E. (Esmaeil) Najafi

In Brainport, collaboration is not a luxury but a necessity

As Associate Professor of Mechatronics and Precision Engineering within the Centre of Expertise High Tech Systems and Materials (HTSM), I work on connecting talent, technology and industry in the Brainport region. My research focuses on cognitive robotics and intelligent mechatronic systems, with applications in smart manufacturing and precision engineering. My work integrates AI, systems engineering and robotics to develop intelligent and sustainable industrial solutions.

What drives me

What motivates me most: seeing students grow in confidence and realise that they can contribute to real industrial challenges. They are not on the sidelines. Students are part of real workflows, and their contribution genuinely matters.

My Field

In my work, you are not only writing algorithms, you are giving machines the ability to perceive, decide and act in the real world. By combining AI with mechatronic systems, adaptive and intelligent production systems emerge that are more efficient and more reliable. The same technological foundation can also contribute to applications in energy and healthcare. That, for me, is the strength of high-tech systems: one technological core, multiple societal applications.

How I work

For me, a project is only truly successful when three things come together: a technically strong solution, growth and confidence for students, and sustainable collaboration with companies. Both regional collaboration within Brainport and interdisciplinary work across academic and professional boundaries play a crucial role in this. HTSM plays a connecting role: industrial challenges are translated into research and educational projects, and new insights find their way back to the field.

What I want to contribute to

That students leave Fontys with more than technical knowledge alone: with systems thinking, multidisciplinary insight and a sense of responsibility. Engineers who understand that technology never stands apart from the people it is made for.

Working at Fontys

After completing my PhD at TU Delft, specializing in AI for robotics, I conducted postdoctoral research at TU Eindhoven, focusing on the design and control of energy management systems. I subsequently joined Fontys University of Applied Sciences as a Senior Researcher/lecturer in the Mechatronics Department. Later, I was appointed Associate Professor of Cognition & AI at Saxion University of Applied Sciences, where my research focused on the application of AI and robotics in Industry 4.0 and the circular economy.

In September 2026, I rejoined Fontys as an Associate Professor in Mechatronics and Precision Engineering. Returning to Fontys feels like returning home. I bring with me broader experience, a stronger professional network, and a clearer vision for connecting research, education, and innovation. What makes Fontys distinctive is the close integration of education, research, and societal impact, within a region where collaboration, technological innovation, and partnerships with industry are fundamental to addressing real-world challenges.

Dr. Esmaeil Najafi

Associate Professor of Mechatronics and Precision Engineering, Fontys University of Applied Sciences