Previous winners

Category Researchers 2024

'MyLeg' - A Smart and Intuitive Transfemoral Bionic Leg” by Raffaella Carloni (Faculty Science of Engineering)

Carloni has been the initiator and the scientific coordinator of the Horizon 2020 European project 'MyLeg' (2018-2023). In this collaborative project she led an interdisciplinary team consisting of engineers, rehabilitation physicians, human-movement scientists, and a world leader company in the field of lower-limb prostheses. Within the project, Carloni’s research was dedicated to advancing the development of above-knee prosthetic legs. The fundamental idea was to use a biomimicry approach and replicate the fundamental functionality of a healthy human leg in both the mechanics and in the control architecure of the new generation of bionic legs.

Video:  Ben Feringa Impact Award 2024: Rafaella Carloni | University of Groningen

Category Students 2024

“Geospatial Data in International Development, the Case of Malawi” by Jonas Göbel (Faculty of Arts) 

During his placement at the German International Development Bank (KfW), Göbel worked with his supervisor on generating and collecting data that captured the geographical location of project sites in southern Africa. They mapped schools, health clinics, and regions where projects are financed by the KfW. In recent years, the impacts of climate change have caused considerable damage to local infrastructure in Malawi, presenting challenges to the well-being of communities. In response, the KfW Development Bank, along with other stakeholders, has undertaken efforts to address these challenges and improve living conditions by supporting the financing of healthcare centers, schools, and energy infrastructure.

Video:  Ben Feringa Impact Award 2024: Jonas Göbel | University of Groningen

Category Researchers 2023

“4NSEEK; Forensic Against Sexual Exploitation of Children” by George Azzopardi and Guru Swaroop Bennabhaktula (Faculty Science & Engineering) 

This project focuses on the development of an AI tool that enables enforcement authorities to examine footage of sexual exploitation of minors. The tool can identify the device that was used to create the studied footage and whether or not a given set of images or videos were created with the same equipment. With this technique, enforcement authorities can investigate available footage more efficiently and accurately, and thus build a stronger case against suspects.

Video:  Nominee Ben Feringa Impact Award 2023 | Dr. George Azzopardi

Category Students 2023 

“Complaining about lawyers as a form of occupational therapy” by Nine van den Wijngaard (Faculty of Law) 

The research is about dealing with so-called ‘frequent complainants’ in disciplinary procedure rules. The deans of the local Bar Association handle a large number of complaints every year. Of course, it is important that complainants have the opportunity to file a complaint. But the low-threshold nature of the complaints procedure has created a group of frequent complainants. Nine investigated what legal means the dean has to act against these frequent complainants.  Her research has produced a set of practical do's and don'ts for the Bar Association.

Video:  Nominee Ben Feringa Impact Award 2023 - Nine van den Wijngaard

Category Researchers 2022

“The Administratieve War on Drugs” by Michelle Bruijn (Faculty of Law) 

As part of her research project entitled ‘The Administrative War on Drugs’, Bruijn studies combating drug-related crime from a civil law perspective in an innovative manner. This is a highly relevant topic, in which she collaborates with partners from the field. The jury was impressed by the way in which she developed a practical tool which is already being used in workshops and training courses in the field.

Video: Ben Feringa Impact Awards - The administrative war on drugs | Rijksuniversiteit Groningen

Category Students 2022

“Cultural Engagement of Young Adults in Het Hogeland” by Ydwer Hoekstra, Stefan Ivanov, Roos Gielen en Joren Arkes (Faculty of Arts)

In their research project entitled ‘Cultural Engagement of Young Adults in Het Hogeland’, commissioned by the municipality of Het Hogeland, the students explored the cultural engagement of young adults in the municipality. The jury was impressed by the practical impact of the project, including the mind shift that the research triggered in the organizations involved and the newly established Cultural Youth Network. 

Video:  Ben Feringa Impact Awards - Cultural engagement of young adults in het Hogeland | RUG

Category Researchers 2020

“Ocean Grazer” by Wout Prins , Antonis Vakis and Bayu Jayawardhana (Faculty Science and Engineering) 

The Ocean Grazer harvests renewable energy from sea waves and integrates this with a modular solution for the large-scale storage of electricity that is generated by wind turbines and floating solar panels at sea. As a result, clean energy can be generated under all weather conditions. The mechanism is based on technology from a hydroelectric plant, technology that has been proven to be highly reliable and efficient for over a century.

Category Students 2020

“Ivy One” by Niels Weijermars (Faculty Science and Engineering)

Niels Weijermars developed an equipment which enables patients so that they no longer have to walk through corridors, tackle hurdles and manoeuvre themselves in busy lifts while dragging their portable IV drip stands. The Ivy One by Ivy Medical can be worn as a shoulder bag and offers high wearer comfort and optimal flexibility during IV treatment. This results in more freedom of movement for patients and lower work pressure for nurses and healthcare assistants.