My name is Bas, I am a young entrepreneur from the Netherlands, just freshly finished with a bachelor’s in biomedical laboratory research (biotechnology) from the Netherlands. I describe myself as a mix between an inventor and a businessperson, a real entrepreneur. Since I was very young, I have been very worried about the environment, climate and our society, I always felt responsible to help make the world a better place, no matter how cliché that might sound. My interests are quite wide, I really love inventing new stuff and programming, electronics and 3d-designing, just generally tinkering. However, I also really like networking, presenting and quickly have ideas, I really have a vision and passion I want to work on.
Because of this, I have been very active in the Cleantech and Biotech sectors, and my current startup, JiTiBa Algae Technologies, lies at the center of both. With my startup, I have developed a novel, CO2-neutral, technology to make use of micro-algae in gel-balls, the so-called ‘’algaepearls’’, to purify wastewater (sewage) and other polluted waterstreams, in order to reduce environmental damage and to recapture important minerals and resources (nitrogen, phosphorous, heavy metals).
My first days in Spain have been a very interesting and exciting experience so far. I have never been in Spain, and this is the farthest I have ever been from my home in the Netherlands. The culture is quite different, with a very different rhythm, both literally (very different times regarding breakfast, lunch and dinner), but also figuratively, with a seemingly more relaxed and less ‘’uptight’’ mindset in Business, compared with the Netherlands. My HE and colleagues from their company welcomed me with open arms and have been very helpful and friendly, they really took me under their wing. They have assisted me with finding accommodation during the preparations before I left, and also helped me with the language barrier, finding Spanish Lessons, etc.
I decided to join EYE, as I was recommended by an EYE alumni I met at a conference, she was very enthusiastic and told me that it would be a perfect fit for this. I have already been active internationally and have been building up a network in the Benelux and Austria. I have already lived abroad for over 7 months in Austria, where I did an Erasmus Exchange study for my Minor. Here, I also stayed 2 months longer, as I got connected with a research station in the mountains (WasserCluster Lunz), where I was invited to work and live for 2 months as a guest researcher on the amazing SciFish research projects for aquatic ecology. Due to this, I discovered I really enjoy being abroad and having these kind of exchange projects.
As I am now living and working in a country with a really different language- and culture compared to my own, I think I can develop my intercultural competences, international networking and other vital skills, well during this project. Next to this, my HE is very experienced in the application- and coordination of national and EU level grants and subsidies, IP strategies, project-management and sustainability assessments. These are exactly the skills that I miss- or still need to develop further, which is very important. During my time here, my HE will guide me on tasks relating to these skills, with this, I will make sure I will end this project with these skills way further developed and already some first successful projects of course 😉.