Maarten Steinbuch

Maarten Steinbuch is a researcher in systems and control whose work spans motion control, robotics for precision surgery, and AI in manufacturing. He earned an M.Sc. and a PhD from Delft University of Technology in 1984 and 1989, worked at Philips Research and Philips CFT, and became a full professor at TU/e in 1999. TU/e appointed him Distinguished University Professor in 2013, and he directed its High Tech Systems Center from 2014 to 2020; he received the KIVI Academic Society Award in 2015 and the Simon Stevin Meester title in 2016. He co-founded Preceyes, whose surgical system was used in the world's first robotic eye operation at Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital in 2016, and is a project member of AI-Matters, a network for AI manufacturing testing and experimentation running from 2023 to 2027. As of October 2026, he is a Distinguished University Professor in Systems and Control and chair of Control Systems Technology at TU/e, and scientific director of Eindhoven Engine.

Now at: Eindhoven Engine
Born: 1960
Badges: Founder
Bridge

Years link to their sources.

Timeline

1984–1999

Delft degrees and Philips research

He earns an M.Sc. and a PhD from Delft University of Technology in 1984 and 1989. From 1987 to 1998, he works at Philips Research; from 1998 to 1999, he manages the Dynamics and Control group at Philips CFT, the Philips Center for Manufacturing Technology.
1999

Professor at TU/e

In 1999, he becomes a full professor of Systems and Control and chair of the Control Systems Technology group in TU/e's Mechanical Engineering Department. His research includes advanced motion control and robotics for high-precision surgery.
2013–2020

Distinguished professor and center director

In 2013, TU/e appoints him Distinguished University Professor. From 2014 to 2020, he serves as scientific director of TU/e's High Tech Systems Center.
2015

KIVI Academic Society Award

He receives the KIVI Academic Society Award in 2015.
2016

Simon Stevin Meester

He receives the Simon Stevin Meester title in 2016, an NWO honorary title for engineering researchers.
2016

Preceyes and robotic eye surgery

He is a co-founder of Preceyes, a TU/e spin-off that develops a robot for retina surgery. In 2016, Preceyes performs the world's first robotic eye operation at Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital.
2023–2027

AI-Matters manufacturing network

From 2023 to 2027, he is a project member of AI-Matters, a network for AI manufacturing testing and experimentation across European industries.
As of October 2026

TU/e professor and director

As of October 2026, he is a Distinguished University Professor in Systems and Control and chair of Control Systems Technology at TU/e, and scientific director of Eindhoven Engine.