As of November 1st, 2023, Anne Fleur van Veenstra, Scientific Director of TNO Vector, has been appointed professor by special appointment of 'governance of data and algorithms for urban policy' at Leiden University. The chair is also affiliated with the Leiden-Delft-Erasmus Centre for BOLD Cities, a strategic alliance of Leiden University, Delft University of Technology and Erasmus University Rotterdam.
Van Veenstra will fill the special chair by connecting the applied, action-oriented research of TNO Vector with the scientific research of Leiden University and the impact ambition of the Centre for BOLD Cities. The acronym 'BOLD' stands for 'Big, Open and Linked Data'.
The Centre uses data research to contribute to solutions for urban issues and investigates the associated ethical and social issues. The collaboration of this centre with TNO Vector strengthens the impact of the scientific work and builds on TNO's strong network around this theme at the municipal level.
Within Leiden University, the special chair is linked to the Institute of Public Administration in The Hague. This Institute has a strong international reputation in the scientific field of data, digitalization, policy and public administration.
Due to the increasing automation of government processes, understanding the impact of the use of data and algorithms, including artificial intelligence, by Dutch municipalities is crucial.
Van Veenstra: "I look forward to connecting TNO's research into governance of data and algorithms with the scientific research of Leiden University and the Centre for BOLD Cities. Due to the increasing automation of government processes, understanding the impact of the use of data and algorithms, including artificial intelligence, by Dutch municipalities is crucial. TNO Vector plays a leading role in action-oriented research into the application of data and AI in social and policy issues. Such as in the Policy Lab where policy makers explore the application of data and algorithms for social issues."
Liesbet van Zoonen, Academic Director Leiden-Delft-Erasmus Centre for BOLD Cities: “With the arrival of Anne Fleur to our Leiden BOLD partner, we are strengthening our The Hague 'hub'. The applied and experimental nature of TNO's work in this field fits well with our own research approaches and I look forward to the inspiring force of Anne Fleur for our research into the governance of urban technologies, in particular data techniques and AI.”
Bram Klievink, Professor of Public Administration and chair of Public Policy & Digitalization at Leiden University: “This chair further shapes a great collaboration between knowledge parties in The Hague at the intersection of digital technology and public administration: the The Hague Centre for Digital Governance. Leiden University – and in particular the Institute of Public Administration – has invested in high-quality expertise and an emphatic profile on this theme. We are pleased to have Anne Fleur van Veenstra as a special professor in this field. We look forward to what she brings from her experience with the connection between science and practice, her substantive knowledge in this area and her strong network on this theme, including with government organizations.”
