Maarten Steinbuch
“How will technological developments change our world over the next few decades?”
Maarten Steinbuch makes complex issues like robotization and artificial intelligence tangible and accessible
Speaker, scientist, professor and world champion soccer-playing robots; Maarten Steinbuch simply cannot be pigeonholed. A brief summary of his career: he studied Mechanical Engineering at TU Delft, where he later obtained his PhD in Measurement and Control Technology. He worked for 12 years as a mechanical engineer (Philips) and at the age of 39 started working as a professor at TU Eindhoven.
Maarten Steinbuch is known for his pioneering work in new automotive engineering, mechatronics, motion control and robotics. He is the co-founder of three companies focused on precision surgery, using high-precision robots.
He is an opinion leader on the subject of innovative technology and its impact on society. He also blogs and lectures about future-defining technologies.
Maarten has won several awards, such as the ‘Simon Stevin Master Prize’, the ‘KIvI Academic Society Award’ and ‘Best Teacher’ Award. However, the passion that drives him to speak is of a more modest nature:
“What I love is the sparkle in people’s eyes when I talk about my profession passionately. It’s incredibly rewarding when I see that the audience is excited and my stories resonate.”
Whether he is speaking to people in healthcare, banking or education, Maarten Steinbuch always does so with an equal amount of enthusiasm and energy. He makes complex, weighty subjects such as robotization and artificial intelligence accessible.
Maarten Steinbuch makes complex issues like robotization and artificial intelligence tangible and accessible Speaker, scientist, professor and world champion soccer-playing robots; Maarten Steinbuch simply cannot be pigeonholed. A brief summary of his career: he studied Mechanical Engineering at TU Delft, where he later obtained his PhD in Measurement and Control Technology. He worked for 12 years as a mechanical engineer (Philips) and at the age of View more…
How do we design human values into new technology?
"Robotization and artificial intelligence create social opportunities, but also provoke controversy."
Technology and ethics are inseparable
“Technological developments have a massive impact on our lives, now and in the future. Smart systems are already applied in almost all sectors. They create new opportunities and we can even use them to solve major social problems if we commit to it.”
What exactly will our world look like one generation from now? Can a robot replace healthcare workers over time? Can we get emotionally attached to robots like we do to people? Maarten points out that research has shown that in England 25% of adults(!) sleep with an object such as a stuffed animal or a blanket.
Something else noteworthy:
“In 2013, our soccer robots played against the Chinese team, the World Championship finals. We were watching the game together with 5,000 people. Yelling and cheering as if we were watching a human team. To me it proved that we can in fact experience emotions towards robots.”
But technological developments also raises controversies. For example, can we even begin to grasp how artificial intelligence will evolve? If computers are programmed to think like us, will they have consciousness? And how do we engineer values into new technologies?
Although we are not quite there yet, it is vital to start talking and thinking about ethics right now.
Maarten Steinbuch takes his audience on a journey to the future and tells them about the speed of technological developments and their impact on our lives. When he speaks people are on the edge of their seat; young, old, scientist, director or engineer. And if not him, his faithful companion will make sure of that; a small, robotic dinosaur that even impressed the Dalai Lama in 2018.
Book Maarten Steinbuch for your event
Would you like to book Maarten Steinbuch as a speaker for your event? Ask for the possibilities and his availability.
Why should you invite Maarten Steinbuch as a speaker for your event?
1. Practical scientist
As a scientist Maarten Steinbuch speaks about his profession from a practical point of view. He shares his knowledge and experiences, practical examples and inspiring stories. He knows how to explain abstract concepts in a concrete manner.
2. Astonishing
You will leave the conference room full of insights and energy after attending one of Maarten’s lectures. You will talk about this for days, or even weeks.
3. Accessible
Maarten is able to deliver a clear message to all kinds of audiences, regardless of their background, knowledge or level of experience and expertise. That is the power of his lectures. His story is accessible, interesting and entertaining for all audiences.
4. Cross-theme
Young school children, students, entrepreneurs, healthcare institutions, big corporates, educators, high-tech companies. Maarten’s lectures are fully adapted to themes and challenges that are relevant to his audience.
5. Pleasant atmosphere
Someone once told Maarten that attending his lectures feels like you’re sitting in his living room, listening to his story.
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1. Practical scientist
-
As a scientist Maarten Steinbuch speaks about his profession from a practical point of view. He shares his knowledge and experiences, practical examples and inspiring stories. He knows how to explain abstract concepts in a concrete manner.
