In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. But, in practice, there is. - Manfred Eigen

Ron de Bruijn is an Assistant Professor in the Design for Precision Engineering (DPE) group of the Control Systems Technology (CST) section of the Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). He is focusing on design principles for precision mechatronics, with a strong emphasis on high-performance hardware design and its integration in closed-loop mechatronic systems. His research aims to extend classical precision engineering design principles toward modern, multidisciplinary mechatronic principles with increasingly tight requirements on accuracy, reproducibility, throughput and cost.

A central theme in his work is the mechatronization of mechanical systems, where traditionally passive components are actively integrated to enhance system performance while maintaining minimal complexity. His research spans system-level mechatronic architecture, precision design, dynamics, actuation, control and metrology.

Much of his research is carried out in close collaboration with industrial partners in the semiconductor, scientific instrumentation, and medical technology domains. Through this application-driven approach, new design principles are extracted and generalized, contributing to both fundamental precision engineering knowledge and the development of next-generation mechatronic systems.

Ron de Bruijn obtained both his BSc (Magna Cum Laude) and MSc (Summa Cum Laude) in Electromechanical Engineering Technology from KU Leuven (Geel campus), Belgium. During his MSc graduation project, “Cost Effective Design of the Pellicle Hardware”, conducted in collaboration with ASML, he developed a novel and more cost-effective hardware concept for pellicle integration in lithography systems. This work resulted in a patent publication and was awarded the Best MSc Thesis in Electromechanical Engineering Technology.

He received his PhD degree in Mechanical Engineering from Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) in 2025. His PhD research focused on the design and mechatronic architecture of a piezoelectric wafer stage for electron beam inspection systems, developed in close collaboration with ASML. The work combined precision mechanical design, piezoelectric actuation, system thinking, control, and resulted in 3 patent publications.