‘Do what you believe in and be authentic’

"Standardization seems like a boring backroom topic, but it's an increasingly important tool in today's geopolitics. It determines who controls the tech markets. If you are the one setting the standard, you decide. The English have a great saying for this: 'If you're not at the table, you might be on the menu.' So, you better ensure you're at that table to have a say and decide."

Exploding batteries

Bekkers gives an example of the importance of technical standards: "In New York City, people are killed by exploding batteries on electric bicycles every year. These batteries are faulty because they do not meet good safety standards and are often repaired in an amateurish way. People then park their bikes in their apartments for fear of theft, with dire consequences if such a battery explodes inside. With the right technical standards, you guarantee the safety of technical products."

When I wanted to focus on standardization 30 years ago, people thought I was out of my mind.

Rudi Bekkers, Best Bachelor Teacher 2024

"Standardization and patents are topics that I find extremely interesting and important. I was ridiculed when I wanted to pursue them further after completing my PhD 30 years ago. 'Nobody thinks this is important,' I was told. So, my advice to colleagues would be not to be completely led by trends. Do what you believe in and be authentic."

Perseverance

Bekkers believed in it and persevered - with success because the importance of technical standards is high on the European political agenda. Among other things, Bekkers is a member of the High-Level Forum on Standardization, which advises the European Commission.

"There is only one academic party in this advisory body, and that is TU/e. I attend all meetings with Robert-Jan Smits, president of the TU/e Executive Board. It's exciting to be able to collaborate with all those people."

Impressive network

Thanks to his years of collaboration with other parties, such as the European Commission, Bekkers has an impressive network. "I take the knowledge I gain there to my classes. I also ask experts from my network to give guest lectures to our bachelor students. They could be lawyers or people who work in government or business. Who can students learn better from than the experts themselves, the best in their field?"

"This is how I try to connect the valorization work I do for the European Commission with teaching and conducting scientific research."

Who can students learn better from than the experts themselves, the best in their field?

Rudi Bekkers, Best Bachelor Teacher 2024

Bekkers has just returned from Rome and Berlin, where, on behalf of the European Commission, he had the opportunity to translate the gospel of his field into education on standardization across Europe. "Right now, it's still too fragmented. Funding has been allocated to scale this up. We also want to offer similar education at universities of applied sciences and plan to provide courses at companies ourselves, for example."

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