ConnectING 19 juni 2022

Telepathy really exists. It is possible
to send brain signals to a computer,
a drone, or any other device without
physical contact. What is more, you can
also use your thoughts to control or direct
these devices. How to make this happen
is the domain of the new NeuroTech Leuven
Team, a group of talented KU Leuven
students from various disciplines who
are bringing together their knowledge of
neuro-technology and -science, advanced
electronics, signal analysis and machine
learning as well as medicine and psychology
in a unique project.
NXT Competition
Chairman Anthony is a master’s student
in Nanoscience, Nanotechnology an Nano -
engineering at the Faculty of Engineering
Sciences. From his study but also from
his concern for people with mental
problems, he wants to further explore
the possibilities of neurotechnology and
make them known to young people and
the general public.
Anthony does not come onto the ice
unprepared. He has already won his spurs
in the Product Innovation Projects (PiP)
of KU Leuven. With the iGEM team he
won silver in the Genetically Engineered
Machine Competition in Paris last year.
“With NeuroTech Leuven we are going to
participate again in such an international
competition,” Anthony says. “This time it
will be the NeuroTechX Student Club
Competition from September 2022 to
April 2023. About thirty top teams will
participate. The teams are all given the
same subject about which they must
realise the best project. The participants
will receive the required hard- and software
and can register for lectures, workshops,
and training sessions. The competition
itself consists of two parts. In the offline
part, each team will show a video or
show case of its application. The real
competition will take place in the online
presentation of the project results.”
Organisational structure
Although the competition does not start
until September 2022, Anthony has
already gathered a nine-strong team
around him to pave the way.
“By the time the competition starts,
we want to have developed a solid
organisational structure in which roles and
tasks are clearly defined,” Anthony says.
“This will enable us to be more targeted
in our search for the right profiles of future
members. It is also good for the continuity
of the team. We want the team to
continue after April 2023. The Solar Team
did not stop after the first World Solar
Challenge in 2005”.
“The basic structure is already broadly
established,” Anthony continues. “We have
Ward and Sandro who take care of
financial status and business relations.
Emilie plans the in-house events. Frederic,
Jonah, and Maarten supervise the
projects while I co-ordinate all activities.”
Events
Like the other student teams active within
the entrepreneurial incubator Technovation
Hub, NeuroTech Leuven will also share
its knowledge and expertise with other
students and the public. “We do that
through hackathons, workshops and
talks by experts,” Anthony explains.
“STEM activities for young people are also
part of this. We participate in events such
as the Technovation Hub Innovation Day,
the Advanced Engineering Expo, and the
job fairs of the faculties of Engineering.
In time, we want to make NeuroTech
Leuven a real forum for all those who are
active in this promising field. The potential
to increase the capacities of humanmachine
interfaces makes us believe that
the next technological revolution will be
based on neurotechnology. We want to
be prepared for that”.
Yves Persoons
www.ntxl.org
CONNECTING
21