LightHouse was founded in 2012 by Elke den Ouden and Rianne Valkenburg because of their shared CURIOSITY about the opportunities for public space with new technology, and their SURPRISE at the difficulty of practically implementing (scientific) knowledge.
Rianne and Elke both have a part-time position as TU/e Fellow in the Innovation, Technology Entrepeneurship and Marketing group of the department of Industrial Engineering & Innovation Sciences of the Eindhoven University of Technology. LightHouse was originally founded as part of the TU/e Innovation Lab and Intelligent Lighting Institute, to strenghten their knowledge transfer and valoristion activities. Since September 2023 Lighthouse is a separate partnership where Rianne and Elke continue these KNOWLEGDE-INTENSIVE activities in close collaborations with TU/e.

With in-depth background knowledge and expertise in innovation, practical business and (applied) science, LightHouse's value producers can BUILD BRIDGES, CONNECT PEOPLE AND MAKE KNOWLEDGE WORK. The LightHouse team builds on the NETWORK OF EXPERTS in Smart Lighting and Smart City Solutions, and involves these where relevant in the projects and activities.
VISIT US AT
Eindhoven University of Technology
Building Atlas - 6th floor north
Groene Loper 3
5612 AE Eindhoven
The Netherlands
Click for a route description and map of the TU/e campus
LightHouse - Fellow of TU/e is registred at Chamber of Commerce Eindhoven under number 91378575

dr.ir. Elke den Ouden
    

Elke den Ouden is founder and strategic director of LightHouse. She gained her Master's degree in Industrial Design Engineering in 1990 and subsequently joined Philips, where she has held a number of positions as advisor and manager in the field of product innovation for more than 20 years. In 2008 she was appointed as part-time professor in the Department of Industrial Design at TU/e (Eindhoven University of Technology). In 2014 she was appointed as TU/e Fellow, with the mission of further developing strategic relationships between the university and public and private organisations. Elke works with the Innovation, Technology Entrepreneurship & Marketing group in the Department of Industrial Engineering & Innovation Sciences. She combines her extensive experience in industry with her research in designing (added) value and developing new business through innovation in ecosystems. She has been involved in the TU/e Intelligent Lighting Institute from its early days, and is responsible for the strategy on Living Light Labs. She is also ambassador of TU/e Innovation Space where she is actively building a community of students with an interest in lighting and smart applications.

Elke has a pragmatic approach towards the development and implementation of new tools and approaches. She is author of the book 'Innovation Design – Creating Value for People, Organisations and Society', published by Springer Science & Business Media in 2012. She is frequently invited as guest speaker at meetings, conferences and internal innovation events in companies
"The pace at which new technologies become available and affordable provides great opportunities to improve the quality of life in cities, but only if we do it right. My contribution is to help people achieve a vision of a desired future by taking practical steps and decisions already today in their jobs in municipalities and companies."
dr.ir. Rianne Valkenburg
    

Rianne Valkenburg is founder and value producer of LightHouse. Rianne gained her Master's degree and PhD in Industrial Design Engineering, and since then has worked in innovation, always at the interface between (scientific and applied) research and business practice. Over the years her scientific career has involved positions as Professor of Designerly Innovation at The Hague University of Applied Sciences (2008 - 2017), Professor of Human Technology at Hanze University of Applied Sciences (2003 - 2007) and Assistant Professor of Innovation at Delft University of Technology (1993 - 2003).
Her practical career has involved different strategic advisory projects in her own company and as programme director for Design Initiatief (2008 - 2011), where she brought together entrepreneurs, designers and specialists to innovate together on breakthrough business solutions for the future. Through this work, Rianne has many years of experience in initiating and facilitating (open) innovation projects and networks. She is able to create transparency and structure in complex situations such as innovation, value creation and business development.
In 2019 she was appointed as Fellow at TU/e (part time) in the Department of Industrial Engineering & Innovation Sciences with the Innovation, Technology Entrepreneurship & Marketing group. The aim of the fellowship is to initiate, develop and facilitate cooperation between TU/e researchers and strategic partners.

Rianne practices a design-driven innovation approach, which has been designed and tested in years of experience, both as advisor and as professor. Through this combination she is familiar with new (scientific) insights in the field of innovation, and is able to translate them into practical tools and approaches that make sense in (commercial) organisations.
"My main challenge is to help people look beyond the horizon, seek new opportunities and aspire to a better future. For people, for teams, for organisations and for society at large, I aim to make innovation and creativity look easy by building a step-by-step approach and by coaching people along the way."

Webdesign:  www.VissenCom.nl