News & Events

The 2026 Marie Skłodowska Curie DONUT Project Workshop on Brain Computer Interfacing, held at Radboud University in Nijmegen, brought together doctoral candidates, supervisors, and invited lecturers from across the world, not only participants directly involved in the project. This event was also cross listed as the PK NRW colloquium of the Department of Informatics and Data Science, including participation by PK NRW supervisors of the doctoral candidates. This networking event served as a key forum for the European Doctoral Network for Neural Prostheses and Brain Research (DONUT). The workshop program featured a series of scientific lectures covering recent developments in the BCI field, such as finger movement decoding, stress resilience tracking, closed-loop deep brain stimulation, and EEG foundation models. In addition to the presentations, participants engaged in interactive demonstration sessions evaluating novel EEG hardware and software frameworks, while all doctoral candidates presented their ongoing research projects during the poster sessions. Alongside the scientific program, the event provided a dedicated space for internal consortium collaboration through project board and PhD meetings. The workshop also featured several social and networking activities, with social programs on Sunday (21.06) and Wednesday (24.06.2026), and additional activities during the main days of the workshop, giving international partners and attendees plenty of opportunities to connect informally and strengthen their research ties.

From June 25, 2025, members of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie DONUT project gathered at Rhine-Waal University in Kleve, Germany, for our three-day DONUT Project workshop. The program featured a mix of hands-on sessions, lectures and engaging discussions on key topics in Brain-Computer Interfacing. Doctoral Candidates had the opportunity to deepen their expertise, gain practical training, strengthen collaborations, and co-design strategies to advance the DONUT Project. More than just a knowledge-sharing event, the workshop was a celebration of teamwork and collaboration. Participants connected under one roof, forming new friendships, exchanging ideas, and laying the foundation for future research. For a photo of our DONUT team, visit our LinkedIn post.

On April 22, 2025, the Mid-Term Meeting (MTM) took place in Kleve, Germany, at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences. The day consisted of introductions of the participants and concluded with restricted sessions between the Project Officer and the DCs, and the Project Officer and the coordinator. The project officer provided feedback and was pleased that the project is on schedule, milestones and deliverables are being met, and all participants are actively engaged. Furthermore, it was positively noted that all DCs demonstrated a solid understanding of their projects. Some areas for improvement were highlighted, such as delays concerning employment of DC9. It was emphasised that communication with the coordinator should be improved, as he was unaware of certain key issues. The project officer also provided several further recommendations.

Since our kick-off meeting on January 11, 2024, the DONUT project has consistently demonstrated progress. As of January 9, 2025, we have successfully conducted another supervisory board meeting, affirming the project's robust management and direction. We are pleased to confirm that all designated doctoral candidates (DCs) have been selected and are contributing to their research areas (however, we are still addressing visa-related delays for one candidate’s contract). All essential meetings, including those of the project board (PB), have been effectively executed, playing a crucial role in aligning our objectives and enhancing collaboration. The establishment of a new project webpage on the Linked-In platform (link - see below) has significantly improved communication among project team members, fostering a collaborative environment. We remain committed to the project's success and will continue to update all stakeholders on significant developments.

The kick-off meeting of the DONUT project took place on the 11.01.2024. This strategic gathering outlined goals and visions for the upcoming year. Additionally, it aligned objectives and increased communication and collaboration.