At just 21 years old, business student Meinke van Oenen from Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM) has been recognised as one of Het Financieele Dagblad’s Top 50 Talents Under 35. Her inclusion in this prestigious list highlights her groundbreaking work in sustainable water desalination through her startup, Algaenius.
Meinke’s passion for environmental innovation began in secondary school, where she started researching nature-based solutions to combat water scarcity. With projections by the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) indicating a systematic shortage in the Netherlands by 2030, her work has never been more relevant. Through Algaenius, she develops a novel desalination method using halophilic algae to purify seawater for agriculture and industry. The process also captures carbon dioxide, addressing both water scarcity and climate change mitigation.
UN recognition
Meinke is enrolled in RSM’s BSc Bedrijfskunde programme. Her entrepreneurial journey has already earned her significant recognition, and she also speaks at events.
Algaenius has won the UN Gamechanger Challenge and the Dutch Junior Water Prize and was a top-three nominee for the Netherlands largest student entrepreneurship award, Philips Innovation Award, as well as the WWF Inno Student Challenge. Meinke’s ability to combine scientific research with business innovation has positioned her as a leader in sustainability-driven entrepreneurship.
Beyond her startup, Meinke’s leadership has been acknowledged by the Young Lady Business Academy, founded by Businesswoman of the Year 2017, Elske Doets. Through this programme, she secured a three-month internship in the USA and was featured in Dutch national media.
Her insights on sustainability and the future of climate solutions have also been featured in De belangrijkste vragen van je leven, a new book by Dutch TV presenter Harm Edens. In it, she joins other young thinkers, including Erasmus University alumni, to explore pressing environmental challenges.
Meinke’s story is a testament to the impact of young innovators who combine technical and academic knowledge with entrepreneurial drive. As she continues her work with Algaenius, she demonstrates how leadership and science can intersect to create lasting, positive change.
Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (RSM) is one of Europe’s top-ranked business schools. RSM provides ground-breaking research and education furthering excellence in all aspects of management and is based in the international port city of Rotterdam – a vital nexus of business, logistics and trade. RSM’s primary focus is on developing business leaders with international careers who can become a force for positive change by carrying their innovative mindset into a sustainable future. Our first-class range of bachelor, master, MBA, PhD and executive programmes encourage them to become critical, creative, caring and collaborative thinkers and doers.
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For more information about RSM or this release, please contact Erika Harriford-McLaren, communications manager for RSM, on +31 10 408 2877 or by email at harriford@rsm.nl.
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