The government announced the list of nominated companies on Thursday. With regard to the innovations from Eindhoven, they are all spin-offs from the TU/e. Summed up we have:

• PET Upcycling (Ioniqa, Eindhoven): chemical recycling method for PET plastic waste;

• Lightyear (Atlas Technologies, Helmond): electric family car powered by solar energy;

• PowerNEST (IBIS Power, Eindhoven): extra floor on the building combines energy from sun and wind;

• Smart*Light (Delft/Eindhoven): inventive mobile instrument that generates X-radiation for medical, material and art research.

The National Icon election is about Dutch solutions for global issues in the areas of health, energy, digitization, circular materials and mobility. The cabinet will announce the final winners in September.

Cabinet

A total of 55 projects were submitted for this third edition. An independent jury led by Hans Wijers has selected ten innovations and advises the cabinet on the nomination of the National Icons. The ten entrepreneurs and researchers involved have been invited to extensively explain their innovations to the jury in the coming weeks.

The entrepreneurs and researchers involved receive a customized support program. In addition, a minister or state secretary will be their ambassador. He or she can, for example, offer access to a large network when tapping into new markets, both in The Netherlands and abroad.

Blue Energy

At the previous edition in 2016, Blue Energy was, among others, appointed as National Icon. The TU/e group of Kitty Nijmeijer (membrane technology) is one of the pioneers.

The election was organized for the first time in 2014. Four innovations were nominated in the Ridderzaal back then: cultivated stem cells, Quantum Technologies, Hybrid potatoes and the Bioneedle.