Start-ups and partners make innovation tangible in the FNS Ideation Lab

In the FNS Ideation Lab, start-ups get that final push. Researchers from TU Delft, TU Eindhoven and the University of Twente work together with students and partners from the industry to bring their research to market and create a successful start-up. At an early stage, industry parties, investors and other practical experts are already involved in the development of start-ups and spin-outs.

One example of this is the StarWarden team (TU/e). In the FNS Ideation Lab, they investigated whether there is a commercial application for their 3D-printed heat pipe system, which can cool enormous amounts of heat from a very small surface area. Originally developed for nuclear fusion, the team focused on alternative applications in the Lab, given the still underdeveloped market for nuclear fusion. During the Lab, they investigated two different markets, and both directions proved promising for StarWarden's technology.

The FNS consortium and the Ideation Lab

The FNS consortium aims to establish the Netherlands as an international leader in 6G technology. Impact Studio's Ideation Lab adds an extra dimension to this by giving researchers the opportunity to rapidly translate their innovative ideas or research into scalable concepts with social impact. The researchers were paired with students who were eager to gain experience in entrepreneurship. Together, they were coached by experts from Impact Studio and the FNS consortium.

Why start-ups and industry need each other

But what makes this setting the ideal breeding ground for innovative entrepreneurship? The answer is that Ideation Labs facilitate cross-pollination between two very important players, because innovation with real impact rarely occurs in isolation. The researchers, with their innovative ideas and technological knowledge, and the established players, with their extensive networks and scaling opportunities, need to meet at the right time and be able to work together.

Warm introductions to industry partners

The students who assist the researchers are encouraged to interview as many relevant people in the field as possible in a short period of time in order to quickly carry out their market validation.

Paul Wijngaard (Alliance Director FNS) emphasises: ‘Innovation starts with Dreaming and Thinking about new possibilities. Students Dare and Do that. By bringing students into contact with companies, we encourage them to actually Go ahead. By putting these ’5 D's‘ into practice, we support collaboration in innovation between knowledge institutions and partners of the FNS programme’.

Networking events as a catalyst

The FNS partner networking event was organised on 13 May 2025. Lenneke de Voogd-Claessen (Delft University of Technology), programme leader of the 6G Ecosystem in the FNS consortium: ‘This event was organised to bring the partners – from established companies and knowledge institutions to young innovators – together at an early stage in the development process to learn from each other.’ An excellent opportunity for our Ideation Lab teams to ask their questions.

Giacomo and Keerthanapriyaa, who are conducting research for StarWarden, attended the event: "During the event, we made new connections in the FNS field. A professor from TU Delft advised us to attend the EUCAP conference in Stockholm. We went there and were able to conduct dozens of interviews in quick succession. This gave us a deeper insight into a sector that was initially new to us. After EUCAP, we also had the unique opportunity to present our progress at the FNS partner event in Ede."

Impact starts with an idea, good research and creativity. But it really takes off when these ideas are in the right environment. Lenneke de Voogd-Claessen: ‘By linking the Ideation Lab to the existing FNS consortium, an environment has been created in which new academic spin-offs can find their way to the market. Ideas are immediately translated into prototypes, tested in the market and refined through a combination of fresh perspectives and practical experience.’

Giacomo (StarWarden) adds: ‘Through the FNS Ideation Lab and Paul Wijngaard, we have made connections that we are still using today. One German research group immediately saw the potential of our technology as a solution to their problem.’

Win-win-win

The FNS consortium has also been enriched by these encounters. For example, one company was approached by several students with questions and, through the interviews that followed, gained more insight into what is going on in innovation and the market. A company that was approached by the students but was not yet part of the FNS network has also expressed interest in becoming part of the ecosystem. This shows once again that by being in contact with each other and facilitating cross-pollination, a win-win-win situation is created.

Would you like to know more about Impact Studio's Ideation Labs? Read more here. You can read more about StarWarden's story here.