Finalists category Entrepreneurial Scientist Award
Prof.dr. Freek Beekman
Faculty of Applied Sciences
Radiation, Detection and Medical Imaging
Spin-off’s: MILabs BV
Cooperation’s with: Van der Wilt Techniques, Philips Medical Systems
Raised amount of funding: 7.6 million euro’s
Patents: 21 of which 8 are commercialized
“Professor Freek Beekman has a strong focus on instruments for medical diagnostics. He has an extensive international network, both at universities and business. The great number of patents in Europe and the US he applied for form the scientific basis for the successful spin-off MILabs. Prof. Beekman works closely together with several companies, for example Philips Medical Systems and VanderWilt Techniques. He is a talented scientist, with a very good sense for entrepreneurship.”
Prof.dr. Bert Wolterbeek, interim chairman of Radiation, Radionuclides & Reactors
Prof.dr. Arie van Deursen
Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science
Software Engineering
Spin-off’s: Software Improvement Group
Incorporation of knowledge in the following existing companies: Cannibal Game Studios, Exact, Tam Tam, NXP, ASML, Oce, Logica, Avenade, KPMG, Microsoft
“The group of Arie van Deursen is an internationally top rated group in his field. He has a strong drive to do research in close cooperation with a lot of respected companies, and stimulates all his colleagues to do so. He gives our company access to valuable MsC students for internships and graduation projects, which is very useful for the R&D within our company. This gives us the opportunity to stay up-to-date in software development.”
Jeroen Dobbe, COO Cannibal Game Studios BV
Dr.ir. Just Herder
Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering
Biomechanical Engineering
Spin-off’s: Micro Gravity Products BV, InteSpring BV, Holland Container Innovations BV, Xpozer BV
Raised more than 1.2 million euros funding for the companies
Holds 16 patents of which 9 are commercialized
“Just Herder plays a very important role as a beacon for scientific spin-off companies. He always helps us to search for new solutions, and gives us technical and commercial advice to boost up the company. He is always prepared to support us by giving us advice, creating useful internship and other fruitful connections. It’s a pleasure to cooperate with Just!”
Boudewijn Wisse, Director InteSpring BV
“During his annual dinner party Just Herder invites all his (former) students and related parties. This gives us valuable access to new students to work as interns in our company, which in turn helped us to speed up our R&D process.”
Gunawan Kusuma, CEO Holland Container Innovations BV
“Walking to the train station together, he made me realize that I should pursue my dream. He motivated me and gave me a clear direction on how to realize my business idea. That was the turning point for me to really start-up my business!”
Richard Holleman, Director Carmini
“Just Herder not only touches upon the imagination of students, he translates daydreams into visions and ambitions.”
John van den Dobbelsteen, Assistent Professor BioMechanical Engineering
Ir. Jouke Verlinden
Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering
Computer Aided Design Engineering
Spin-off: delight Interactive Solutions BV
Raised 37.500 euro’s funding for the spin-off
Patents: 1 commercialized, 1 upcoming
“Jouke Verlinden is the founder of an educational program that bridges science and companies. He takes part in several regional and international networks with academic institutes, governmental parties and the industry. He is a sparring partner for our company, sharing his knowledge, experiences and advice that shows us the possibilities of the technology and market. He has proved to be successful in generating funding for his research through several valorization funds. Thanks to his efforts our company got a STW Valorisation Grant, which enabled us to perform market research to prove the need for this technology in several markets. Next year we will be applying for the next round.”
Frans van Duijnen, CCO deLight Interactive Solutions BV
The other nominees in this category
Dr. John van den Dobbelsteen
Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering
Biomechanical Engineering
Spin-off’s: not yet, probably in the future
Raised 200.000 euro’s funding for the spin-off company
“As initiator and applicant for a subsidy, he brought a cluster of businesses together which are all active in the health care sector. We are very pleased with this introduction that helped us find the right partners for developing new business.”
Michael van Schie, Director New Compliance BV
Prof.dr. Geert-Jan Witkamp
Faculty of Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering
Process Equipment
Spin-off’s: IcySolutions BV
Raised 25.000 euro’s funding for the start-up
“Geert-Jan Witkamp is a great motivator and initiator of many projects within the faculty. He has been very helpful in providing us the knowledge and manpower to help build our first prototype.
It took a lot of effort on his part to ensure that we got the STW Valorisation Grant subsidy and he facilitated the use of the budget during our development period. His continuous encouragement and belief in young engineers has an amazing effect in the way graduates and researchers develop themselves and try to reach for the stars.”
Hicham Shatou, CEO IcySolutions BV
Mauro Marchetti
Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science
Electronics
Spin-off: Anteverta Microwave B.V.
Patents: 1 commercialized
“Mauro Marchetti has turned a successful research idea in a real business opportunity, due to his communication skills, strong drive and motivation. He was faced with taking the difficult step from being the manager of his own research field, in which he developed new ideas and wrote several publications, to becoming an entrepreneur who has to take difficult decisions.”
Dr.ing. Marco Spirito, Assistant Professor Microelectronics and Computer Engineering
Dr.ir. Johan Pouwelse
Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science
Parallel and Distributed Systems
Spin-off: Bitnomica
Raised funding: 25.00 euro’s
“Johan Pouwelse has brought Bitnomica into contact with many other companies and institutions in his personal network, which resulted in a launching customer and other leads for my company. He gave me advice and suggestions when applying for the STW Valorisation Grant, enabling me to run the pilot of my business idea. Even now, after actually starting up my company, he still provides me with access to the relevant research of the group, which keeps my knowledge up-to-date.”
Jacco Taal, directeur Bitnomica