Night of Eindhoven: a unique mix of data, strategy, and perseverance.

De Nacht van Eindhoven is open to Master’s students and final-year Bachelor’s students in Mathematics, Econometrics, Computer Science, or related quantitative fields. This year, students participated from universities in Eindhoven (Team Triangulo), Nijmegen (Team De Datagabbers and Team Noviomagicians), Tilburg (Team Sto-chaos-tische modellen), Utrecht (Team Utrechtse DOMinatie, Team Planners van de Nachttrein, and Team Ids Wens), and Leiden (Team De Leidsche Pi-raten).

The evening began informally with a reception at CQM and a welcome from Arjen. Spontaneous conversations soon struck up; some participants already knew each other from other data or mathematics events. Their shared interest fostered an immediate sense of connection—a great foundation for an enjoyable night.

Kicking off with a burger or pinsa

Before the brainstorming began in earnest, the participants enjoyed a group dinner at De Spijker. From satay to vegetarian pinsa, it was a chance to fuel up while getting to know the CQM team and the competing squads. The first strategies were already tentatively taking shape right there.

The case studies: from elevator music to chip-making machines

Back at the office, the serious work began. Working in teams, the students tackled four challenging cases as the night unfolded:

• Transavia – Review analysis: How do you use sentiment analysis to improve customer satisfaction on a limited budget?
• Chip-making machine production: How do you design a robust manufacturing process with the right mix of machines and buffers?
• Elevator music as a strategic tool: Elevator music cuts waiting time in half—unless multiple teams deploy it simultaneously. Are you up for the challenge?
• Intermodal transport network: Build a global network that is both sustainable and efficient. Which cities do you connect, and how?

All of these challenges center on optimization, data analysis, and domain knowledge—exactly like our day-to-day work..

Fueling up with a burger or pinsa

Before the serious brainstorming began, the participants enjoyed a group dinner at De Spijker. From satay to vegetarian pinsa, it was a chance to refuel while getting to know the CQM team and the competing squads. The first strategies were already tentatively taking shape there.

A night full of data, snacks, and simulations

Doors closed, laptops opened. In no time, students were talking to stakeholders like Monique and Catalina from Transavia: “It really is a massive amount of data, isn't it... I wouldn't know where to start,” Monique admitted. This was exactly where the data heroes could prove their worth.

Meanwhile, hourly updates on the transport challenge kept coming in, adding extra excitement and motivation. Vegetables, fruit, and sweets kept energy levels up. And for those who really needed to recharge, there was the option to step outside for a breath of fresh air with Roy.

Smart choices, surprising twists

The first round of the elevator challenge was submitted at 2:00 AM. A joint simulation revealed just how cautious the teams had been: hardly anyone dared to turn on the music. That changed in round two—with varying degrees of success.

The rankings remained dynamic. Around 2:30 AM, *Datagabbers*, *Planners van de Nachttrein*, and *Triangulo* were in the lead, but no one was truly safe yet. Experiments were also in full swing for the chip machine challenge as teams sought the ideal design.

The case studies: from elevator music to chip machines

Back at the office, the serious work began. Working in teams, the students tackled four challenging cases throughout the night:

Transavia – Review analysis: How do you use sentiment analysis to improve customer satisfaction on a limited budget?

Chip machine production: How do you design a robust manufacturing process with the right mix of machines and buffers? Elevator music as a strategic tool: Music in the elevator cuts waiting time in half—unless multiple teams deploy it simultaneously. Are you up for the challenge?

Intermodal transport network: Build a global network that is both sustainable and efficient. Which cities do you connect, and how?

All of these are challenges where optimization, data analysis, and domain knowledge take center stage—exactly like our day-to-day work.

From sunrise to victory

At around 6:30 AM, it was time for the final presentations on the Transavia challenge. CQM team members Jasper, Jan, and Peter evaluated the proposals—and were impressed by the sharp analyses and actionable recommendations.

The final whistle blew at 8:30 AM. Everything had been submitted and checked. Over breakfast at *De Verlenging*, overlooking the PSV stadium, the results were tallied. Having barely recovered from the championship celebrations earlier that week, the stadium was now the setting for a different kind of excellence: that of analytical talent. A fitting conclusion to an intense night.

And the winners are…

During the awards ceremony, it became clear that the "elevator music strategy" hadn't worked out well for everyone. Ultimately, the prizes went to:

Utrechtse Dominatie

Planners van de Nachttrein

De Datagabbers

The margins between the top three were slim. A fantastic end to an exciting and educational night.

Why CQM organizes this event

At CQM, everything revolves around solving complex problems using data science, optimization, and industrial statistics. *De Nacht van Eindhoven* perfectly demonstrates what this entails: creativity, perseverance, teamwork, and fun. We are proud of the young talent that made this night a success.