Van den Kroonenberg Award for Gerard van den Eijkel

Focal is a company specialized in the field of systems for Computer Vision and Optical Engineering with the application of industrial inspection systems and measuring systems for high-tech and medical applications. The core competencies of the company are optical design, optomechanics, computer vision, image analysis, optical measurement, system engineering and mechatronic systems. Focal currently has 23 employees. The majority of the specialists in the field of vision & optics are from the UT.

Gerard studied Engineering Physics at the UT and graduated in 1994 in the field of 'Optical Systems & Control Theory'. He later obtained his doctorate at the TU Delft on the subject of pattern recognition in 1998.

The Van den Kroonenberg Award for young entrepreneurship is awarded to an entrepreneur who has a clear connection to the University of Twente and who has proven him/herself with good entrepreneurship. The award is a tribute to the former Rector Magnificus Harry van den Kroonenberg, who made a significant effort to stimulate new entrepreneurship during his time at the University of Twente. The award, which will be awarded today for the 33rd time, consists of a monetary amount and an award.