Inovation Awards

In 2000, Berkelmans decided that he wanted to further develop his plans. This was not possible at to elaborate his work at the physics laboratory in Radboud University in Nijmegen. Therefore, he embarked on a quest to seek various financing options.

Millennium Award

Later that same year, using outstanding technical drawings of Bauke Muntz, the invention was rewarded with the prestigious Millennium award (NLG 100,000/$ 60,000) and was supported intensively by the National Rehabilitation Funds ‘NRF’ and ministry of Economic Affairs.

Herman Wijffels Innovation Prize

In 2002, he received further financing by winning the Herman Wijffels-innovationprize encouragement award. To top it off, big building firm Royal Wessels Stevin, who had made large profits NRF donated generously towards the funding required by Berkelmans.

Kittz Innovation Prize

Short after the market introduction, the BekelBike won the innovation prize Kittz in 2006. The BerkelBike was named the best new medical device of the past 2 years.

After the huge success of the prototype, a clinical trial was executed in co-operation with the Sint Maartenskilliniek rehabilitation centre and St. Radboud University Medical Centre. This research was to a large extent paid for with the money from the regional European encouragement fund.