Sport Data Center appointed as Certified Partner of Sportinnovator
The Sport Data Center, a consortium of universities of which Leiden University is leader, is recognised as a Certified Partner of Sportinnovator. This makes the Sport Data Center an important part of the Sportinnovator ecosystem. Sportinnovator is the national programme for sports innovation, initiated by the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, and managed by the Topteam Sport.
Drivers of innovation
An independent consultancy firm has assessed various centres, including the Sport Data Center, on the basis of an assessment framework. If centres meet the requirements, they are appointed as Certified Partner of Sportinnovator. The different centres of Sportinnovator cooperate with each other in the field of innovation developments and act as drivers of innovation in the field of sports & physical activity in the Netherlands and abroad. The Certified Partner label guarantees the quality and uniqueness of the centre within the network. The certificates were awarded by Top team members Maurits Hendriks (Chef de Mission NOC*NSF) and Harry van Dorenmalen (former CEO IBM Benelux).
Digital glue
Data scientist Arno Knobbe: 'Certification is an important step for our centre, and further confirmation that the Sport Data Center is recognized by Sportinnovator and sports umbrella organisation NOC*NSF as an important player in the national network of innovation centres. With our Sport Data Valley platform we form the digital glue between the expertise represented in the different centres'. NOC*NSF boss Maurits Hendriks is full of praise about the Dutch ecosystem of Sportinnovator and how this gives the Netherlands a unique position in the world.
The Sport Data Centre is part of the Leiden Institute of Advanced Computer Science (LIACS) and brings together data scientists and sports scientists from various knowledge institutions. In addition to Leiden, the consortium also includes Delft University of Technology, the Free University of Amsterdam and the University of Twente. The Sport Data Centre develops data science solutions for various sports parties, both in top and amateur sports, and recently launched the national research platform for sports and movement data Sport Data Valley. Besides applications, the Sport Data Center also tries to stimulate the multidisciplinary research field Sports Data Science, and publishes regularly in this domain.