Different backgrounds. Similar principles. That is what binds Moaaz Gendy, Ayoub Elsheikh, Jonas Rieder, Koos Lobeé, Anne van der Meer and Kasra Amirani together. Six students of the four-year Aeronautical Engineering programme at Inholland Delft. “We are more like a family”, discloses Moaaz, “and we’re all very driven.” Another big plus is their unity in diversity: the students all bring their own particular bit of expertise to the table. “We are a multicultural and multidisciplinary team, so we all worked on that specific part of the project we enjoyed most.”

That sounds like a good start, but what drives these students? What is their purpose?
If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing. And that is exactly how Vixed tackles their ambition. “Our plan is simple”, Moaaz continues, “we want to transform the industry.” Is it going to be difficult? For sure. Are they motivated? You bet. “We all knew we wanted to make a difference, and Vixed is going to do just that. Our virtual trainings have multiple benefits. Virtual trainings do not require space or the use of practice materials that result in non-recyclable waste. It’s a win-win for companies in the composite industry.” And the benefits do not stop there. Virtual trainings require no supervision, participants cannot hurt themselves and all trainings are recorded for further training purposes.

What are Vixed’s future plans?
“Eventually”, Moaaz continues, “we would like to move beyond composite materials, and focus solely on virtual reality.” The manufacturing of composite materials is Vixed’s first project. And Vixed is definitely on its way: “Inholland Alkmaar wants to use our virtual trainings for the new academic year. To train lab students in a safe environment before they start their actual training.” Even better, the road might be paved with opportunities, since the six students had a showcase at the Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR), earlier this year. “We want to make the Netherlands a leading player in virtual training.”

And last but not least: Does Moaaz have any advice for his fellow students?
He sure has. Moaaz: “Ideas are way more valuable than we think. Don’t be afraid. Write down every single idea that comes to mind. You don’t need all the knowledge in the world: it starts with a simple idea.” And that is exactly what the members of Vixed did: they believed in their own ideas. Moaaz and his crew are more than ready: “We are ready to start out dream.”

Together with Elise Dalm, Désiree did research on 3D scanning and printing within veterinary science. “I have a 3D printer at home, and I’m interested in the possibilities regarding animal care, such as building prostheses. My dog was born with a cleft palate and he received surgical treatment for this. Unfortunately, the surgery failed due to torn tissue. That gave me the idea to scan my dog’s palate, print a piece of tissue and place it inside his mouth. I immediately consulted my teachers to explore the possibilities.”

Working together with aviation technicians
Désiree: “During our studies, they teach us a lot about animal welfare, such as health and ethical responsibilities. It’s not possible to release a product that irritates the skin for example. For this reason, I learned to use biocompatible materials.” In order to start her project, Désiree contacted several students and teachers of the study programme Aviation Technology (Luchtvaarttechnologie). “They were very hospitable. We worked together well and they taught me a lot.”

Future plans
Désiree wants to carry on with her project. “The first step is always the hardest. I need to conduct further research on printing living tissue. I tried to find would-be interns who might be interested in transferring ‘scanned files’ to printable files. This is not only crucial for plastic prostheses in general, but also for the future of printing living tissue. I’m keen to further explore this topic, so I can help more animals. Think about printing 3D shells for turtles for example. I truly hope, even if I don’t win the Wij Inholland award, that this project entices other Inholland-programmes and companies to collaborate. That would make me very happy.”

Talk about it
Désiree has one piece of advice: always talk about your idea! “My project would’ve never come about if I hadn’t articulated my ideas. So, share them! Inholland presents students with so many possibilities. Imagine being interested in working with animals for example, but in the field of physiotherapy. Then you could start a partnership with Sport Management (Sportkunde).”

Wij Inholland 
Wij Inholland gives students the opportunity to raise awareness for their projects. A platform on which they can distinguish themselves with an innovative and multidisciplinary project. This project should focus on either health, sustainability or creativity. Moreover, it should also add a regional value by working in close collaboration with a (local) company, institution or community. The winning team receives practical support and a € 2000, - cheque.

