“When you say Saartje Janssen, you say technical education with a big T.” The Gerard & Anton High Tech Piek Award jury did not hide its appreciation for the Summa director who plays such an important role within Brainport Industries Campus (BIC). Saartje Janssen received the top prize for her incessant fight to create more technically skilled talent. She does this primarily from BIC, where she has been an essential part of the successful ecosystem from the start.
The Piek Awards – in addition to the main prize, there are also four stars and four ‘knallers’ for special achievements – are offered annually to people who have achieved something special in Brainport Eindhoven’s innovative ecosystem and from whom much can also be expected in the coming period. The Piek Awards were presented for the eighth time last week.
“At a time when everyone is crying out for well-trained technical talent, Saartje has never only used words; she has simply done it,” said the jury chaired by Alderman Stijn Steenbakkers. “Throughout her career she has been fighting tirelessly for better technical education, especially at the MBO level. And that MBO will only become more important in the near future. Of the 80,000 jobs created in the coming years, two-thirds will be for MBO graduates. Saartje Janssen is responsible for projects for retraining, further training and Lifelong Development. In this way, she helped thousands of people find a future in technology. Exactly what this region needs.”
Janssen herself was gilded with the honor. “Of course, I consider this award a great appreciation for my work and on the task we stand for: training technical talent. I don’t do that alone, but with all my colleagues and the many companies for the group that really makes the difference within the manufacturing industry: our MBO students.”
“Backbone of the manufacturing industry”
In her acceptance speech, the Summa director pointed out that while there is often a lot of focus on spectacular innovations and high-tech solutions to complex challenges, these brilliant ideas ultimately must be created and produced. “Our MBO students are the backbone of the manufacturing industry within Brainport and show daily how important their craftsmanship is. They inspire me to make a lasting commitment to the Brainport ecosystem.”
The jury chairman concluded: “This oeuvre award is a tribute to her years of dedication and impact. Yet the work is far from finished, and Saartje knows that like no other. That is why this is also an appeal: more people like Saartje are needed to make her mission successful. Because without her and her advocates, there would be no well-trained technicians, and without those technicians, there would be no innovative Brainport.”
Janssen also referred to project-Beethoven, the billion-dollar mission in which educational institutions, companies, and government work together to train more technical talent for the future. “We are taking up this challenge together within Brainport. You can do more together, which makes my work so special!”
Read more about the Piek Awards and the other winners here.