Assignment

Practice-oriented research plays a key role in solving major societal challenges. With its 2023–2026 strategy, Regieorgaan SIA positions itself as director, connector and funder within that landscape. But in 2025, the penultimate year of this strategy, a new challenge emerged. While 2023 centred around collaboration, and 2024’s compass provided direction for the research, the 2025 SIA Congress needed to take things a step further. The question was: How do we increase visibility and pride around practice-oriented research, make its societal value tangible, and strengthen the community as we move towards 2026?

Result

Visitors were taken on a journey through, and beyond, the world of practice-oriented research. Under the theme “The world, magniFIED”, we made tangible what practice-oriented research is and can be. From the entrance, visitors stepped beneath an arch into the world, passing funhouse mirrors in which they saw their ‘larger selves’. A large globe was guided onto the stage during the opening, accompanied by storytelling, animations and acrobatics, after which host Annemarie Maeijer-Brüning spoke with, among others, the Delta Award winners.
The Impact Hub formed the beating heart of the congress, where practice-oriented research came to life. Nominees for the RAAK Award and researchers shared tangible innovations. New conversations emerged beneath a large globe, and in a ball pit live interviews were recorded, with visitors submitting questions inside their ball. The day ended as it began: with the world magnified. The festive presentation of the RAAK Award concluded the programme. Visitors left with new insights, pride, and the conviction that their work matters. A shared experience that provides direction towards 2026 and lays the foundation for the movement that will continue to grow beyond.