Our Year in Review 2024

1 minute read

We look back on a dynamic and challenging year. The research projects we undertook this past year highlight the critical role of research and innovation in shaping the future. From tackling complex questions to driving impactful solutions, we are proud of what we have achieved together with our partners in 2024.

While it is impossible to summarise every project, we take great pride in the progress we have made, particularly within our three strategic priorities: Sustainable aviation, Competitive aerospace, and a Safe and secure society.

To showcase the scope and significance of our work, we have selected a few research projects, presented in the video below.

Enjoy!

The people behind NLR’s ground-breaking innovations

Our talented professionals work tirelessly on new technology to develop cutting-edge solutions that respond to global challenges and align with modern market demands. In the series ‘NLR People’ we’ve showcased their roles and professional motivations throughout 2024, shining a light on the expertise and determination behind our achievements.

Read about their stories here.

Latest news

NLR corporate

18 June 2026

Fifty years of German-Dutch Wind Tunnels: a success story of European cooperation

On 18 June 2026, a milestone is celebrated in the Noordoostpolder, an area of the Netherlands reclaimed from the sea. The German-Dutch Wind Tunnels (DNW), a collaboration between the German and Dutch research organisations DLR and NLR, will have been in existence for fifty years. During this time, DNW has grown into a leading organisation for aerodynamic and aeroacoustic experiments for research institutes and industry worldwide.

Sustainability and Environment

03 June 2026

NLR and TU Delft link simulation models in new lab focused on climate-neutral aviation

How do you make an entire aviation system more sustainable, rather than just a single flight or a single aircraft? That is what Royal NLR – Netherlands Aerospace Centre – and TU Delft are investigating in the newly established Dutch Aviation Systems Analysis Lab. Last week, the organisations demonstrated connecting their simulation models for the first time. An important step towards being able to find the answers to tomorrow’s questions.

Defence and Security

08 May 2026

NLR-Marknesse host of NATO exercise TIE26

From 12 to 22 May, NLR-Marknesse will serve as the host location for NATO's annual exercise dedicated to improving drone counter-measures. During this event, military personnel, tech experts, and innovators from across the Alliance will gather in the Noordoostpolder for a counter-drone exercise.