Press Release

Enschede, Netherlands - 26 November 2004

Lionix receives Van den Kroonenberg Award

The Van den Kroonenberg Award 2004 is awarded to dr. Hans van den Vlekkert, CEO of Lionix in Enschede, The Netherlands. He managed to establish a rapidly growing and succesful company in microsystems for integrated optics and microfluidics. Van den Vlekkert receives the award on the occasion of the 43th anniversary of the University of Twente, November 26th. The Award is an annual tribute to young enterprizes linked to the university.

Van den Vlekkert founded Lionix in 2001 together with René Heideman (CTO). Today, about twenty people are employed in this young enterprise. The company is specialized in microsystems and sensors, for e.g. optical communication or systems transporting and manipulating tiny amounts of fluid –microfluidics-, to be used in lab-on-a-chip sytems, for example. This leads to a wide range of applications, for example in telecommunications and health care.

Lionix manages, according to the jury, “to apply microsystem knowledge in various product-market combinations. By keeping intensive contacts with the University of Twente, particularly in integrated optics and microfluidics, Lionix truly contributes to a solid knowledge infrastructure in the Twente region.” On its turn, Lionix generates new spin-off companies. This fits with the ambitions for a strong knowledge economy, according to the jury.

Lionix is one of the companies within the business incubator centre of the MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology of the university. This centre, adjacent to the cleanroom laboratory of the institute houses several companies. Facility sharing is an excellent way to cooperate and to lower the barriers for a rapid exchange of ideas.

Hans van den Vlekkert (48) is working on microsystems for over twenty years. He studied polymer chemistry at the University of Groningen and obtained his PhD degree at the University of Neuchâtel in Switzerland. He has been leader of several major microsystems projects and he is a reviewer for both the EU and the Dutch Technology Foundation STW.

The Van den Kroonenberg Award is named after the late prof.dr. Harry van den Kroonenberg, who was the founder of the ‘entrepreneurial university’ concept of the University of Twente. The Award goes to an entrepreneur distinguishing himself or herself by innovative products or an innovative approach to doing business. Winning companies have a clear connection to the University of Twente. The 2004 edition is the 21st time. The winner receives 4500 euro and an award.

Contacts:

LioniX BV
Hans van den Vlekkert
Tel: +31 (0) 53 489 3827
Email: h.h.vandenvlekkert@lionixbv.nl
Web: www.lionixbv.nl or www.lionixbv.com