Josefien Groot

Qlayers is a high-tech company based in Delft, the Netherlands, delivering automated paint application at industrial scale. Founded in 2017, the company has grown from a bold idea into a globally operating scale-up and a pioneering force in the multibillion-dollar robotic coating solutions market. My focus is on Qlayers’ long-term direction: driving the shareholders’ vision and shaping strategic partnerships and investment strategies to ensure the company remains at the forefront of technological innovation and global opportunities.

After a four months long internship, I continued working at ECN as business developer Biomass & Energy Efficiency (BEE) until my master started in September. I carried out market analyses for new technologies and I executed several tasks in order to improve the marketing and communication of the BEE unit.

For my graduation, I did my Bachelor Project SBI at ECN in the Biomass & Energy Efficiency unit and more specifically, in the Business Development team. The main purpose of my research was to give a better perspective to ECN on where to put focus when it comes to implementing thermal energy storage in the area of industrial (waste) heat utilization.

While being in Taiwan for one school semester, I combined my study with an internship at Miniwiz in the Business Development team. Miniwiz is a Taiwanese company that upcycles consumer and industrial waste into construction and consumer products. I carried out market analyses for new product opportunities and a policy analysis about European Regulations. The idea behind this internship was mainly to get to know the company better for possible future collaboration.

More and more young modern women are interested in spirituality. Women begin to realise that yoga and meditation does not have to be boring, blurry and old fashioned, but is for relaxing, self-actualization and to broaden their knowledge. SpiritChick sells unique (yoga) clothing and offers a platform for spiritual women of today. In January 2016, the company changed hands. I can proudly say that the company is still increasing in market share today. Off to a new concept!

At the intersection of technology, organisation and governance. In the study of SEPAM, I learned to design in complex technical environments by looking beyond the technology and concentrate on what is needed in order to bring innovations to life: regulations, logistics, behavioural change, financial incentives, entrepreneurship, organisation etc. Combined writing my MSc thesis with Qlayers (4 days Qlayers, Friday and weekends MSc thesis) and finished it with a 7.5/10 with no delay.

Studied at The Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB) for one semester for my MSc degree in consequence of the gLINK (Sustainable Green Economies through Learning, Innovation, Networking and Knowledge Exchange) programme, which aims to deliver cross-fertilisation of ideas in a number of thematic areas by offering scholarships to talented students. At ITB, I participated in three MBA courses for young professionals and two courses of the faculty of Mechanical Engineering that enhanced my knowledge in the field of renewable energy.

Studied at the National Taiwan University in Taipei for one semester. Participated in different courses, including a general Chinese language course.

The study of Science, Business & Innovation (SBI) trains to integrate scientific aspects in a business and innovation context while taking organizational, social and cultural variables into account. Specialized in Energy Science and Life Science. As an extra to my study, I took courses in Global History and Politics.