PLEASURE AND AMAZEMENT ARE CENTRAL AT STRIJP-S AND STRIJP-T DURING DTW.

Posted by Linda Bak | May 14, 2019 |

Quiz Night XL 2018

Visiting performances, lectures, and exhibitions, but also playing games and building robots, the Dutch Technology Week (DTW) in Eindhoven is full of fun and educational activities for a wide audience. Strijp-S and Strijp-T are important locations when it comes to innovation and creativity.

"Make, create, and innovate, that's what the companies that settle on Strijp-T are chosen for," says Daan Heijsters, co-organizer of the DTW activities at Strijp-T. This can also be seen during the DTW. The Innovation Powerhouse and Additive Industries open their doors to the public. "In the hall of the Innovation Powerhouse, all companies located there can exhibit their work. There is also an exhibition of students from the Eindhoven University of Technology," says Heijsters. In addition, there are activities for children such as the interactive screens of CTOUCH where they can play games.

It is the first time that a really big event is taking place at Strijp-T during the DTW. Heijsters: "Last year there was an open day at Additive Industries, but now we have taken it to a much larger scale." In addition to engaging the public, the events at Strijp-T also serve the purpose of connecting the established companies with each other. "All companies are still quite new at Strijp-T. It would be nice if they get to know each other better," explains Heijsters. "When companies get to know each other better, they are more likely to collaborate. This, in turn, creates a better innovation climate."

The festival should be fun and accessible.

In addition to the goal of Strijp-T to introduce companies to each other, the general goal of DTW is to inspire people for technical professions. That is one of the reasons why Sioux organizes a tech festival. At the two-day event, visitors can control an exoskeleton, ride in high-tech bumper cars, virtually bake cookies, and escape from an advanced escape room. "The core of the festival is always the robot competition," says Mark Hoevenaars, Director of Strategy and Marketing at Sioux. "Sioux Mechatronics organizes a competition for students every year. They work on building a robot throughout the year and present it at the festival." In addition, there are various activities for the general public. "The festival should be fun and accessible."

MAN AND MACHINE
The relationship between humans and machines is central in this edition of the tech festival, according to Hoevenaars. This is also precisely the subject of the play Noir, presented by Nineties productions in collaboration with the Parktheater. The play explores the influence of technological developments on society and humanity. "It provides a glimpse of society in the future if all technological advancements continue," explains Iselle Claassens, programmer at the Parktheater. "The play consists of separate sketches. One of them is about a woman who discovers after a number of years that her boyfriend is a robot." The play can be seen at MU on Strijp-S. Claassens hopes that during the DTW, people who don't normally go to the theater will come to see the play. "It offers a different perspective on technology, with a humorous twist."

In addition to the general events, there are also activities for the real tech enthusiasts in Eindhoven and its surroundings. Quiz Night XL has been organized for years in the Klokgebouw by the creative event team Number 42. "It is an evening where the knowledge of the attendees is tested through intriguing questions about science and technology," explains Edwin Verbruggen from Number 42. The questions cover the latest gadgets as well as chemical formulas. "This year we sold out very quickly," says Verbruggen. 1400 participants divided into 280 teams will compete against each other. "There are also 50 teams on the waiting list," he adds. "That has never happened before."

The DTW is intended to introduce everyone to the possibilities and effects of technology. The event will be festively opened on May 20. Various events and activities will take place throughout the city until May 25. Here you can find the complete program.

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