Data Science Research

WUR makes a recognisable contribution to the application of data science and artificial intelligence in its own research domain, thereby demonstrating the possibilities of this for complex living and non-living processes and systems in nature and in society. In doing so, we contribute to the development of data science and artificial intelligence for the benefit of a sustainable society.

How we do this

The WDCC organises activities related to research, education, data management, infrastructure and value creation. For these activities, the WDCC team combines its own expertise with that of specialists within the organisation. Furthermore, the WDCC coordinates all WUR’s activities related to data science and artificial intelligence. The WDCC is, both internally and externally, the go-to point for all questions related to digitisation.

The research fields


Data-Driven and High-Tech
Research into data-driven and high-tech innovations is one of the focus areas on the Dutch science agenda. Wageningen University & Research contributes substantially to this through Data Driven & High Tech research programme.

Directly to the Data-Driven and High-Tech research programme

Digital Twins
Digital twins are dynamic models that continue to grow along with reality. Wageningen develops models that know exactly what needs to happen on the farm, how the humidity in the tomato greenhouse can best be adjusted and what impact fattening foods have on your blood values. An advantage of a digital twin over a classic crop model is that a digital twin model will continually be updated with what is happening in real time in the actual greenhouse. This means that the model will become increasingly accurate.

Directly to the Digital Twins investment theme

Artificial Intelligence
WUR already has a lot of expertise in data science in all our domains, from economy to environment, from food and food safety to plants and animals. The new investments, combined with the WDCC, will bring Wageningen Data Science a step further through developing new initiatives and sharing expertise across all our domains. In doing so, we focus on partners so that we can discover these opportunities together and further develop and market the potential of data science and artificial intelligence.

Directly to the Artificial Intelligence theme

For whom?

Our target group for this is first of all society as a whole. In practice, this means that we are looking for partners in, for example, businesses, governments and research institutes for the applications, but also in universities and research institutes for fundamental knowledge. Of course, students and others who come to WUR for training and education are also very important. We wish to contribute to their expertise to be able to apply this in society.