In our Sunday newsletter, we, as editors, reflect on the past seven days. We do this on the initiative of our cartoonist Albert Jan Rasker. He chooses a subject, draws a picture, and we take it from there.
Imagine this: you want to renovate your house and start making plans about the exact design. A quick scan shows you which materials you can still reuse. That saves money and contributes to sustainability and circularity. You can also use an online tool to see which forms of sustainable energy best suit your house and your consumption. Once you live in your renovated, sustainable home, a digital assistant will help you use your sustainably generated power as efficiently as possible. It may sound futuristic, but many of these aspects are already happening.
But the question is: are you ready for it? Apparently, Albert Jan – or his cartoonish alter ego – still has some doubts. Anyway, it’s good to be prepared for a future that’s nearer than some of us may think. A good start is by reading the article my colleague Linda Bak wrote about this collaboration between the faculties of the built environment of the four technical universities in the Netherlands. Fascinating stuff!
Dutch innovation
Before we proceed with the other highlights, a question for all of you: what would you consider “real Dutch Innovation”? Is it different from, let’s say, German, Chinese, or American innovation? And if so, in what way? We are trying to find answers to that question because of the Dutch Innovation Days that are taking place in a couple of weeks. To start it off, we did some research and interviewed the man behind the event: Peter Oosterwijk. Here’s the result:
But as always, we want to be informed as broadly as possible. So what do you think is at the heart of innovation in the Netherlands?
What else caught our eye
Then the highlights of last week. There were many again, thanks in part to Laio. What caught our eye?
How challenge-based learning teaches university students what the real world is about
Recycling plastic in five innovative ways
This motley collection of systems from SolarBEAT is the future of building-integrated solar energy
The cargo aircraft of the future has no pilot onboard – and isn’t electric either
Delft Hyperloop can now start flying across TU Delft’s campus
Plant-Based Revolution: Europe’s Vegan Boom Amidst Decline in Meat and Dairy Sales
Make it a great, innovative week!
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