For a long time, she doubted. Would she choose a study in healthcare or Industrial Product Design? A world of difference, you would think. “Until I got to know Lode Holding on Campus Groningen,” says Linde Roeloffzen. “Then everything fell into place.” As an internship assignment, the third-year IPO student develops cutlery with motion sensors for children with congenital brain injury. “Quite technical, but also extremely valuable. I can really make a difference for some people.”
Technology combined with care
“Look, I can also design toys for children. But I get no satisfaction from that. I really want to make a difference for someone. Ensuring that life is a little nicer or easier.” Linde got to know Lode Holding through a school assignment. “Technology combined with care. I immediately thought: this is great. I want to know more about this.” Since February, the Industrial Product Design student has been doing an internship at Umaco, a subsidiary of Lode Holding.
Back to the top
“Getting someone back in top shape is our goal,” says Annelies Wolters, business development manager at Lode Holding. “For one, that's winning a gold medal; for the other to be able to drink a cup of coffee again after a cerebral infarction.” Lode Holding is the parent company of the companies Lode, ProCare, aXtion, Umaco, and Omnium. “We believe that exercise is crucial for a long and happy life. And all companies work towards that mission in their own way.”
Extremely valuable
To this end, the companies create medical-technical solutions, in other words: enabling technology. “Subsidiary Umaco is the internal 'brain' behind many of those solutions. New discoveries are being made here," says Annelies, "by Linde, for example". Linde is designing a cutlery set for children with cerebral paresis, a form of congenital brain injury. "This makes everyday activities difficult," Linde explains, '' by placing motion sensors in a fork and a knife, a therapist gains insight into how the person is making their sandwich. She can then make adjustments. Quite technical, but also super interesting. And extremely valuable, of course."
“One of the first campus residents”
For patients, but also for Lode Holding. “We really can't do without the knowledge and ambition of students,” says Annelies. “Thanks to them, we continue to innovate.” It is an important reason why Lode Holding settled on the Zernike Campus in the 1980s. “As one of the first campus residents.” In the last decade, the number of innovative companies has really taken off. If it's up to Annelies, we should be proud of that. “People from Groningen are modest. But look what's going on here. The discoveries are being made here!”
Countless opportunities
Linda nods. “Every day we walk around the Campus with colleagues. And I am always amazed at how big it is. How many opportunities there are”. She does not yet know if she will stay in the North after her graduation. “But because of my internship, I do know one thing: This is what I want to do.”
