Two promising healthcare innovations developed by young researchers have been awarded the Niersfonds eHealth voucher 2025 for their contributions to better, future-proof healthcare. The first prize (voucher worth €5,000) was awarded to The Monitor Mug, developed by Colin Harmsen (student Creative Technology, Industrial Design Engineering). The encouragement award (voucher worth €1,000) went to Notify, developed by Daan Doeleman (Master’s student in Interaction Technology) and Fleur Doeleman (Master’s student in Medicine at Radboud University). The awards were presented during the TechMed event.
Smart cup helps prevent dehydration
The Monitor Mug is a smart drinking cup that accurately and easily measures hospital patients’ fluid intake. This innovation helps prevent complications from dehydration or overhydration while reducing the workload for healthcare professionals. “With The Monitor Mug, we want to improve patient safety and make healthcare more efficient,” says creator Colin Harmsen. “The first test results are promising, and with this award, we can further develop the concept towards clinical implementation.”
The jury praised the idea as “a thoughtful, well-executed concept with a well-tested prototype and clear added value for healthcare practice.”
Positive signals for more connection
The encouragement award went to Notify, a simple alert device that provides reassurance for older adults and their families. The small device has two buttons: a green one for ‘all is well’ and a red one for emergency assistance. “Notify isn’t just about emergencies, but about sharing positive signals in daily life,” explain Daan and Fleur Doeleman. “It keeps staying in touch naturally and easily.”
The jury appreciated the originality of the approach: “An innovative concept that not only alerts, but also fosters connection and wellbeing.”
Innovation for better care
With these awards, the Niersfonds encourages innovative ideas that contribute to safer, more human-centred healthcare. The winners receive their vouchers to further develop, test, and move their concepts towards practical implementation.
About the voucher
The Niersfonds eHealth Voucher is awarded annually to a bachelor’s or master’s student, PhD candidate, or young alumnus (within three years of graduation) who has developed an innovative idea for an eHealth solution or an innovation in rehabilitation technology, and wishes to further develop it. The voucher, worth €5,000, is made possible by the Niersfonds, a named fund within the University of Twente Fund. It is awarded in collaboration with the Biomedical Signals and Systems group at the University of Twente and the eHealth cluster of Roessingh Research and Development.
