On 14 April 2026, DEMCON took part in Girls’ Day in the Netherlands, a national initiative during which companies open their doors to girls aged 10 to 15 and introduce them to how fun, versatile and important technology and IT can be.
As part of this initiative, DEMCON supported Girls’ Day in two different ways, helping bring young students closer to robotics and engineering innovation while also highlighting developments from the TUBERS project.
At the same time, DEMCON also participated at the University of Twente, where the previous version of the snake-like robot was shown to students as part of the Girls’ Day activities there. This demonstration gave the participants a close-up look at how robotics is designed and developed in practice, and how engineering can lead to impactful solutions for society.
As also reflected in DEMCON’s own communication around the event, the University of Twente visit welcomed 25 curious girls from the first and second years of VWO, who came to explore the world of technology at the Pre-University / University of Twente. During the day, DEMCON colleague Liesbeth Mulder shared her own career journey, explained why working in engineering is so rewarding, and helped introduce the students to the world of robotics through the inspection robot demonstration.
The programme also included a lively hands-on duck challenge, adding a fun and interactive dimension to the day and giving the students a chance to engage with the spirit of experimentation and problem-solving that lies at the heart of engineering.
By presenting the snake-like robot in both settings, DEMCON helped connect Girls’ Day participants with a real example of European robotics innovation. Within TUBERS, the snake-like robot is one of the project’s key technological building blocks, designed to navigate water pipelines and support inspection activities in environments that are difficult to access through conventional means. Sharing this technology with students at an early age is a powerful way to show how engineering can combine creativity, research and real-world impact.
Girls’ Day was a great opportunity not only to inspire future engineers, but also to demonstrate how projects like TUBERS are helping shape the next generation of smart infrastructure technologies. We are pleased to see DEMCON contributing to this effort and helping young people discover the possibilities of engineering through hands-on exposure to robotics.