Yesterday, the Netherlands Academy of Engineering (NAE) inducted twenty new members: fifteen new Fellows, including Bram and Tim, and five new Young Engineers, including Gabriel Costa. Bram, Tim and Gabriel all work in Twente. NAE membership is awarded to a select group of leading engineers, technologists and innovators from science and industry. They have delivered outstanding achievements in their field and demonstrate inspiring leadership in important societal transitions. In addition, they are committed to strengthening the role of engineering in society. NAE is the national academy for engineering in the Netherlands and is part of international networks such as Euro-CASE and CAETS.
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Marieke Huisman, NAE board member and responsible for member appointments within NAE: “I am incredibly proud of our new NAE members. They are pioneers working towards a sustainable, resilient future and a strong Dutch economy. They demonstrate what equitable technological development means, stimulate public-private partnerships and embody the true spirit of engineering: from measuring to knowing to building. What unites them is their motivation to make a real, positive impact on people’s lives. This makes them inspiring examples for young people choosing a technical education — from vocational to university level — and for professionals who advance our sector every day.”
NAE figureheads in the fight against technical talent shortages
NAE is working on an action agenda to increase the amount of engineering talent in the Netherlands. The shortage of technical talent is evident everywhere and is hampering our ability to innovate, make progress on major social transitions and, with that, our economic growth. With the action agenda that began with the Innovation Conference on 19 November, they are translating their fervent desire to structurally increase, enthuse and retain the number of people with a passion for engineering. Click here for more information about NAE’s activities in the field of engineering talent.
About Bram Nauta
Field: integrated circuit design
Position: professor at the University of Twente
Bram Nauta is a world-renowned engineer whose inventions can be found in billions of chips worldwide — literally in our pockets and hands. His groundbreaking “Nauta transconductor” made mobile phones more energy efficient and accelerated data communication, with a major impact on the global telecom industry. As an internationally recognised leader in analogue and RF-CMOS design, he has received numerous awards, including the NWO Stevin Prize and an ERC Advanced Grant. Nauta built a unique ecosystem of chip companies and talent in Twente, known as the ‘Analogue Hotspot Twente’.
About Tim Tiek
Field: deep tech semiconductor, integrated photonics
Position: CEO Brilliance
Tim Tiek is an enthusiastic engineer and entrepreneur with an impressive track record in the high-tech industry. As CEO of Brilliance RGB, he develops groundbreaking laser chips for augmented reality, which sets the Netherlands apart in a global growth market. Previously, he put Bruco Integrated Circuits on the map as a highly specialised company in advanced chip technology for wireless communication and signal processing — crucial in sectors such as telecom, automotive and industry — and achieved strong growth at Super B Lithium Batteries. Tim is also deeply involved in society: he has been a board member at HighTechNL for five years, is a member of the Supervisory Board of Recharge, co-initiator of the educational electronics project Spektro, and representative of the Twente high-tech ecosystem to the government. As a coach, he supports young entrepreneurs.
About Gabriel Costa
Field: Technology & healthcare. Industrial Product Designer
Position: co-founder and CEO at J58
Gabriel Costa is an industrial designer and entrepreneur who develops technology that has a direct impact on autonomy and dignity in everyday life. As CEO and co-founder of J58, he is developing the EZER standing wheelchair — a mechanically designed aid that not only allows users to switch between sitting and standing, but also to move around while standing. This design philosophy focuses on inclusion, simplicity and affordability, deliberately choosing light and low-maintenance gas springs instead of complex electronics. Gabriel won the 4TU Impact Challenge (jury prize, 2024), the Startup Award and ASML Makers Award during the UT Entrepreneurial Challenge, and was named FD Talent 2025. He previously worked at Philips on product development and at GreenTechLab on adaptive cultivation systems, building a multidisciplinary foundation in mechanics, user experience and circularity. Gabriel is recognised by his peers as a visible and accessible advocate for inclusive technology and human dignity in design.
