Abeje Mersha, lecturer in Smart Mechatronics and Robotics at Saxion, has been named the winner of the 2025 Delta Prize. This prestigious award is presented annually by the Netherlands Association of Universities of Applied Sciences (Vereniging Hogescholen) and the Taskforce for Applied Research SIA (Regieorgaan SIA) and is intended to stimulate and reward leading, practice-oriented research at universities of applied sciences. The award includes a €500,000 investment, which Mersha will use to further expand and scale up his research group and collaborations.
* Photo: Taskforce for Applied Research SIA (2025)
As a professor, Mersha leads research into robotics, mechatronics, and artificial intelligence, focusing on societal issues where technology has a direct and measurable impact. His professorship works on solutions in sectors such as sustainable energy, public services, infrastructure, agriculture, defense, manufacturing, and healthcare. Think of drones that inspect wind turbines, firefighting drones that support the work of emergency services, or robots that weed or even pick fruit. The essence of his approach: translating fundamental knowledge into usable, safe technology that enhances rather than replaces humankind.
Regarding the significance of the Delta Prize, he says:
With this prize I want to continue building on a big dream: an internationally recognized institute for robotics, mechatronics and AI.
With this ambition, Mersha demonstrates that the Delta Prize is not the end point, but a powerful driver of further innovation, talent development, and social progress.
Robotics projects also receive the KIEM scheme for practice-oriented research
Through the KIEM program of Holland High Tech and Regieorgaan SIA, various Saxion projects in which robotics plays a central role have been supported. The KIEM program encourages collaboration between knowledge institutions and the business community and enables innovative, exploratory practical research. Holland High Tech
