Prof. dr. ir. Han Meijer, professor of Polymer Technology and scientific director of Eindhoven Polymer Laboratories (EPL), mentioned the disposable bioreactor of the Biomedical Engineering Department as an example. With this reactor of polymers, it is possible to mechanically stimulate cells to become muscular tissue for a heart valve. These cells grow on the reactor for about four weeks, during which period they slowly adopt the shape and the function that they must have.

Another application was raised by prof. dr. ir. René Janssen from the Chemical Engineering Department: solar cells made of polymers. “These solar cells can be produced cheaply and fast, and can thereby constitute one of the solutions to meet our energy needs for the future.”

Feike Sijbesma, chairman of the Managing Board of DSM, spoke about challenges for the future, one of which he said was the development of polymers that do not consume any fossil fuels. Sijbesma: “Stanyl ForTii, a plastic with high temperature stability, which allows it to be used in engines and electronic components, is probably one of the last new polymers based on petroleum.” A breakthrough in this area he calls the production of succinic acid, a building block of polymers, from grain via fermentation, for which a pilot factory is being set up at present.

Prof. dr. Bert Meijer, who awarded the honorary doctorate to prof. dr. Samuel Stupp, spoke about the pioneering role that Stupp played in the field of molecular nanotechnology: “Stupp is a specialist in the area of molecular self-assembly, in which molecules organize themselves into complex structures that can be made functional.” Like the sac that is formed by molecules to transport stem cells through the body so that the body’s immune system does not attack the stem cells before they have done their work.

At the closing of the foundation day celebration, TU/e professors prof. dr. ir. Han Meijer, prof. dr. Bert Meijer and prof. dr. Rutger van Santen received an award from the Rector Magnificus for the fact that each of them has supervised more than fifty PhD candidates. Rector Hans van Duijn announced that from now on promotors who have supervised 25 and 50 PhD candidates will receive an award./.