On 12 and 13 September 2026, the APOLO project took part in Makers Day Eindhoven, one of the Netherlands’ largest festivals dedicated to innovation, creativity and technology. Held at the Klokgebouw in Strijp-S, the 2026 edition attracted more than 10,000 visitors, bringing together makers, engineers, artists, researchers, families and technology enthusiasts.
Through the TEENTECH2 programme, APOLO joined four other EU-funded projects — AMBHER, ANDREAH, ELEKTRA and MemCat — to bring European research and innovation closer to citizens, young people and audiences beyond the traditional research community
At the APOLO stand, visitors had the opportunity to discover what the project is working on and why its research matters for the future of maritime transport.
APOLO — Advanced POwer conversion technoLogies based on Onboard ammonia cracking through novel membrane reactors — is developing advanced technologies for onboard ammonia cracking and power conversion. The project is investigating novel membrane reactor technologies to produce hydrogen from ammonia and integrate them with different power-conversion technologies, including fuel cells and internal combustion engines.
For visitors who were not familiar with ammonia as an energy carrier, Maker Days provided an opportunity to explain these concepts in a simple and accessible way: How can ammonia be used onboard ships? What happens when ammonia is cracked? Why are membranes important? And how could these technologies contribute to lower-carbon maritime transport?
As part of TEENTECH2, the stand also offered activities designed to make science and technology engaging for younger visitors, including a hydrogen quiz, memory game, word search and colouring activities.
These activities created a different entry point into the topics addressed by APOLO and the other participating projects, showing that complex research can be introduced through curiosity, interaction and play.
And there was even a special guest to help attract the attention of younger visitors: Wall-E! 🤖
For APOLO and its communication activities, initiatives such as Maker Days are an important way of bringing research beyond its usual environment.
Communication is not only about explaining what a project is doing. It is also about creating opportunities for dialogue and connections between research, industry, stakeholders and society.
Maker Days offered exactly this opportunity: to bring European research into a public environment, start conversations around emerging technologies and make the work of projects such as APOLO more visible and understandable to a much wider audience.
The APOLO consortium is pleased to have been part of this vibrant event and to have contributed to a weekend where technology, creativity, curiosity and research came together.
Discover the highlights of Maker Days Eindhoven 2026:
