Winnaars RAAK-award 2017

Practice-oriented research at universities of applied sciences deserves a broad audience - with that thought in mind, the RAAK-award was brought to life in 2011 by Coordinating Body SIA. The prize is awarded every year at the SIA conference to the best rated RAAK-project: practice-oriented research by universities of applied sciences that increase the publicity and quality of the research.

Winner: Installations 2020 – The Hague University of Applied Sciences
Energy installations function as the lungs, the heart and the blood vessels of a building. They ensure that a building breathes and stays the right temperature so as to create a comfortable and healthy inside climate. This costs a lot of energy, however. Modern installations have often become so complex that even the best experts are losing track of things; malfunctions, faulty adjustments and energy waste remain unnoticed. Researchers at the Hague University of Applied Sciences have a surprising method to reduce energy waste by combining data mining algorithms with building simulation software and with diagnostic methods from the health sciences. The results of the research lead to a comfortable and health inside climate, less malfunctions and much more energy conservation. Because of this, the research project of the Hague University of Applied Sciences has won the RAAK-award 2017.

Modular Robotic System
Roy de Kinkelder received the second place prize on behalf of the Mechatronica lectorate of Saxion. The lectorate researches the use of robotic systems that can allow elderly to live independently at home longer. A strong point of this project is that this technical research starts with the final user: the elder. As it turns out, everyone wants something different from a robot. This challenge led to a modular robotic system that can also be used outside of health care. The jury is delighted about the implications of the research. The new knowledge from this project has found its way into various parts of education and in follow-up research.

Going Eco Going Dutch
Going Eco Going Dutch by ArtEZ has won the third place prize. This is a research project in which fiber, yarn and textile producers and fashion companies, in partnership with Saxion, develop sustainable, locally produced textile fibers (such as hemp and recycled denim) into yarn, fabrics and knits and turn them into marketable (fashionable) products. Special about this project is the close partnership between the researchers and the people from the fashion industry. They literally work side by side on the development of a circular process.

Audience Prize
In addition to the jury prizes, the audience prize is also awarded every year. Attendees of the SIA conference were able to vote on the research project they thought was the best. The winner: Chain Financing for the SME of Windesheim.