a study says small modular reactors could have a role at the Port of Rotterdam.

Cybersecurity: AI-assisted research exposed two critical PHP flaws, prompting precautionary shutdowns of Dutch services including DigiD, MijnOverheid and the House of Representatives website. Emergency patches are available, and operators are working to restore services safely as exploit attempts emerge worldwide. Industrial Security: Amsterdam-based Indurex raised €7 million to expand cybersecurity and safety tools for industrial systems. Photonics: Eindhoven startup Photon Bridge secured €10 million to scale optical engines for AI and telecoms, targeting a growing bottleneck in data transmission. Semiconductors: ASML says strong chip orders show AI-related investment still has room to grow. Energy: A new study says small modular reactors could have a role in the Port of Rotterdam’s future energy mix.

Cybersecurity: Dutch government services joined websites across Europe in going offline as emergency PHP flaws put a large share of the web at risk. AI-assisted research uncovered the vulnerabilities; patches are available, but experts warn attackers may race to exploit systems that remain unpatched. Dutch Photonics: Eindhoven-based Photon Bridge raised €10 million to scale optical-chip production for AI and telecoms, targeting a growing need for faster data transmission. Biotech Deal: EQT agreed to buy Dutch molecular-testing company QIAGEN for €46.50 a share, in a deal valuing it at about €9.6 billion and expected to close in 2027. Pharma: Leiden-based Pharming expects third-quarter revenue to rise 21% year on year to about US$117.6 million, driven by its rare-disease medicines RUCONEST and Joenja.

Cybersecurity: Dutch government and public-service websites went offline as a precaution after AI-assisted research uncovered two critical PHP flaws. Developers released patches and urged users to update immediately; attackers were reportedly probing vulnerable systems. Dutch Photonics: Eindhoven startup Photon Bridge raised €10 million to develop optical engines for AI and telecoms, aiming to ease a looming laser-supply bottleneck. Coastal Science: Dutch researchers moved 306 square metres of Wadden Sea salt marsh into the Delta Flume and battered it with storm waves for 21 hours, testing how marshes may help protect dikes from extreme surges.

Physics: University of Amsterdam researchers have observed a time crystal forming as competing vibrations synchronise in a 3D-printed metamaterial, revealing a new route to ordered patterns in time. Nuclear Research: Thorizon and TNO have launched a programme to study materials for molten-salt reactors, a step toward assessing their durability. Semiconductors: ASML has raised its sales outlook as AI-driven chip demand lifts orders, reinforcing the Netherlands’ central role in the global chip industry. Digital Sovereignty: Dutch cloud providers are concerned after U.S. authorities’ request led to the seizure of a server in Amsterdam, raising questions about control of data and infrastructure. Materials Science: SKF has opened a ceramic process laboratory in the Netherlands, supporting development of advanced bearing materials.

Advanced Materials: SKF has opened a ceramic process laboratory in Houten to develop materials and manufacturing methods for hybrid bearings. Cardiovascular Research: University Medical Center Groningen and Philips are leading a five-year European project with 42 partners to study earlier, more personalized heart care in over 14,000 patients, with AI-enabled imaging among its tools. Critical Minerals: The EU selected 46 new supply-chain projects across 16 member states, including the Netherlands, covering extraction, processing and recycling of materials used in batteries, magnets and defence. Nuclear Research: Thorizon and TNO have launched research into materials for molten-salt reactors. Chipmaking: ASML’s strong order outlook points to sustained demand for its lithography systems, as the company considers expanding manufacturing capacity. Biodiversity: Researchers including Naturalis scientists identified a new planthopper genus and species on Curaçao, Aruba and Bonaire.

Flood Resilience: Dutch engineering firm Haskoning has submitted a feasibility study for “sponge city” water-storage systems across Manila, bringing Dutch expertise to the Philippines’ flood-prevention plans. Aviation Technology: Alkmaar-based PhotonFirst and Bell Textron will develop fiber-optic sensing for aircraft, aiming to track structural health and support predictive maintenance in rotorcraft. Nuclear Research: Thorizon and TNO have launched research into materials for molten-salt reactors, a step toward assessing technology for next-generation nuclear energy. Cybersecurity: The number of cybersecurity companies in the Netherlands has surged over the past five years, reflecting a growing domestic sector as cyberattacks pose risks to critical infrastructure. Semiconductors: ASML says strong chip orders signal that AI-driven investment still has room to grow, even as Europe’s tech funding increasingly concentrates on later-stage companies.

