On September 19, the Excelsior Stadium was buzzing with excitement during the Grand Finale of the third edition of the Erasmus University Challenge. With a record-breaking 74 teams, revamped categories, and a focus on logistics, energy transition, and societal impact, this was the most impressive edition yet.
In addition to the familiar Ideation and Prototyping categories, a new Start-up category was introduced this year for more established ventures, raising the stakes and driving even more innovation!
The Winners
- Agora triumphed in the Ideation category (€3000 prize) with their revolutionary idea to enhance social cohesion by connecting people with local
- PAVA won the Prototype prize (€4000) with their groundbreaking innovation, which involves placing sensors in elderly residents’ rooms, connected to a dashboard interface for caregivers.
- The Start-up prize (€5000) was awarded toCupHubfor their pioneeringinitiativeCasey, a reliable storage and cleaning container for menstrual cups,allowing them to be discreetly cleaned anywhere.
Prof. Dr. Annelien Bredenoord, chairperson of the Executive Board of Erasmus University Rotterdam, emphasized the importance of innovation and societal impact: “The university not only adds value in education and research but is also a breeding ground for entrepreneurship. Here, ideas and innovations are born that make a real, lasting impact on society.”
Excitement Until the Very End
Jury member Han Go of Go-Tan B.V. praised the finalists for their resilience and perseverance: “Choosing a winner is no easy task because each team has shown impressive results and exudes success. The dedication and growth I have seen in everyone are simply inspiring.”
The €1000 Audience Award, voted live by viewers, was won by Fiwani. Category winners took home substantial cash prizes: €3000 for Ideation, €4000 for Prototype, and a whopping €5000 for Start-up. Free beers, wines and sodas is won by ModelMatic, and STAGE 2 Berlin is won by CubHub.
International Ambitions
Following this successful edition, the winners now have the chance to take the international stage at the Stage TWO competition in Berlin. With double the participation compared to the first edition and an unprecedented passion for entrepreneurship, the future of innovation looks bright.
The Erasmus University Challenge is organized by Erasmus Enterprise. For photos, videos, and more information, visit erasmusuniversitychallenge.nl or contact amy.kong@eur.nl.
