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    Climate-neutral Brainport 2040: Circular water hubs

    We proudly announce a landmark collaboration between Eindhoven Engine, Rijkswaterstaat, and a coalition of visionary partners. This agreement, officially kicked off during the Festival of Disruption 2025, marks a decisive step toward achieving a climate-neutral Brainport by 2040 through circular water hubs.

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    AUXSTENT

    Unlocking mechanical limitations of synthetic heart stents with auxetic,
    fiber tubular scaffolds.

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    Start year 2022

    About the project

    Unlocking mechanical limitations of synthetic heart stents with auxetic, fiber tubular scaffolds.

    In the fight against cardiovascular disease, stents and grafts are implanted in patients to support or repair damaged or high-risk vessels. These stents and grafts provide robust mechanical support, but do not provide tissue repair. It would be better if such implants actively promoted tissue repair and regeneration over time.

    The AUXSTENT project addresses these challenges and is already working on 3D-printable and bioresorbable stents that encourage and stimulate regeneration. At Eindhoven Engine, AUXSTENT will take the next step: developing a functional prototype. In this project, the focus is on combining the functional design of these stents with available engineering and materials knowledge.

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    Tom Kortbeek I Project leader

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    Proof‑of‑concept to market insights

    We successfully developed a proof‑of‑concept scaffold using TU/e design tools and a new biomaterial‑focused fabrication process with submicron precision—suitable for stents, soft robotics, and tissue‑engineering structures. A custom mechanical testing setup was built, and in‑vitro studies with human vein cells showed strong cell growth, tissue organization, and cells building new tissues.

    Market analysis confirms a highly competitive stent landscape. For AUXSTENT to succeed, it must lower costs and improve procedural efficiency—key priorities for the next development stage: three potential market strategies.