Antoon Grauls, an alumnus of Energy Technology at the Diepenbeek campus, is on the longlist for the mtech+ prize. His bachelor's thesis developed an Energy Management System for the biogas plant of Guilliams Green Power, aiming to better align the production and consumption of green electricity. He investigated how 35 electric motors could be intelligently controlled to reduce reliance on the grid and avoid power injection peaks. Out of 66 submissions, he is now in the running for the €1,500 prize.
Nathalie Wilms, an alumna of Orthopedagogy at the Hasselt campus, is nominated for the Bachelor Prize. She developed ‘Waar mijn stekels mogen rusten’ (Where My Quills May Rest), a read-aloud book about a hedgehog placed in a group home. The book helps children understand their situation, discuss feelings, and work with their caregiver towards safety and resilience. Her bachelor's thesis, selected from 147 entries for the prize, focuses on emotion regulation for children in group care.
With these two nominations, two distinct programs from the Limburg UCLL campuses are highlighted: technology and smart energy management, and the well-being of vulnerable children. Both Grauls and Wilms are among the 10 nominees in their respective categories.
The prizes will be awarded on December 16, 2026.
