2025-12-04 –, Progress
A Spark to Begin
Before we dive into the day’s discoveries, we invite you to experience a moment that will awaken your senses and set the tone for what’s to come. Something unexpected will unfold , a spark of creativity and wonder to open the stage and the mind.
After this opening act, Valeriu, our day chair and a leading figure in the advanced computing community, will take the stage to officially open the Advanced Computing User Day.
Rob and Emiel will be present at our event as energisers. They will open the day, amaze us with their award-winning World Cup act, and have promised to inspire us in the area of mindset change. We hope you are ready for some unforgettable and magical moments.
With more than 15 years of experience in high-performance computing, Valeriu Codreanu is a strategic leader known for combining vision with empathy and a strong commitment to advancing research infrastructure in the Netherlands and across Europe. As Head of High-Performance Computing & Visualization at SURF, he oversees the Dutch national supercomputer Snellius, manages a portfolio exceeding €20M annually, and leads a team of over 30 specialists driving innovation in advanced computing.
He plays a central role in shaping the next generation of national infrastructure, including the upcoming tender that will unify SURF’s HPC, Grid, and Cloud services into a single, future-proof research platform. His influence extends across Europe through leadership positions in VSC Tier-1, LUMI, the Jules Verne exascale consortium, and the Dutch AI Factory.
Passionate about people as much as technology, Valeriu Codreanu is dedicated to mentoring talent, empowering teams, and inspiring research communities to push boundaries and achieve lasting impact.
Rob & Emiel are renowned for delivering high-impact performances at corporate events, combining years of experience with an unmatched track record. As the most awarded magic duo in the Netherlands, they have won 14 national gold medals and uniquely claimed the prestigious Grand Prix three times. Internationally, they earned podium places at multiple World Championships and were crowned world’s best mentalists in China. With performances in over 15 countries and appearances in more than 100 television episodes like Op1, HLF8, Barend & van Dorp, Jensen, Life & Cooking, De Wereld Draait Door en Pauw & Witteman. They bring professional excellence, technical perfection, and a proven wow-factor to every business stage.