Over 260 people visited the Future Rethinkers Congress hosted by MNEXT in Breda last week. MNEXT is a collaborative initiative between HZ University of Applied Sciences and Avans University of Applied Sciences. Two lecturers from HZ were present at the event. Frank Huijben from the Biobased Building research group spoke about the importance of a healthy indoor climate, while Tanja Moerdijk demonstrated during a workshop that what we eat affects not only our bodies but also the planet.
The congress took place at OpenX in Breda. The theme was “Transition in Action.” Visitors were introduced to innovative technologies and solutions in the fields of materials and energy transition that are already being successfully applied in practice. There were also TED-NEXT Talks, interactive workshops, and presentations of student research. Former Labour Party (PvdA) leader Diederik Samsom opened the congress with a keynote speech.
Food from the Sea
Tanja Moerdijk of the Marine Biobased Chemistry research group is investigating whether and how food from the sea can be a sustainable alternative. This includes shellfish, seaweed, and sea vegetables, which are not only nutritious but also have less environmental impact than meat or agricultural products. During an interactive workshop, she let visitors dive into the world of sustainable and circular food production. They didn’t just listen—they also got to taste. The flavors were quite literally on the table.
Healthy Buildings
Frank Huijben from the Biobased Building research group is exploring whether buildings are truly healthy. Factors such as air quality, temperature, comfort, and ambiance are crucial in determining a building’s health. How a space feels influences how people behave and how they feel. This matters, especially since we spend an average of twenty hours a day indoors.
In Breda, Huijben spoke about research focused on natural and composite materials like wood, bamboo, and flax. He also showed that insulation materials can be made from mycelium, reed, straw, seaweed, and (flax) lime hemp, and how these can contribute to a healthier living environment. He also highlighted the importance of behavior and responsibility: a building may be constructed with biobased materials, but if people don’t use it consciously, does it really serve its purpose?
In the Spotlight
In addition to the presentations and workshops, students were in the spotlight. More than 50 students presented the results of their research, including how to optimize colorants from fungi, how to make bioplastics from green waste, and how to develop circular foundations for soft soil.