Media: Mijke the Matchbot guides you through the jungle of social organisations
Imagine you have a question about finances, your health, or a difficult letter. But in the maze of social organisations, your first attempt always leads you to the wrong organization. For over three million Dutch people with limited basic skills, this is a daily reality. Many give up out of frustration or shame. Mijke the Matchbot aims to change that: a friendly digital assistant, developed with support from the Regio Deal Brainport Eindhoven funds, that actually points you in the right direction.
Source: Brainport Eindhoven
Mijke the Matchbot: Bridging gaps with AI
Introducing Mijke, the Matchbot: a conversational AI designed to bridge the gap between individuals with low literacy and the support systems around them.
Hi, I’m Sichen, and I am currently pursuing an Engineering Doctorate (EngD) at Eindhoven Engine. With a background in Industrial Design and a strong focus on user experience (UX) and interaction design, I completed my master’s at Eindhoven University of Technology.
Currently, I work within the focus area of Inclusive Society. Here, I explore how AI can create more accessible and supportive environments for everyone. Our solution? Mijke, the Matchbot.
Breaking barriers with AI
My EngD project focuses on the development of Mijke from the Met Mij project. Mijke is a conversational AI chatbot designed to support NT1 (Dutch as a first language) adults with limited basic skills in accessing local services. Hosted on WhatsApp and powered by a large language model, Mijke offers both voice and text interaction. This reduces the barriers many users face with written communication.
The project explores five core challenges:
1. Clarity in communication
Ensuring the chatbot communicates clearly.
2. Emotional connection
Providing a supportive and empathetic interaction.
3. User-friendly design
Making the chatbot intuitive and user-friendly.
4. Multi-modal accessibility
Offering multiple modes of interaction.
5. Precision in support
Connecting users with the right help efficiently.
For more information about Mijke and the Met Mij project.
Addressing information inequality
Millions of people in the Netherlands struggle with basic literacy, numeracy, and digital skills. Mijke shows a possibility of solving this information inequality by offering a friendly experience tailored to the real-world needs of often overlooked people via Artificial Intelligence (AI). This work stands at the crossroads of technology, social equity, and public service innovation. It shows how AI can be used responsibly in human-centered design.
Empowering communities
To achieve these goals, I plan to run iterative user tests to gather insights and improve mijke’s usability. to help people with limited basic skills access support more easily and confidently. By doing so, I hope to decrease the workload of stakeholders, such as social workers, employees from municipalities, or public service staff. Additionally, I want to set a benchmark for evaluating AI recommendations in social public service contexts and contribute new knowledge and tools to the fields of human-computer interaction (HCI), accessibility, and digital inclusion.
This work stands at the crossroads of technology, social equity, and public service innovation, showing how AI can be used responsibly in human-centered design.
Using the design thinking approach, the trainees will tackle issues presented by industrial partners and devise with creative concepts. Throughout the challenge, they will also delve into several key areas, such as understanding wicked problems (addressing complex issues that are difficult to define and have no clear solution), DISC Profile (understanding different personality types to enhance team dynamics and communication), and presentation skills (learning how to effectively convey ideas and solutions to diverse audiences), .
Would you like to know more or are you considering submitting a case next year? Then please contact us
Following the success of the Dutch CBL Conference in 2023, the organization is thrilled to bring together educators, researchers, practitioners, industry leaders, and community stakeholders from around the world.
We are especially proud to feature our esteemed colleagues in Forum 2: Exploring CBL’s Ecosystem:
- Jessica Goss (Designer & Researcher, Eindhoven Engine), an expert in human-centered design and social innovation, will share her insights on tackling literacy challenges with AI-driven solutions for a more inclusive society.
- The session will be moderated by our scientific director, Maarten Steinbuch, ensuring a dynamic and insightful conversation.
New interns
Eindhoven Engine welcomed a vibrant group of new interns in 2025. Get to know them from left to right. Additionally, four bachelor students from TU/e have started. Over the coming months, they will focus on the climate-adaptive region, working one day a week.
We wish them good luck! We hope the interns gain valuable experience and bring fresh insights to the various programs at Eindhoven Engine. Everyone can make impact on society!
- Cathelijne Brantjes | Human & Technology, 4th year, Avans University of Applied Sciences | Inclusive Society
Research on making blended care more understandable at general practitioners’ offices for people aged 18-40 with reduced digital skills.
- Hilde Schram | Strategic Communication, HBO Master, Fontys University of Applied Science | Communication
Eindhoven Engine focuses on the complex challenges our society faces. Addressing these challenges requires a specific approach. Hilde is researching how this approach can be tackled through strategic communication.
- Levi Deerenberg | Business Innovation, 4th year, Avans University of Applied Sciences | Livable Region
Develop a concept that reduces energy consumption at the residential towers Luna & Aurora on the TU/e-campus by actively influencing the behavior of the residents.
- Ivory Johan | Business Innovation, 4th year, Avans University of Applied Sciences | Livable Region
Develop an innovative concept to increase the engagement and participation of students and staff on the TU/e campus around sustainability, by connecting them with sustainable innovations in an inspiring way.
- David Rozenberg | HBO-ICT (Software) , 4th year, Fontys University of Applied Science | Inclusive Society
Preparing the MetMij chatbot for deployment and real-world use. MetMij easily directs people with low basic skills to appropriate support agencies.
- Santiago Triginer | Industrial Engineering, 3rd year, Eindhoven University of Technology | Livable Region
Identifying challenges and solutions for solar panel reuse, and exploring how AI can enhance recycling processes.
- Mare Gijsbers | Business Innovation, 4th year, Avans University of Applied science | Inclusive Society
Develop a methodology to effectively and accessibly introduce the ‘Met Mij’ app to users with low literacy, enabling them to quickly and easily receive support to participate fully in society.
- Rosalie Hendriks | Business Innovation, 4th year, Avans University of Applied Sciences | Inclusive Society
Develop a new concept for people with low basic skills between the ages of 18 and 40 in the Eindhoven region, in such a way that these people can independently ensure the security of their financial situation.
The Career Expo is specially tailored for all TU/e students. However, if you are a non-TU/e student it is possible to walk around over the expo and have a talk with all the companies.
During the expo, students will have the possibility to introduce their selves to over 180 companies eager to answer questions and talk about their potential place in that field of study or business. Students will be able to orient their selves and develop their career like never before.
Are you interested information?
Are you interested in Mijke the Matchbot or you would like to receive more information about?
Please leave your contact details via the contact button.
Mijke app further explained
Women in Science Week at TU/e | Meet-up event
Highlights
- Opening session: by Silvia Lenaerts – Rector Magnificus of TU/e & Ella Hueting – Director of Fontys Engineering
- Keynote: by Tila Pronk – Associate Professor of Social Psychology at Tilburg University
- Marina van Damme Grant Award: Presentation of the prestigious €9,000 grant to a talented female TU/e alumna
- Speed-dating session: A great chance to meet and engage with women from diverse scientific backgrounds
- Moderator: Cindy de Koning – Press Officer at TU/e
Why join?
- Networking: This event is a fantastic opportunity to meet and connect with over 50 inspiring female scientists.
- Experience Sharing: It is a perfect chance to expand your network, share experiences, and engage with female role models from various fields.
For whom?
- This meet-up event is open to everyone who feels connected to the theme of women in science and diversity, regardless of gender, background, or role.
Full program & sign up
- Don’t miss out!
- Check out the full program & Sign up now!
- Women in Science Week | Meet-up event
Organizers
- Eindhoven University of Technology, co-organized by Fontys Engineering and WISE Network
Feel most welcome to join us – don’t forget to sign up!
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