Why test here?
The Hockey World Cup brings together athletes, coaches, volunteers, sports organisations and thousands of visitors. That makes it a realistic testing environment for innovations that make sport more accessible, more sustainable and, above all, more enjoyable.In just a few days, researchers and entrepreneurs can gather valuable insights. Do people understand the innovation? Does it work as intended? And what improvements are needed to take the next step towards real-world implementation and market adoption?

Practice-oriented research from Universities of Applied Sciences
During the Hockey World Cup, Innofest supports seven sports innovations. Six of these are the result of practice-oriented research at Dutch Universities of Applied Sciences and are supported through the Innofest × SIA Sport programme. Together with entrepreneurs, researchers are developing solutions to today’s challenges in sport and physical activity.

From pedagogical support for coaches to virtual reality, from video feedback to low-stimulus sports environments, every innovation is tested with real users in the middle of the event.

App4Support
Supporting youth coaches when it matters most
Windesheim University of Applied Sciences

Volunteer youth coaches are increasingly supporting children with mild psychosocial challenges. App4Support helps coaches better understand and guide these young athletes. During the Hockey World Cup, the team will explore users’ needs and expectations while validating the innovation for wider adoption by sports clubs across the Netherlands.

Boost Your Game!
Improve your technique with video feedback
Hanze University of Applied Sciences

What’s the fastest way to improve your technique? Watch yourself in action. During the Hockey World Cup, visitors perform a drag flick and receive instant video feedback on their technique. Researchers are exploring how users experience the innovation and how video feedback can make hockey training more personal, engaging and effective.

De Teamscan
Better insights into team dynamics
Windesheim University of Applied Sciences

A successful team is about more than technical skills. Team Scan helps coaches understand the learning environment within their team using the FRIS framework: Physical, Relationships, Content and Structure. During the Hockey World Cup, researchers investigate whether the tool helps coaches recognise patterns faster and respond more effectively to their team’s needs.

Sport zonder ruis
Creating low-stimulus sports environments
Avans University of Applied Sciences

Not everyone feels comfortable in sports environments filled with loud music, crowds and bright lights. Sport zonder ruis explores how low-stimulus settings can make sport more inclusive. During the Hockey World Cup, visitors experience this environment themselves while researchers investigate what is needed to make these spaces successful.

Ready for VR
Exploring the future of sport in virtual reality
Avans University of Applied Sciences

Can virtual reality become part of everyday sport and physical activity? During the Hockey World Cup, visitors take part in a VR sports experience. Researchers explore how accessible, engaging and valuable participants find this new way of moving.

Create, Dance & Connect
Moving together starts with fun
Good2Move & Avans University of Applied Sciences

Sport isn’t always about a ball or a racket. With the Dance Creator, participants build their own choreography from more than forty dance moves. They then practise together with a virtual dance instructor or in small groups. During the Hockey World Cup, researchers explore how creativity and social connection inspire people to move.

RefConnect
Helping every match find a referee
Independent start-up

Sports clubs are finding it increasingly difficult to recruit and retain referees. RefConnect makes it easy for clubs and referees to connect. During the Hockey World Cup, the team gathers feedback from players, coaches, volunteers and club officials to further improve the platform.

Six of the seven innovations tested during the Hockey World Cup are part of a joint programme by Sportinnovator and Regieorgaan SIA. Through this initiative, Universities of Applied Sciences and SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) have the opportunity to test innovations in sport, physical activity and sustainable sports facilities at festivals and major sporting events. The goal is to get more people moving and accelerate the transition towards a more sustainable sports sector.

Curious to see these innovations in action? Join the Innofest Innovation Tour.

During the tour, you’ll discover all seven innovations, meet the researchers and entrepreneurs behind the prototypes, and experience how practice-oriented research comes to life in a real-world setting. You’ll also have the opportunity to try the innovations yourself and ask the teams all your questions.

When: Wednesday 19 August, 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM

After the tour, you’re invited to join us for drinks and informal networking.

Want to know more? Contact us at .oc.t1786087103sefon1786087103ni@yd1786087103nic1786087103

Innovation comes to life through real-world testing. During the Hockey World Cup, seven teams gather live feedback from visitors, athletes, coaches and sports professionals to validate and improve their innovations.

Want to visit, arrange an interview or learn more about one of the innovations? Get in touch with us.

Innofest helps innovators test their prototypes at festivals and other real-life test locations. By validating their key assumptions early on, innovators increase their chances of success and gain valuable insights for investors and first customers.

Since its founding in 2016, Innofest has supported more than 350 test cases at festivals and living labs. We do this using our validated testing method, which we’ve made accessible in a practical whitepaper.

Download the whitepaper here and discover how testing leads to real impact