Connecting people, sharing knowledge

Organising a conference for more than 800 attendees is no easy feat. There are countless elements that need to come together to ensure such a large event runs smoothly, from lunch and dinner arrangements, accommodation and room planning to signage, registration, scheduling and sponsorship. As a relatively inexperienced Local Organising Committee, we initially found the task quite overwhelming. Knowing where to start, understanding what needed to be done and putting everything into motion felt like a considerable challenge.

Organising a successful congress requires more than just excellent planning; it takes a team you can trust, who understands your needs and shares your ambitions. Fortunately, we found exactly that in Congress by design. Francesca initially, followed by Robbert who became an invaluable member of our Local Organizing Committee, and later Marie and Lea, guiding us through every stage of the congress organisation process

Their professionalism, dedication, flexibility and exceptional attention to detail, both in the preparation and throughout the event itself, made working together an absolute pleasure and, more importantly, contributed enormously to the success of the congress.

No matter the challenge, they were always one step ahead, thinking along with us, finding solutions and approaching every situation with a positive attitude and a genuine commitment to making things happen. We are incredibly grateful for this partnership, without which ECCB 2026 would never have been the success it was. And when it comes to organising future conferences, we know exactly who to turn to!

What made the journey to IALM 2027 so rewarding was the genuine passion and commitment of the local organising committee. Our role was to support their ambition, connect the right people and bring together the expertise needed to give the bid the best possible chance of success. Having trusted partners such as Congress by design involved made a real difference.

Winning the bid to host the 27th International Academy of Legal Medicine (IALM) Congress in The Hague in 2027 was already a fantastic achievement for everyone involved, but in many ways, it is just the beginning. We are excited to see the programme come together and to welcome the international forensic medicine community to The Hague. Ultimately, it is about creating the right environment for science to connect, ideas to develop and relationships to continue long after the congress has finished.

What makes our partnership with Congress by design so valuable is how our different areas of expertise complement each other. At NBTC, we support scientists and associations in bringing international congresses to the Netherlands. We advise them on the possibilities, guide them through the entire bidding process and connect them with our network. Congress by design then brings the expertise needed to successfully organise these congresses.
For many scientists, organising an international congress is not something they do every day. By joining forces, we can support them throughout the process, allowing them to focus on what matters most: the scientific content, sharing knowledge and connecting with international colleagues.
A strong partnership is about more than having clear roles. What I value most about our long-standing collaboration is the mutual trust and willingness to share knowledge, contacts and opportunities. We know how to find each other, exchange ideas and support each other’s success.
Twenty years of Congress by design shows the value of long-term collaboration. In the end, we share the same ambition: to give Dutch scientists an international platform and create opportunities for people to meet, exchange ideas and form new collaborations, preferably with a lasting impact. That impact often starts long before the first participant arrives and, hopefully, continues for many years afterwards.

Since 2013, Congress by design and Utrecht & Partners have been working together to connect people and knowledge in Utrecht. In 2014, this partnership led to the first congress we brought to Utrecht together: EBJIS2014. Since then, we have continued to work together on scientific congresses that create lasting value for the city and region of Utrecht and its knowledge network.
Together, we strengthen Utrecht’s position as a leading knowledge region by connecting international scientific communities with the knowledge, expertise and strong networks in Utrecht. Congress by design understands what scientific associations need. Together, we connect them with researchers, knowledge institutions and local partners in Utrecht. This creates opportunities for new connections, ideas and collaborations that continue beyond the congress itself.
This fits perfectly with the mission of Utrecht, Heart of Health, where connecting knowledge and innovation is at the heart of everything. Together, we build lasting connections between Utrecht and international scientific associations.

Thanks to the commitment of Erika and Christien we are always assured of the right and familiar special vibe during our international conferences, but every edition with a surprising new touch.  They ensure that we never worry, always in the fullest confidence that everything will eventually turn out well...

After a long period, we wanted to organise a large congress again. We carefully looked for the right partner, and ultimately found Congress by design; a choice we have not regretted for a single moment. We have now been working together for several years with our trusted partner Francesca, along with colleagues such as Marie, Samantha, Jort and others. We are impressed by the professionalism and enthusiasm of the team. We can always rely on them, and they respond quickly and effectively. We truly cannot imagine doing this without Congress by design.

We are organising the 11th International Congress on Industrial and Applied Mathematics (ICIAM 2027), with preparations starting back in 2022 and with your support and guidance from the very beginning. At first, it felt somewhat unreal to be preparing for a congress so far ahead. Together with you and other members of the Local Organising Committee, we travelled to Tokyo for ICIAM 2023. It was a great experience and gave us valuable insights into what we can build on and what we can improve. In February 2025, we had our kick-off meeting, very well organised by you. From that moment on, the real work began. Since then, you have helped us stay on track, always keeping an eye on the bigger picture as well as the important deadlines. Thank you, Lisa, we look forward to continuing this journey together and making ICIAM 2027 a truly memorable congress.

You keep the threads of all the Conference together, and coordinate all the partners, the hardest task of all, in a great and experienced way. And what's most important, you always bring a laugh and positive energy to the meetings even on dark winter days. We got each other's backs and are a great team. Thanks to your coordination, I am already sure that the Conference will turn out to be a fantastic event. In my native language we say: you deserve a statue at the end of the Conference!