Last Wednesday, Dec. 11, a diverse group of about 50 master's students from the University of Groningen (RUG) as guest of Demcon Industrial Systems. This is where the semi-annual matchmaking event took place. This was last for 2024.
The turnout of students was remarkably large. The majority of this group consisted of students from the Mechanical Engineering master's program, supplemented by students from the Artificial Intelligence, Industrial Engineering & Management, Physics and Energy & Environmental Sciences master's programs.
After a welcome by Johan de Wit of Demcon, Prof. Maryam Gandichi Tehrani, in charge of the Mechanical Engineering master's program, opened the powermaking event.
Stage matchmaking
This event marks the beginning of a period when these students will be looking for internships. For Mechanical Engineering students, this mainly involves their 14-week design assignment. Other students are additionally looking for a place to complete their master's research.
ICD organizes the matchmaking event every six months for this fulfillment. Here each time a part of the ICD companies are present. The following companies were represented in this edition; Philips, Batenburg Bones, Photonis, FMI ImProvia, Stork, Variass and Demcon. It thus gave the students a great insight into the diversity of businesses within the ICD.
The 7 companies gave a pitch, after which Dr. Nick Szirbik and Dr. Sushant Kumar Pandey an explanation of the Autonomous Systems EngD program. The students then had the opportunity to visit the companies at brief intervals. In doing so, they were able to discuss 1-on-1 the options offered by the companies. There was also room to put forward their own ideas.
This interaction between companies and students will undoubtedly lead to new partnerships that will start soon. Here the goal is that students will then be able to start in the spring of 2025. This will then involve an internship, assignment or research within the chosen company.
Presentation Demcon
After matching, the students were taken to the Entrance building where Demcon gave a presentation on the ‘NXTgen smart industry’ project. This was followed by a tour of the ‘Beer Line’, this is a use case in which Demcon has a major role. With this tour the event ended and we look back on an energetic afternoon.
The matchmaking event is a result of the ICD's ongoing commitment to connecting academic knowledge with the practical needs of industry. By bringing students and companies together, the ICD creates valuable opportunities for innovation and practical experience. This is essential for the development of future engineers and the industry as a whole.