It was a school assignment that inspired them. Andjanie: “I have a slow juicer at home, and I noticed how much I threw away. Even at professional juice bars, people don’t use the pulp. So, during a brainstorm session, we’ve come up with a solution for this waste. First, we started experimenting. It was a lot of trial-and-error at first, until we came up with the product.” Juliette: “We also tried to make crackers, but that wasn’t a success. We made energy bars too, but granola turned out to be the best product.” The first time the girls tried their granola was an instant success. Andjanie: “It tasted great. Plus, our product is unique because it offers vegetables for breakfast. Pulp is full of fibres that make you feel full without an overdose of sugar.”

SUCH in Haarlem
The Start Up program from the Start Up Campus of Inholland Haarlem played an important role in the development of this project. Juliette: “The SUCH-program helped us find the right target group. We looked at our product differently. The program forced us to tackle the important issues. If we hadn’t done this, our business plan would’ve been less thorough. It’s useful to use different perspectives, such as marketing for example. I would truly recommend the Start Up program, though it’s important to have a product before you apply.”

Their study programme provided the girls with practical tools for food hygiene in businesses. Andjanie: “They taught us to think things through, such as food preparation. Is it possible to improve the safety or hygiene of our production process? Pulp provides a lot of nutrients for bacteria and we learned how to prevent their growth.”

Focus on the future
“We have our product. Now is the time for our own corporate identity and business partner”, says Andjanie. Juliette continues: “A web shop is the perfect next step to start selling. It’s the best way to present yourself, and this could be interesting for investors.” When asking if their product is successful already, the girls reply enthusiastically: “Our product is a big success, but we would like to make it available throughout the Netherlands. That would be a real success!”

Just give it a go!
Andjanie has some advice for student entrepreneurs: “Do you have an idea and would you like to further explore this idea? Just go for it! Inholland helped us enormously, our teachers supported us, and joining the Wij Inholland award placed us in the spotlights. We even went to the World Food Day in Rotterdam, all because of Inholland. The university gives us all the support and guidance we need.”

Wij Inholland
Wij Inholland gives students the opportunity to raise awareness for their projects. A platform on which they can distinguish themselves with an innovative and multidisciplinary project. This project should focus on either health, sustainability or creativity. Moreover, it should also add a regional value by working in close collaboration with a local company, institution or community. The winning team receives practical support and a € 2000, - cheque.

Are you the new Elon Musk? Are you an innovator who stands out from the crowd? Do you get excited about new developments? Do you want to jump start your idea? Nominate yourself or someone else for the Wij Inholland Award 2018! Students and colleagues can nominate projects via communicatie@inholland.nl. 

Wij Inholland is a project that seeks to bridge education and practice. It offers students a platform to distinguish themselves with an innovative project that ties in with the themes of either health, sustainability or creativity. The project also has to  span multiple disciplines, create value for the region and collaborate with a company, agency or municipality. The winning team will receive assistance to take their project to the next level and a voucher worth 2,000 euros.

Winners 2017
Ruby Jane Krikke, Casper Linsen, Simon Blomme, Sven Geres, Sam Camphyn, Maria Smirnova and Kim Johnson won the Wij Inholland Award 2017 with their GOWind systems project. The Aeronatical Engineering students from Inholland Delft won the coveted trophy and received the 2,000 euro voucher.

With GOWind Systems, the students respond to the demand in green energy by developing a vertical wind turbine that generates energy for offices and apartment buildings.

“We are thrilled”, says Casper. “This award enables us to work on a real prototype that helps us to develop our product. It is a great stepping stone to progress and to put our idea into practice. Kim adds that it is overwhelming to see how much interest there is in their project. "The amount of votes reflects that."

Are you or do you know someone who is working on an innovative project? This is your chance to nominate a project for the Wij Inholland Award 2018! Make sure you get your nomination in by 1st March via communicatie@inholland.nl.