The Innovation Cluster Drachten welcomed students from the University of Groningen's Technical Physics programme on a true safari! No lions and tigers here, but lots of companies involved in maths, computer science and ai.
A group of 150 students set off to meet the tech companies in Drachten and its surroundings.
Philips Drachten was the first stop for some of the group, where they make shavers and dummies. Philips' goal is to improve the lives of 2.5 billion people a year by 2030. That's quite a goal, but if anyone can do it, it's Philips!
BD Kiestra opened the doors to show students how they develop high-quality automated laboratory systems. If you work here, you are actually a kind of superhero, because you are helping to improve the health of people around the world. And that's without a cape or superpowers!
Another group of 50 students visited Photonis which specialises in photo sensor technologies developing sensors and detectors for defence, science, industry and medical research. That's a mouthful, but if you work here, you're basically a kind of James Bond with a scientific twist.
Ziuz showed the students how they deal with forensics, medicine dispensers and medical imaging. This company even has a branch that focuses on the Dark Web! I hope they did not invite the students to search on that....
At XPAR Vision, the students learned how to develop high-tech sensor and robot technology for the packaging glass industry. The goal is to make glass products stronger and lighter while improving production speed and efficiency. That sounds like a tall order, but I am convinced they can do it.
Finally, the students visited SRON, where they develop pioneering technology and advanced space instruments. They do fundamental research in astrophysics, earth sciences, exoplanets and technology. If you work here, you are actually a kind of astronaut without the need to leave Earth.
All in all, it was a fantastic Safari for the students of the University of Groningen. ICD proved that technology and science can be incredibly exciting and adventurous! And who knows, there may now be a lot of students considering future careers as technical superheroes or scientific James Bonds.