-
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2. Astonishing
-
You will leave the conference room full of insights and energy after attending one of Maarten’s lectures. You will talk about this for days, or even weeks.
-
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3. Accessible
-
Maarten is able to deliver a clear message to all kinds of audiences, regardless of their background, knowledge or level of experience and expertise. That is the power of his lectures. His story is accessible, interesting and entertaining for all audiences.
-
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4. Cross-theme
-
Young school children, students, entrepreneurs, healthcare institutions, big corporates, educators, high-tech companies. Maarten’s lectures are fully adapted to themes and challenges that are relevant to his audience.
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5. Pleasant atmosphere
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Someone once told Maarten that attending his lectures feels like you’re sitting in his living room, listening to his story.
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Five questions for:
Maarten Steinbuch
For Good: what does that mean to you?
“Everything I do is because I believe in a better world, because I feel we all have a big responsibility. Technology contributes to societal challenges, such as climate change. Therefore I also eat less meat and drive an electric car.”
Walk the Talk: what is your added value?
“False information is a big challenge these days. As a scientist, I separate the sense from the nonsense. For example, I wrote a biweekly column for the Financieel Dagblad for three and a half years, in which I researched the correctness of certain statements. This is also my objective as a speaker. If I don’t know the answer, I put the question out in the open.”
Who is your greatest role model or inspiration?
“There are a several. Ghandi and Martin Luther King for example, but also Elon Musk in his own way. He’s really a disruptor. Also my wife is a great role model for me.”
What do you love and what is typically Maarten?
“I am a genuine hedonist. I love nice weather, good food and drinking a glass of fine rosé. Actually, I really enjoy the simple things in life. The glint in people’s eyes when they are inspired, my grandson developing by imitating others. So wonderful to watch!”
What can audiences expect from you?
“I reduce complex subject matters to their essence. I’m disruptive, I bring up inconvenient matters within a safe environment. I show them how to take charge of their role, as an entrepreneur, leader or educator, how to get people on board and form a ‘coalition of the willing’. But above all, I make topics such as robotization, mobilization and AI tangible and accessible, and show people – from 8 to 88 – how much fun and exciting technology can be.”
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For Good: what does that mean to you?
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“Everything I do is because I believe in a better world, because I feel we all have a big responsibility. Technology contributes to societal challenges, such as climate change. Therefore I also eat less meat and drive an electric car.”
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Walk the Talk: what is your added value?
-
“False information is a big challenge these days. As a scientist, I separate the sense from the nonsense. For example, I wrote a biweekly column for the Financieel Dagblad for three and a half years, in which I researched the correctness of certain statements. This is also my objective as a speaker. If I don’t know the answer, I put the question out in the open.”
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Who is your greatest role model or inspiration?
-
“There are a several. Ghandi and Martin Luther King for example, but also Elon Musk in his own way. He’s really a disruptor. Also my wife is a great role model for me.”
-
-
What do you love and what is typically Maarten?
-
“I am a genuine hedonist. I love nice weather, good food and drinking a glass of fine rosé. Actually, I really enjoy the simple things in life. The glint in people’s eyes when they are inspired, my grandson developing by imitating others. So wonderful to watch!”
-
-
What can audiences expect from you?
-
“I reduce complex subject matters to their essence. I’m disruptive, I bring up inconvenient matters within a safe environment. I show them how to take charge of their role, as an entrepreneur, leader or educator, how to get people on board and form a ‘coalition of the willing’. But above all, I make topics such as robotization, mobilization and AI tangible and accessible, and show people – from 8 to 88 – how much fun and exciting technology can be.”
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Maarten bij EenVandaag
(2018)
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Unfold | This is Eindhoven
(2021)
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A selection of companies that Maarten Steinbuch already had impactful collaborations with…
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“Maarten is able to explain and interpret complex matters in a simple way in his very own, pleasant way. In doing so, he triggers us on relevant (technological) changes that are coming on society and our sector. A brilliant person with a super pleasant personality!”
– Renate Hemerik, Chairman
Vereniging van Nederlandse Autoleasemaatschappijen
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“Maarten’s lecture was inspiring and shook up many fixed ideas in the attendees. We enjoyed it!!!”
– drs. C.R. van der Togt, Director
Nederlandse Orthopaedische Vereniging -
Amsterdam UMC.
Amsterdam UMC
