Lieke Dom, the chairperson of the organising committee, says that the operation is on schedule. ‘It’s going well. Seeing the big tent getting built up is very exciting. We can literally see the event taking form.’
According to Dom about 10% are students from other universities. ‘Especially the University of Münster. We’re not sure if we get sold out, but we will get close to 1000 participants. There is still room for last-minute attendees.’
Cases for students and employees
The event is also open to UT employees. ‘We have thirty spots available for them,’ says Dom. ‘All UT staff members received an email this week, inviting them to work on the UT specific case of the new university strategy: Shaping2030.’ Students can work on either the UT case or one of the nine other cases, says Dom. ‘For example, you could choose to work on a case of T-Mobile and look into the use of 5G data transfer. Or a case by Rijkswaterstaat on how to build circular bridges and viaducts. We’re happy with the variety in the cases we can offer participants next week.’
Big prize: €4000
Next to all the brainstorming and idea developing, the daylong event also offers entertainment and inspiration, like keynote lectures, a comedy show by Boom Chicago and a day wrap-up by the Dutch satirical website De Speld.
At the end of the day, a jury consisting of Enschede mayor Onno van Veldhuizen, entrepreneur and UT alumnus Nico Nijenhuis, Tilburg University professor Lokke Moerel and American entrepreneur Wilhelmina Jewell Sparks will decide who is the big winner of the day and will take home €4000. The organisation also added prizes for all the case winners: a VR escape room experience.
What the organisation hopes for on the 1st of May? ‘That Create Tomorrow will be known and experienced as the event where great minds join forces to work on great ideas.’
