Spark! is the simplest and shortest idea competition within the Chemistry department! You don’t need a startup, a business plan, or a prototype — and you definitely don’t need to use fancy or technical language. Just explain your idea in your own words, the way you would tell your friends.All you have to do is register an idea you believe in. Compete with other chemistry students, share your creativity, and most importantly: discover how to make it real.
Spark! is a simple competition to uncover the innovative and sustainable ideas of Japie members. You don’t need a startup or a prototype — just an idea worth sharing.You register your idea, and a jury will select 5–8 finalists who get the chance to pitch during a fun final event we organize in the FORT!But Spark! doesn’t stop there: all participants will receive feedback and the opportunity to continue exploring their idea afterwards, with support from the Knowledge Transfer Office (KTO).How it works:
Submit your idea online – just a sketch and a short description.
Jury selection – a small panel reviews all entries and selects the finalists.
Coaching & pitch training – finalists get optional support from the KTO to prepare.
Final event in the FORT – informal, fun, with prizes and plenty of student energy.
Spark! is open to:
Chemical Engineering & Chemistry bachelor and master students
Recent graduates (up to 1.5 years after graduation)
Your idea can come from anywhere — your (lab) projects, a bachelor end project, a master thesis, or even outside university.The only requirement is that it includes an innovative or technological element and has the potential to make an impact — whether big or small, for people, communities, or society.Why join?
Share your idea and let it be seen
Pitch in the FORT in a fun, informal final
Get feedback and optional coaching from the KTO
Win a prize (for example €1.000 to use for prototyping or project expenses)
Participating in Spark! is the ideal way to showcase your idea and to experience what it feels like to work on it a bit more seriously. After the competition, you can continue your journey with the support offered by the Knowledge Transfer Office (KTO). You will have the opportunity to join Sprint Week to develop your idea further together with peers and coaches. And of course, you can take the next step by joining the TU/e Contest to bring your idea to an even higher level.
Registration
You register your idea online with a simple form — just a sketch, a short description, and their own words.Jury selection
A expert panel reviews all entries and selects 5–8 finalists to move forward.Coaching & pitch training
If you are a finalists, you have the option to participate in a coaching session with the KTO to prepare and practice their pitch.Final event in the FORT
An informal and fun evening where finalists present their ideas. Prizes will be awarded, but the real focus is on sharing creativity with your fellow students.
Timeline
Registration & submissions open: 01-12-2025
Jury selection: 15-12-2025
Coaching & pitch training: 06-01-2025
Final event: 02-02-2025
Registering for Spark! is really easy. Just fill out the form with the basic elements of your idea. It doesn’t have to be perfect — we only want to understand what your idea is about. A sketch, a short description, and your own words are more than enough.In the form we'll ask the following:
Information about yourself and how we can reach you
A short description of your idea
You can upload a simple sketch, image, or short video
A bit of information whether it is your idea or whether it is a team effort
You can edit your submission at any time until the deadline. After you submit, we will check whether your idea might be eligible for protection, for example through a patent. If this is the case, we will contact you directly.All submissions are treated as confidential. Only if your idea is selected for the final will we ask to use it for promotion — and before we do so, we will always contact you to discuss and confirm.
If you have any questions about this competition — or if you already want to explore your idea further — feel free to reach out:Whatsapp: +31 (0)6 434 722 67
Email: [email protected]Or directly book a meeting with one of our business developers: