NXTGEN SE puts Dutch approach internationally on the map in Yokohama
From international Systems Engineering frameworks to practical application in the Dutch high-tech industry. In June, SE NXTGEN presented the first results of the DASE Compass and the EduFramework at the INCOSE International Symposium 2026 in Yokohama. The positive reactions and new international contacts provide a strong foundation for the next phase.
The DASE Compass, presented by Saber Darmoul from the University of Twente, brings together the different worlds around Systems Engineering: from business context and SE processes to roles and competencies. The EduFramework, presented by Joana Teixeira from TNO ESI and Sapfo Tsoutsou from TU Eindhoven, builds on this by connecting roles, competencies, and learning paths.
The interest in Yokohama was positive. The presentation of the DASE Compass attracted around 60 participants, and valuable discussions with international experts arose around both topics. The visit was also used to establish contacts for the in-depth international validation surveys that will take place in the coming six months.
From framework to practical application
The international exchange also confirmed what sets our approach apart. The collaboration within NXTGEN Hightech, where industry and knowledge institutions work together, is unique in scope and design. Within SE NXTGEN, we add an important step: we build on existing international competency frameworks and translate them into pragmatically applicable tools for industry and knowledge institutions.
With this, we want to help organizations develop Systems Engineering not only as a discipline but also as a competency and capability. This is particularly important for the Dutch high-tech equipment industry: stronger Systems Engineering capabilities help keep the increasing complexity of systems manageable and further strengthen our innovation power.
Yokohama was, therefore, more than a moment to present results. It was also an international test of our course—and the starting point for the next phase of validation and further development of the DASE Compass, EduFramework, new learning paths, and the Configurator.
Yokohama as an international test
The INCOSE International Symposium provided an excellent opportunity to test the first results internationally. The presentation of the DASE Compass attracted around 60 participants, and valuable discussions with international experts arose around the EduFramework.
The reactions were positive, but just as important were the new contacts. The visit to Yokohama was explicitly used to connect international researchers and experts to the in-depth validation surveys taking place in the coming six months. This will investigate how the Dutch approach compares to Systems Engineering practices and developments elsewhere in the world.
The discussions also highlighted how unique the ecosystem behind NXTGEN Hightech is: a large-scale collaboration in which industry, knowledge institutions, and education jointly invest in the knowledge and capabilities needed for the next generation of complex high-tech systems.
From Yokohama back to the Dutch high-tech practice
In the coming period, the DASE Compass and EduFramework will be further validated and developed. Work is also being done on new learning paths and on the Configurator, with which the underlying knowledge must ultimately become practically accessible to organizations and professionals.
Yokohama was therefore much more than a stage for the first results. It was an international test of an approach being developed from the Dutch high-tech practice.
With one shared ambition: to strengthen the Systems Engineering capability of the Dutch high-tech equipment industry and thereby further increase our innovation power for the next generation of complex high-tech systems.