From idea to impact: students spark sustainability at UM
On 3 February, the Grand Finale of the Brightlands Startup Challenge took place at Lumière in Maastricht. In front of an audience of around 200 attendees, student teams presented their start‑up ideas. Several teams won vouchers to further develop or implement their concepts – including the participants of the UM Sustainability Challenge, which was part of the competition for the first time this year.
The UM Sustainability Challenge focused specifically on ideas that contribute to Maastricht University’s sustainability roadmap. Students were encouraged to develop solutions within UM's ambitions: climate, circularity and community. All the ideas have to be implemented at UM before the summer of 2026.
With around 20 participating teams, the challenge was a great success. Ultimately, three inspiring initiatives emerged as winners:
The three winning teams
- ReCrafted – circular graduation gifts made from UM waste
This team aims to use materials from UM waste streams to create circular graduation gifts for Circular Engineering students. In doing so, they achieve two goals at once: reducing waste and giving students the opportunity to apply their knowledge in practice. ReCrafted receives €500 to implement their idea. - BottleCycle – improved collection of deposit bottles and cans
Especially during busy periods such as exams, many deposit bottles and cans still end up in general waste. BottleCycle aims to change this by improving the collection system at UM. They receive €2,000 to put their circular solution into practice. - The Powerdown Challenge – energy savings through a student competition
This initiative encourages faculties and students to actively contribute to reducing energy consumption. The student behind the idea aims to create a competition in which energy‑saving opportunities are identified and implemented. With €2,500, the competition can be organised and rolled out across UM.
Implementation soon visible on campus
All three projects will be implemented at UM before the end of this academic year. Students and staff will soon see the impact of these sustainable ideas in their daily environment.
We would like to thank all students who contributed to a more sustainable UM by participating in the UM Sustainability Challenge. The challenge has certainly inspired us – and we plan to launch a new edition next year!
Also read
-
Donna Yates Appointed UNESCO Chair in Cultural Heritage and Emerging Crime
Donna Yates (Associate Professor in the Criminal Law and Criminology department) has been appointed UNESCO Chair in Cultural Heritage and Emerging Crime.
-
How beautiful can a polluted landscape be?
Anyone who walks along the meandering river Geul sees a postcard scene: rolling hills, half-timbered houses, grazing cows, a watermill giving rhythm to the landscape. Yet beneath that idyllic image lies an uncomfortable reality.
-
AI Café: students in conversation about AI and education
AI Café was created as a student-led community for open, insightful conversations about artificial intelligence in education. The first meeting on 26 February 2026 brought that idea to life with students sharing their experiences with AI.
