Author: Jonathan Montanes

On April 1–2, 2025, the OBSeRVeD consortium convened at TU Delft for a highly engaging two-day progress meeting. With strong representation from partners across the consortium, the event served as a valuable platform for sharing results, discussing challenges, and shaping the way forward.

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Day 1 – Updates, Insights, and Sensor Parameters

The meeting opened with a welcome by Sten Vollebregt (TU Delft), who introduced TU Delft’s role and broader contributions to technological innovation. This was followed by an OBSeRVeD project update, including highlights from recent publications and reflections from the Advisory Committee.

Each work package leader delivered concise pitches on current progress and hurdles. These sessions provided a clear snapshot of where each team stands and helped foster shared insight into project-wide priorities.

During the plenary session, partners discussed critical obstacles such as data standardization, cross-WP collaboration, and resource alignment. While significant progress has been made, the discussion underlined the need for stronger coordination between work packages to accelerate impact.

The poster session that followed showcased the work of PhD and PD researchers through short pitch presentations, generating fruitful conversations and connections.

Later, Murat Kabatas and Sten Vollebregt facilitated an interactive session on Sensor Measuring Parameters, exploring key performance criteria such as detection accuracy, robustness, and usability under practical farm conditions.

The day concluded with a lab tour at TU Delft’s sensor facilities and a relaxed dinner at Mooie Boules, fostering informal exchange among consortium members.

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Day 2 – User Perspective, Roadmap Development, and Coordination

The second day began with a session titled “Developing an E-Nose – From Concept to Application”, led by Henk Hogeveen. This session focused on practical sensor use cases in poultry farming, particularly gut health and red mite detection. Participants explored design considerations from the viewpoint of different end users, emphasizing user-centric innovation.

In Poster Session Part 2, more researchers presented their findings, again demonstrating the active engagement and openness characteristic of the OBSeRVeD community.

The day’s central session was Collaborative Roadmap Development, facilitated by Cas Damen and Javier Ferreira González. The group worked on:

• Mapping interdependencies across the project
• Clarifying roles and assigning responsibilities
• Developing an actionable project timeline
• Aligning visions and expectations

Discussions revealed the need for a shared demonstrator platform, standardized measurement protocols, and improved tracking of contributions. Budget constraints and clustering of tasks were also addressed. The session concluded with a clear commitment: move from discussion to action by appointing task leads and tightening internal coordination.

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Looking Ahead

As the event wrapped up with a second lab tour and informal drinks, the energy was clear: OBSeRVeD is moving full speed ahead.

Thanks to everyone who contributed to this successful and inspiring meeting. With new structures emerging and a shared roadmap underway, the OBSeRVeD project is steadily transitioning from design to implementation.

Stay tuned for next steps and continued progress.

We are proud to share that today a film crew from EditieNL (RTL) is visiting the University of Twente to shoot a reportage highlighting the OBSeRVeD project.

The focus of the item is on the development of polymer brush coatings for electronic noses, an innovative advancement that recently received attention through a publication in ACS Applied Polymer Materials.
👉 Read the publication

This exciting development was also featured by the University of Twente in their own science spotlight:
👉 UTwente article

Media attention is growing. The regional newspaper Tubantia covered the story this morning, confirming the broader interest in our research and its real-world applications.

This visibility is a great recognition of the work being done within OBSeRVeD and reflects positively on the entire consortium.

You can watch the segment here:

On Tuesday, November 5, and Wednesday, November 6, the biannual consortium meeting took place, hosted by the University of Twente (Day 1) and Saxion (Day 2). The event brought together more than 30 partners and offered an inspiring mix of presentations, interactive sessions, and guided tours.

The first day focused on the Societal Impact cluster. PhD and postdoctoral students shared their findings, sparking lively and constructive discussions that highlighted the strong engagement of the partners. In the afternoon, two interactive workshops were held. The first, led by Henk Hogeveen, explored sensor design, while the second, led by Joris Meurs, delved into VOC test mixtures. Both sessions provided valuable insights and fostered collaboration among participants.

Following the presentations and workshops, attendees were given a lab tour at the University of Twente. The group was divided into two smaller groups to visit the cleanroom facilities and PLD labs, offering an impressive glimpse into the advanced technological capabilities. The day concluded with a visit to De Museumfabriek, where participants learned more about the industrial history of the Twente region, followed by an informal dinner.

The second day was dedicated to the technical work packages. Once again, PhD and postdoctoral students presented their progress, leading to engaging and productive discussions. During lunch, a poster session was organized, allowing students to showcase their work in greater detail. This session was very well received by the attendees.

In the afternoon, participants visited Saxion’s lab. Although the facility is still under renovation, the visit provided a clear impression of the lab’s capabilities and the types of research conducted there. The day ended with an informal gathering, giving attendees an opportunity to socialize and reflect on the event. Overall, we look back on two successful days filled with knowledge exchange and collaboration. The next consortium meeting is scheduled for April 2025 and will be hosted by TU Delft. We look forward to it!