From 16–17 September 2025, David Fernández Rivas, Alejandra Riveros Cortés, and Santiago Saavedra Castaño represented the University of Twente at the EU Research & Innovation Days held at The Square in Brussels. They were part of the only Dutch team selected to participate in the event.

At the conference, the team showcased two innovative projects: BuBble Gun, funded by the European Research Council (ERC), and FlowBeams, supported by the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA). Both projects demonstrated cutting-edge approaches for health technology, highlighting how microfluidics and high-speed microjets can enable safer and more precise needle-free injections and reimagine the skin as a platform for health and wellbeing.

During the event, the team engaged with policymakers, innovators, and the public, discussing the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and diversity in deep tech. Recent EU data shows that women-led deep tech startups receive only a small fraction of early-stage funding, emphasizing the ongoing need to support balanced and inclusive teams.

Their participation not only highlighted Dutch innovation in health technology but also reinforced the University of Twente’s leadership in advancing next-generation biomedical solutions.