Future rethinkers

I am an entrepeneur

At MNEXT, we provide entrepreneurs, businesses, and governments with the expertise and support needed to innovate within the material and energy transition.

I am a researcher

At MNEXT, we offer the opportunity to contribute to knowledge development on the material and energy transition through research projects with (lecturer-)researchers and students.

I am a student

At MNEXT, we offer various opportunities for internships, graduation projects, and research within the material and energy transition.

For a sustainable future

MNEXT, along with the SMEs, forms the bridge between innovation and society. By conducting applied research with students, teachers, and researchers. By collaborating on educational innovation. This is how we set the materials- and energy transition in motion. For a sustainable future.

Learn more about our Centre of Expertise

Future Rethinkers Congress 2025

On June 12, 2025, MNEXT will open the doors of OpenX in Breda for the annual Future Rethinkers Congress, dedicated entirely to the theme of “Transition in Action.” This event brings together professionals, students, researchers, and companies to demonstrate that the materials and energy transition is already well underway and, more importantly, that it can be done. The highlight of the day will be the keynote speech by Diederik Samsom.

AANMELDEN

Research themes

Innovation in education

Transition and value creation

Sustainable energy technologies

Bio-based and circular materials

Featured

Natural origins, sustainable end?

Something seemingly simple is happening at Living Greenlab in Den Bosch — yet it could hold big implications for sustainable construction. Paula Jerez Zarandona and Fran Ortega Exposito, researchers working on the MycEoLA project, have buried samples of mycelium biocomposites in soil — these sustainable building materials are visible to passersby through a glass panel. Their goal? To answer a surprisingly underexplored questions: is mycelium really biodegradable in natural soil conditions, and what impact does it have on soil health?

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Green coatings that protect – and then disappear

How can coatings retain their protective function while also naturally breaking down? The GreenCoat project tackles this challenge by collaborating with MNEXT, Stahl International B.V., and PUROC to improve the biodegradability of widely used coatings, such as polyurethane and epoxy. Through knowledge development and applied research, this project contributes to a more sustainable coatings industry.

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Whitepaper: Circular Failure

The circular economy offers enormous opportunities, but not every project succeeds. We examined sixteen large-scale circular initiatives with a total investment of more than 2.5 billion euros. What makes the difference between success and failure? Our research shows that three factors are crucial: the financial space to get through difficult periods, strong and strategic leadership, and good risk management.

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