The Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Metropolitan Solutions (AMS) will take up residence at the Royal Tropical Institute (KIT) in September, following months of planning and negotiations.
A joint initiative of TU Delft, Wageningen UR and MIT, the new institute for applied urban technology and design was established to foster the creation of metropolitan solutions through collaborative research with both academic and industry partners. To do so, AMS plans to embed itself in Amsterdam’s social landscape, using the KIT as its base of operations for the next three years.
“AMS aims to become an internationally leading institute where metropolitan solutions are jointly developed and where talent is educated,” says incoming Director Renée Hoogendoorn. “Cities need metropolitan solutions, but no party can do this alone. Thus, AMS must and will be an institute built on partnership: connected with the world, connected with the government, science and business, and connected with the citizens of Amsterdam.”
Indeed, the Dutch capital plays a significant role in conducting urban research, as the city is set to become a “living lab”. “AMS wants to develop a deep understanding of the city, design solutions for its challenges, and integrate these into the city,” explains Hoogendoorn. “Therefore, the KIT is a fantastic location in the heart of Amsterdam. Here we will create our home for discussing and developing new research initiatives, sharing new insights by giving lectures, developing the new Master of Science in Metropolitan Engineering and Design, and collecting new information on innovative processes and key data.”
As one of the institute’s core academic partners, TU Delft has the opportunity to pursue further multidisciplinary research on wide-ranging urban systems. “Our teaching, focusing on the challenges faced by the major cities, is also being given a boost by the advent of the new institute,” said TU Delft President Dirk Jan van den Berg in a statement published on the TU Delft website. “The institute’s emphasis on practical application, combined with the city of Amsterdam as a Living Lab, guarantees this […] Once fully up and running, in four or five years the institute will have become a leading global centre specializing in the challenges facing major cities.”
For now, AMS’ focus is on research, innovation and curriculum development. Its Master’s programme is scheduled to begin in 2017, while its first educational initiatives will be launched this year. The programme is expected to accommodate more than 200 students by 2020.
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