It also provides a valuable moment to receive feedback, exchange ideas, and gain insights from one another’s work. The session will follow an interactive and informal format: all interns will present their projects simultaneously, while participants are encouraged to walk around and explore the different presentations.
A regional collaboration with impact
The project officially kicked off during the Festival of Disruption 2025, marking the start of a four‑year collaboration with the potential to extend even further. A diverse team is driving this transformation:
- Eindhoven Engine – leading as orchestrator and innovation accelerator
- Rijkswaterstaat – contributing key assets such as the Wilhelmina Canal and the InnovA58 Kloosters test location
- TU/e, Fontys, Avans, and Yuverta – providing research and educational expertise
- Businesses, the Ministry of Defence, Brabant Water/Rehydro, Waterschap De Dommel – enabling real‑world implementation and regional scalability
Together, they combine technological, social, and organizational innovation to tackle one of the region’s most urgent challenges.
With this project we can confront regional water scarcity and build a climate‑neutral Brainport by 2040. We invite partners, innovators and citizens to take part in this crucial mission.
How the project works
The circular water hubs are designed as interconnected systems that:
- Reuse water across companies, institutions, agriculture, and households
- Reduce freshwater extraction
- Improve water quality through innovative treatment
- Reinforce the natural water cycle
- Support a thriving ecosystem
Rijkswaterstaat’s infrastructure and innovation sites enable real‑world testing, while Eindhoven Engine coordinates research, implementation, and cross‑sector collaboration. A starting budget of €800,000 sets the foundation for early development and pilot projects.
More info
Media: How can we keep Eindhoven’s air as clean as possible?
Anyone who lives in Eindhoven breathes a different mix of exhaust fumes, dust particles and fresh air every day. But where exactly the air is most polluted, and who is most affected, remained unclear for a long time. That’s why the Municipality of Eindhoven, TNO, Zicht op Data, TU/e and Fontys are working together within Eindhoven Engine on DynaPopeX: an innovative approach that shows where residents inhale high concentrations of fine particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide, and how the city can take targeted action.
Thanks to funding from the Regio Deal, these insights are now sharper than ever.
Source: Brainport Eindhoven
Photography: Nick Bookelaar
You can’t do this as a single organisation. The strength lies in the collaboration between the municipality, knowledge institutions and companies, which makes insights faster and more widely applicable.
Eindhoven Engine News – October 2025
In this edition of Eindhoven Engine News: Festival of Disruption 2025, How healthy is your neighborhood?, Mijke the Matchbot update & more.
What else is happening at Eindhoven Engine?
New video: DynaPopeX
In the DynaPopeX project, TNO and Zicht op Data focus on reducing poor air quality. By combining data, location, and human movement patterns in Eindhoven, they develop tangible measures to minimize people’s exposure to harmful particulate matter and limit potential health risks. This is crucial for the municipality of Eindhoven to understand the most significant impacts of air quality and improve the health of its residents.
Media: Innovation accelerator Eindhoven Engine enters new phase
Technology with a clear social purpose an starting with the problem.
As a society, we face numerous challenges. At Eindhoven Engine, a collaborative program between companies, knowledge institutions, social organizations and citizens in the Brainport region, work has been going on for years on innovations to address these problems. Now the program is breaking new ground.
Source: Eindhoven University of Technology
Media: Technologie met een duidelijk maatschappelijk doel:
[Dutch]
Innovatieversneller Eindhoven Engine gaat nieuwe fase in
Als maatschappij staan we voor talloze uitdagingen. Bij Eindhoven Engine, een samenwerkingsprogramma tussen bedrijven, kennisinstellingen, maatschappelijke organisaties en burgers in de Brainportregio, wordt er al jaren gewerkt aan innovaties om deze problemen het hoofd te bieden. Nu slaat het programma een nieuwe weg in.
Source: Innovation Origins
The Smart Heat Shed, but different
Hi, my name is Jamy de Lange. I am 21 years old, and I am currently finalizing my third year of my bachelor’s degree in Business Innovation.
At the end 2023 I worked on an OpenCall project with TNO and Emergo called the Smart Heat Shed (SHS). The SHS is an innovative storage facility that houses an installation for heating and cooling buildings. My challenge was make the SHS suitable for the housing corporations, so that it could be installed for many houses.
