Supporting the prototyping of sustainable technical innovations and helping student entrepreneurs unlock their full potential.
The origins of the Fund
Marguerite Vanhee, daughter of Albert Vanhee - a gifted technician and inventor in the field of precision printing - decided in 2019 to create a Fund within the Foundation for Future Generations, in memory of her father and to take action for future generations.
The founder’s ambition is to actively support sustainable technical innovations with genuine potential to reach the market.
The Fund’s activities
In keeping with Albert Vanhee’s spirit, the Albert Vanhee Fund for Future Generations supports the emergence of sustainable innovation in the broad field of technology.
In practice, the Fund:
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recognises the achievements of young student designers through the HERA Award Sustainable Engineering. It provides a €2,500 grant for the master’s award.
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supports student entrepreneurs in prototyping their technical innovations through a systemic, “360°” approach. It provides financial support of up to €5,000 for prototyping through the “Prototyping the Future” programme.
Who was Albert Vanhee?
Albert Vanhee was a printing technician. He invented a component designed to improve the printing process but, lacking the financial means, was unable to patent his invention. His employer seized the opportunity, purchased the patents, and the component was commercialised without its inventor ever benefiting from it.
As Marguerite Vanhee explained: “At the Foundation for Future Generations, I found an incredibly supportive environment in which to create the Fund I had been dreaming of for some time. Through this Fund, I want to support students- mainly in engineering - who have a goal and pursue it passionately all the way through, so that they can turn their project into reality: making it tangible and useful, so that it can benefit the world of tomorrow and future generations.”
Fund Type and Management Committee
The Albert Vanhee Fund for Future Generations is a named endowed fund. It is a spend-down fund hosted by the Foundation for Future Generations.
Ms Vanhee is not a member of her Fund’s Management Committee. She has entrusted its management to:
- Marcel Miller, Chair
- Laura Beltrame, Agoria
- Benoît Derenne, Director of the Foundation for Future Generations