Our cofund partners


Thanks to our cofund partners the DBHC project became reality. On this page you can read more about the companies involved and the faces behind them. 

Innoseis (website)

Innoseis was founded in 2013 as a spin-off from the Gravitational Physics Group at Nikhef. Dr. Mark Beker and Prof. Dr. Jo van den Brand’s research in seismicity and gravitational wave detection at Nikhef lead to the pair developing highly effective lightweight wireless seismic sensors, having huge potential for application in the energy industry. After significant interest in the advanced technology used in the seismic sensors from companies in the energy sector, Innoseis was founded. For the DBHC, Innoseis will help with the preparation research for the Einstein Telescope (ET).


Mark Beker

Mark is CEO at Innoseis. When Mark Beker was doing his promotional research at Nikhef, he and professor Jo van den Brand (below) came up with the idea of using gravitational wave technology for new, commercial purposes. They founded Innoseis and became the guiding CEO and CTO.

Jo van den Brand

Jo is the CTO of Innoseis. Together with Mark Beker he founded the company in 2013. Jo van den Brand is also part of our consortium.

Rijksmuseum Boerhaave Leiden (website)

Rijksmuseum Boerhaave is a science museum located in the center of Leiden. The museum is named after Herman Boerhaave (1668-1738), a Dutch physician, anatomist, botanist, chemist and researcher. Together with Ad Maas from Boerhaave we will develop an exhibition focused on black hole imaging.


Ad Maas

Ad is conservator at Rijksmuseum Boerhaave. He studied economic history in Nijmegen. A twist of fate brought him to the Institute for Theoretical Physics at the University of Amsterdam for a PhD research on the history of physics in Amsterdam between 1877 and 1940. After a year of research at the Max Planck Institut für Wissenschaftsgeschichte in Berlin, he ended up in 2003 at Rijksmuseum Boerhaave. He will help us set up an exposition about black holes at Boerhaave.  


Annelore Scholten 

Annelore Scholten is an experienced Manager and Head of Education and Exhibitions at Rijksmuseum Boerhaave. She is skilled in Fundraising, in Strategy of Nonprofit Organizations, Cultural Scientific Heritage and Art. She studied Art history, Modern art / Dutch modern sculpture at Universiteit Leiden and French Literature at the University of Utrecht.


Discovery Museum Kerkrade (website) 

Discovery Museum reopened its doors in April 2021 and is the latest evolution of the Museumplein in Kerkrade (Limburg). Here science, technology, earth and design come together in a modern and broadly oriented museum concept. Together with Mischa Horninge and Gène Bertrand, Discovery Museum the DBHC will develop a film about black holes.


Mischa Horninge

Mischa is productmanager at Columbus Earth Center, Discovery Museum (at Museumplein Limburg). 


Gène Bertrand

Gène is the Program Director of Museumplein Limburg, Discovery Center (Kerkrade). 

Province of Limburg (website)

The Province of Limburg ensures a good regional economy and they also improve a cooperation between universities, colleges and research institutes. Especially with the Einstein Telescope project in mind, the Province of Limburg sees opportunities for the local economy. Additionally, the Province wants to stimulate art and culture - something the DBHC will also contribute to (via Discovery Museum, located in Limburg).


Eric Castenmiller

Eric is a Policy Officer for Cluster Nature & Water at the Province of Limburg.


Ingrid Dupuits

Ingrid is a Policy Officer for Soil Development at the Province of Limburg.


Las Cumbres Observatory (website)

Las Cumbres Observatory (LCO) is a network of astronomical observatories run by a non-profit private operating foundation directed by the technologist Wayne Rosing. Its offices are in Goleta, California. The telescopes are located at both northern and southern hemisphere sites, distributed in longitude around the Earth. For the DBHC the telescopes will be used by primary schoolteachers and their students for our lesson package for primary education.

Lisa Storrie-Lombardi

Lisa Storrie-Lombardi is Observatory Director at Las Cumbres Observatory.