Duysters is the first European to be awarded this honorary doctorate by WUT. He has been selected on account of his ‘extraordinary scientific merits’ and because of the impact of his research on science in China. Simultaneously with the honorary doctorate, Duysters, who also works part-time at Tilburg University (UvT), will be given a cash prize of 100,000 euros by the Chinese government, which will enable him to conduct research in China for the next three years. The prize is intended to boost the exchange of scientific knowledge between the winner and the nominating university. WUT, whose history goes back to 1893, is a broad university with 54,000 students and a scientific staff of 3500.

Duysters is also scientific director of the Brabant School of Entrepreneurship, a joint venture between TU/e and UvT, which focuses on stimulating entrepreneurship among Bachelor and Master students. (HK)/.