In the session "Future-fit organizations”, moderator Joana Texeira (TNO-ESI) led a dynamic conversation on the evolving role of systems engineers in driving organizational transformation.

“We discussed agility, cultural transformation, and the evolving role of systems engineers as change catalysts. The future isn’t something we wait for - it’s something we shape together."

This session underscored the importance of proactive transformation, where resilience is built not only through technological innovation but also through human-centered leadership.

The current trends in the high-tech industry present significant challenges and opportunities for organizations. It is crucial to understand and address these changes by developing effective strategies and best practices to thrive in this new era. Adopting an approach where technology and human skills complement each other can lead to more sustainable, resilient, and human-centric industrial practices, ultimately delivering better value for customers and stakeholders.

Systems engineering in the high-tech equipment industry faces growing complexity due to increased system functionality, longer lifecycles, rapid technological change, and greater software and system interconnectivity. Challenges include global competition, AI integration, and a shortage of skilled systems engineers, all of which hinder continuous innovation. Addressing these issues requires enhanced Systems Architecting and Engineering (SA/SE) methods and stronger competencies. TNO-ESI has developed a forward-looking view of essential SA/SE capabilities based upon its experience with high-tech industry. This presentation outlines trends and drivers, offering a perspective on upgrading SA/SE practices to meet future demands. 

Change isn’t coming, it’s already here and accelerating every day. Yet you are building, highly complex, high-quality, and sustainable systems, at an ever-accelerating pace. I will take you through a real-world case from Vanderlande shifting from Engineer-to-Order to Configure-to-Order in a highly customer tailored industry. It’s a journey through technical complexity and human dynamics. 

I’ll address the journey we've taken, and what’s still ahead. Spoiler: it's not just about tech, it's about people. If we want scalable, sustainable impact, we need transformational leaders who will serve the brilliant minds behind the complex systems they design. 

As high-tech systems grow in complexity and organizations shift toward modular, software-intensive solutions, the need for future-fit competencies in systems engineering becomes increasingly critical. Hence, Vanderlande, in collaboration with TNO-ESI, launched the Archskills project to assess and align the skills of architects and integration specialists across organizational silos - ensuring engineering capabilities are prepared for the challenges ahead. 

This presentation will explore the motivation behind the initiative, the methodology used to benchmark competencies based on the INCOSE framework, and the collaborative process that led to a tailored, dynamic competency model. It will also provide a glimpse into the results and ongoing efforts to embed these insights into organizational development - supporting the broader goal of building future-fit engineering capabilities across boundaries that many organizations are striving to overcome. 

What is the industry asking from our graduates? How will future education fulfill their needs? The NXT GEN Systems Engineering Project addresses these critical questions through systematic research into Dutch SE education. Our three-phase approach includes comprehensive analysis of current curricula, extensive industry workshops identifying real-world needs, and development of a dynamic lifelong learning framework. Key findings reveal significant gaps between academic preparation and industry expectations, particularly in stakeholder management, risk analysis, and taking the lead. This presentation shares insights from industry stakeholders and introduces an educational framework approach for lifelong learning designed to bridge these gaps while maintaining academic rigor. The implications reshape how we prepare systems engineers for increasing complexity and technological challenges. 

Today's business environment is more unpredictable than ever. Resilient organizations must be adaptable, proactive, and uphold a clear strategy while promoting collaboration, trust, and responsibility. They should anticipate changes, handle disruptions effectively, and invest in technology and workforce flexibility. This resilience also depends on understanding the market and forming strategic partnerships. Acting within an ecosystem that supports these capabilities across organizations enhances responsiveness. Effective technology use requires investment in human capital and cooperation both internally and between companies, fostering trust and strengthening overall ecosystem resilience.