Meet BOOST

The world's fastest-charging electric racing car, safe hydrogen batteries, light sculptures, game development studios, reusable rockets and modular houses: these are just a few examples of innovations developed by Brabant student teams. The province of North Brabant supports these teams with a €2.8 million grant fund. This initiative stems from the efforts of Brabant students who developed a new platform to support students and their innovations across the province: BOOST (the Brabant Student Teams Support Organisation).

This grant fund - the largest Dutch fund aimed at student teams - allows MBO, HBO and WO students from Brabant to apply for financial support for the next five years. The fund offers two types of grants to help student teams realise their innovative ideas: the Innovation Grant (up to EUR 40,000 for large projects) and the Kickstarter Grant (up to EUR 1,500 for early-stage initiatives). Through these, BOOST and the province support initiatives that address societal and technological challenges and have a positive impact on the region.

Province Administrator Martijn van Gruijthuijsen:

In Brabant, we invent the smart solutions to today's and tomorrow's challenges. Our universities, colleges and mbo institutes are the breeding ground for talent with innovative solutions. We can put that brainpower and bravado of students to good use, we as a province are happy to give that a push. I can't wait to see what great ideas our Brabant talent will come up with.

Student Teams at mbo, hbo and university

Brabant student teams work voluntarily on a variety of projects that contribute to social and technological progress. Those projects regularly lead to leading startups. To ensure that every student in Brabant has the opportunity to set up their own team or participate in existing teams, BOOST works together with ten educational institutions in Brabant: TU/e, Tilburg University, HAS Green Academy, Breda University of Applied Sciences, Avans University of Applied Sciences, Fontys University of Applied Sciences, Summa College, SintLucas, Design Academy Eindhoven and Ter AA. The aim is to create one large ecosystem of student teams in Brabant, at MBO, HBO and WO level for the more than 150,000 students within the province.

Nick Hol, Chairman of BOOST:

BOOST is the Brabant-wide development agency for student teams

‘With this platform, we create opportunities for young talents to develop and contribute to the future of Brabant.’ Besides supporting the fund and coordinating between educational institutions, BOOST offers an online platform with information, events, news and vacancies for and about student teams. Future plans include a public knowledge base, scholarships, shared cars for the teams and Brabant-wide marketing to increase the teams' visibility among all 150,000 Brabant students.