Getting started
The first step was to get a better understanding of de SHS by doing research. On the basis of these insights I was able to make questions for the housing corporations that were were already testing the SHS in practice (at a small scale), which is why I wanted to know about their experiences. The insight I gained from the interviews showed me that there was still some work to do to get de SHS suitable for the housing corporations.
After obtaining insights from my research I organized brainstorm sessions that were focused on the feedback from the housing corporations. I even wanted to try, if possible to use the SHS outside of the housing market (which is totally different than the purpose of which it is built). The results of this made me start to think about an interesting solution. Something that would bring music to everybody’s ears…
New insight
The concept I came up with is focused on applying the SHS to festivals. Further research revealed that some festivals use generators, consuming significant amounts of diesel. Lowlands, for example uses 120,000 liters of diesel to generate electricity. This is why I was certain I had to delve deeper in this direction.
“Some festivals use generators, consuming significant amounts of diesel. Lowlands for example uses 120,000 liters of diesel to generate electricity.”
Smart Heat Shelter prototype
First I came in contact with a stakeholder at Emergo, just to make sure that my concept would be interesting for them. An enthusiastic reaction prompted me to focus on this concept. Later, I send an email to Lowlands, which, to my surprise, was submitted to the director. He provided feedback that gave me insight on adapting the concept for general application to festivals.
The Smart Heat Shelter
After the positive reactions I adjusted the concept based on the feedback given. After this step I tested it again until I had formed my final concept (see prototype picture). I am proud to present to you: The Smart Heat Shelter. This concept allows festivals to lease a certain number of sheds, which can be placed at an available spot. Once installed, the sheds use sunlight to produce heat, which can be used for showers or to heat the sheds when used as accommodation. . The sheds are in different varieties for guests to enjoy different types of stay.
Recently, I engaged with numerous specialists across different sectors, seeking guidance from a business mentor and consulting professionals in eco-friendly (residential) building. Through these discussions, I’m refining my concept to make sure it’s ready for the marketplace.
Should you have any inquiries or suggestions after perusing this article, don’t hesitate to email me at: j.d.lange2@tue.nl
Celebrating five years of Eindhoven Engine
We had an incredible time celebrating our five year milestone, surrounded by great company and reflecting on our journey. From our ambitious beginnings to our impactful present. The celebration kicked off with an inspiring speech by TU/e Rector Magnificus Silvia Lenaerts, highlighting the importance of valorization, the strength of our partnerships, and our commitment to addressing societal challenges.
A special treat was the stunning musical performance by the talented artists from Impressariaat Kunsten van Fontys, adding a perfect touch to our celebration.
Human-data interaction to enhance office well-being
Hi, my name is Hans Brombacher and I am a fourth year Industrial Design Ph.D. candidate. My work focuses on the topic of human-data interaction to enhance office well-being and is part of the POWEr FITTing project of Eindhoven Engine.
Three case studies
In the landscape of workplace technology, sensing systems play a crucial role in gathering data for understanding building performance and employee activities. However, a common challenge arises: individuals often feel disconnected from these systems, being treated merely as passive recipients of data. Three case studies propose practical solutions to address this issue.
Case 1. SensorBadge
Case 1 introduces SensorBadge, an ego-centric sensor platform allowing employees to actively participate in data collection and analysis. This approach emphasizes the importance of seamlessly integrating sensor technology into daily routines while ensuring individuals have control over their data. The study underscores the need for clear and understandable data representations to facilitate informed decision-making.
Case 3. Click-IO
Case 2. SensorBricks
Human-centered design
These case studies demonstrate the importance of human-centered design in workplace sensing technologies. By prioritizing user engagement, control, and understanding, these approaches pave the way for more meaningful insights and improved well-being in the modern workplace.
Integration of findings
Within our final study, which will start soon, we will integrate the findings of these studies into a unified artifact, prioritizing human-centric design principles. This aims to enhance data literacy, facilitate real-time feedback on well-being, and ensure employee control over data. Implementing such an ecosystem in diverse workplace settings could provide valuable insights into its effectiveness and ethical implications, ultimately fostering a more fulfilling and productive work environment.