Chip Industry: ASML lifted its sales outlook as AI demand continues to drive chip orders, reinforcing the Netherlands’ role in the global semiconductor supply chain. Nuclear Research: Thorizon and TNO have begun materials and corrosion research for molten-salt reactors, including work supporting a proposed demonstrator at Petten; component qualification is still ahead. Cybersecurity: The number of cybersecurity companies in the Netherlands has surged over five years, as warnings mount about attacks on Dutch infrastructure. A server seizure in Amsterdam at the US’s request has also heightened concern among Dutch cloud providers about legal exposure. Dutch Startups: Amsterdam-based Huppa raised €1 million to build software for gyms and class-based studios.

Climate Tech: Amsterdam-listed Cabka’s emissions targets won validation from the Science Based Targets initiative, setting a 2030 goal to cut operational emissions by nearly 80% from 2022 levels. Medical Research: A study led by University Medical Centre Groningen found distinct immune signals up to 10 years before inflammatory bowel disease diagnosis, raising hopes for earlier detection. Infrastructure: At least 10 Gelderland municipalities say they do not know whether they have vulnerable concrete bridges, prompting calls for better inspections. 3D-Printed Medicine: Artis Zoo and Dutch university and medical partners fitted a southern ground hornbill with the world’s first 3D-printed replacements for both parts of its broken beak. Semiconductors: ASML reported record third-quarter sales of €11.7 billion as AI demand boosted chipmaking orders, with the company signalling strong demand ahead. Digital Security: Dutch cloud providers voiced concern after a U.S. request led to the seizure of a server in Amsterdam, renewing questions about control of data and infrastructure.

Healthcare Research: A Radboudumc-led Dutch study found brief team training helped hospital staff include patients’ values and circumstances in serious-illness care plans, with no rise in costs. Cloud Security: Dutch cloud providers are concerned after a US request led to the seizure of an Amsterdam server, renewing questions about access to data held in the Netherlands. Veterinary Innovation: Amsterdam’s Artis Zoo made history with 3D-printed upper and lower beak prostheses for an injured hornbill. Chip Industry: ASML raised its sales outlook as strong chip orders point to sustained demand from the AI boom. Green Technology: Dutch firm BioBTX signed a €20.8 million grant for its PETRA plastics-recycling project.

Data Sovereignty: Dutch cloud providers are seeking answers after U.S. authorities’ request led to a server seizure at an Amsterdam data centre. The Dutch Cloud Community says it is unclear whether an independent Dutch legal review took place; prosecutors say the data have not been shared with the U.S. Medical Innovation: Artis Zoo and Utrecht University fitted a hornbill with 3D-printed upper and lower beak prostheses — a reported world first that could help the bird eat and care for itself. Chip Industry: ASML reported record quarterly sales of €11.7 billion as AI-fuelled chip demand surges, but warned it cannot meet expected demand in 2027 and 2028. Energy Research: Thorizon and TNO have launched a programme to study materials for molten-salt reactors, a step toward tackling key engineering challenges for the technology. Cybersecurity: A Dutch regulator has flagged an EU-wide cyber gap affecting cloud-controlled home batteries, as warnings grow about attacks on critical infrastructure.

AI Chips: ASML says strong chip orders show the AI spending boom has room to run, after warning that demand could outstrip its production capacity in 2027 and 2028. Medical Technology: Specialists from Artis Zoo, Utrecht University, UMC Utrecht and Amnovis fitted an injured hornbill with 3D-printed upper and lower beak prostheses. The bird used them on the day of surgery, in what is believed to be a world first. Cybersecurity: A Dutch regulator has flagged gaps in EU protections for cloud-controlled home batteries, while a separate warning highlighted risks to Dutch infrastructure. Advanced Manufacturing: VDL Groep plans to invest about $77 million in its Georgia site, expanding cleanroom capacity for semiconductor equipment and creating 120 jobs. Clean Energy: Thorizon and TNO have launched a materials programme for molten-salt reactors, supporting research into a potential next-generation energy technology.

Cybersecurity: Dutch IMF board member Marnix van Rij warned that attacks could disrupt the Port of Rotterdam, power grids and payment systems. A separate Dutch-led study found 605 wind-power assets across Europe exposed to remote cyber interference, while the Albert Heijn attack highlighted risks to food supply chains. Semiconductors: ASML says customers are already showing strong interest in chipmaking equipment for 2029 and 2030, extending the outlook for AI-driven demand. Biology: Hubrecht Institute researchers found that the timing of signals inside gut cells can shift the balance of cell types, offering new insight into how intestinal tissue develops. Energy security: The Dutch regulator has flagged a gap in EU cybersecurity rules for cloud-controlled home batteries. Aerospace: Lockheed Martin and the Netherlands Aerospace Centre are expanding their partnership on Dutch aerospace work.