About

Play video

TU/e innovation Space

We are a community that develops and facilitates interdisciplinary hands-on Challenge-Based Learning (CBL), engineering design and entrepreneurship. In Matrix, we offer a place where students learn to deal with complex societal and industrial challenges, develop innovative projects with researchers, businesses and other stakeholders. Furthermore, we provide a space and support for lecturers that develop and offer hands-on courses and want to contribute to innovation in education.

Play video

From dream, to demo, to impact

What do a solar camper, an artificial heart, and a firefighting drone have in common? They are created by engineers of the future.

These engineers of the future work on urgent societal challenges. Real-world, open-ended challenges from industry, government, and society. The societal challenges are complex and can’t be solved by selecting a clever technological solution from a single field. For example, how do we ensure clean, affordable energy? Sufficient housing? Food for all? And how can we age healthily, as life expectancy increases? These challenges require creative solutions based on collaboration and communication. So, these engineers of the future need to be able to pitch their ideas, deal with uncertainty, and work in interdisciplinary teams with an entrepreneurial mindset.

Our building blocks

Education

We host interdisciplinary Bachelor and Master courses/projects that (can) have a societal impact. In our CBL-flagship courses, students can decide which challenge presented by companies or societal organizations they want to work on. While doing so, they challenge themselves with a real-life project, gain experience in teamwork, join an interdisciplinary team of students, work closely with professionals, and use the extensive prototyping facilities of TU/e innovation Space.

Student Teams

Students can become part of one of the more than 40 emerging student teams we host. The teams work on smart solutions in the fields of: sustainability, health, smart mobility, and artificial intelligence. A student team has many similarities with entrepreneurial and CBL education. Students with different backgrounds are working together on a challenge. Because the group consists of students from various fields of study, they look at a problem from different perspectives and come together to a smart solution.

Facilities

TU/e innovation Space is the place where you make with your hands what you have in mind. In various workshops with modern tools and instruments, you can shape your ideas under supervision or after instruction. We have several labs with 3D printers, laser cutters, sawing and painting capabilities, lathes and virtual reality equipment to further develop your prototypes.

Community

Students and lecturers use flexible meeting and workspaces during courses, available in Matrix. In the large, flexible space, students can work in teams on their designs and prototypes. Presentations, exhibitions, and other educational events can also be held there. Besides the educational activities, many community events are hosted in TU/e innovation Space, both for and by the community.

Core Team

TU/e innovation Space falls under the Governance of the Education Board, which is responsible for the development and implementation of CBL and student entrepreneurship. Our activities are performed in close collaboration with the responsible lecturers in departments. Connections with the departments are also formally organized through a network of ambassadors. Our activities are performed in close collaboration with students, via direct contact with students in courses, the student teams and the students assistants’ part of our core team.