After the National Congress on Autonomous Systems, or NCAS’26, in Drachten on April 2nd, we honestly needed some time to find the right words; it was such a success! The combination of in-depth content, concrete applications, and the energy from the ecosystem made this a particularly strong edition. The many reflections that have since been shared on LinkedIn from industry, research, and government underscore this impression and confirm the congress's relevance for the field.
International keynotes set the tone: reliability and real-world adoption
The substantive line of the congress was strongly set in the plenary program.
The joint opening by Matthieu Gallas (Airbus) positioned autonomous systems directly in an operational context. From the defense domain, he demonstrated that autonomy is no longer a future prospect but is already being applied in mission-critical systems. Themes such as human-machine teaming, AI-driven mission planning, and certification were emphatically revisited — including the implications for civilian applications.
The keynote at the end of the day, by Professor Shankar Sastry (UC Berkeley) was a true highlight! As a very animated speaker, he built upon what was said earlier in the day from an academic perspective. He addressed the fundamental issues surrounding reliability, safety, and trust in autonomous systems. It became clear that these aspects in particular are crucial for large-scale adoption in practice, and that substantial system and integration challenges remain.
Together, these contributions set the tone: the technology is there, but implementation requires robust, validated, and integrated systems.
Four tracks, one chain: from building block to end application
The program was structured around four parallel tracks: Business, Science, Demo, and Impact, explicitly covering the entire chain.
The chain approach was also reflected substantively in the contributions:
- AI and enabling technologiesNVIDIA showed how compute, simulation, and digital twins accelerate the development and validation of autonomous systems.
- Integration and mechanical engineeringcompanies like Demcon and KUKA translated autonomy into product strategies and industrial applications
- Concrete applicationsFizyr demonstrated how vision AI is now operational in logistics, while Picnic and UMCG provided insight into its impact on distribution and healthcare, respectively.
This build-up—from building block to end-user—made the program substantively consistent and relevant for both technology providers and end-users.
From proof-of-concept to scalable systems
What became clear during the day is that autonomous systems are in a clear transition phase. The same picture emerged in multiple sessions and discussions: the step from proof-of-concept to scalable implementation has been initiated, but it brings new complexity.
On the exhibition floor and in the demo track, this became concretely visible. Demonstrations showed how systems are becoming more robust and handle dynamic environments better. At the same time, it was emphasized that integration, validation, and certification are precisely the bottlenecks for large-scale application.
The contribution of ASML/TUe (control engineering), ESA (geodata), and various robotics research groups, among others, underscored that these challenges are deeply embedded in the system architecture.
Ecosystem as a critical success factor
A recurring theme, both on stage and in conversations, was the importance of ecosystem development. Autonomous systems are, by definition, system innovations, where collaboration between disciplines and organizations is essential.
The congress explicitly brought together this collaboration: from AI companies and machine builders to end-users and knowledge institutions. Precisely that interaction was also emphasized by many participants in their reflections as one of the main outcomes of the day.
The widely shared conclusion: the technological foundation is in place, but acceleration towards application requires structural cooperation across the chain.
Field reflections confirm the momentum
The many participant retrospectives show a remarkably consistent picture. There is broad recognition that autonomous systems are evolving from experimental technology to a new industrial standard.
At the same time, the urgency is also felt: organizations must now position themselves, invest, and collaborate to keep up with this development. The congress thus functioned not only as a knowledge platform but also as a marker for the phase the field is currently in.
NCAS 2026 Aftermovie
The aftermovie of NCAS 2026 is hot off the press and can be viewed below. The video gives a strong impression of the day and beautifully combines the energy, content, and interactions of the congress. A chance to relive the event for everyone who was there, and a glimpse for those who missed it!
Outlook: From momentum to implementation
The NCAS Congress 2026 makes clear that the next phase has arrived: from technological promise to large-scale implementation.
The prerequisites are clear: reliable systems, integrated supply chains, and intensive collaboration. The challenge now lies in actually achieving this step.
We thank all speakers, partners, and attendees for their contributions to this edition. The congress underscores that progress in this domain is only possible through joint effort within the ecosystem.
We look forward to the next step.
