Company history

Megahard was founded by electronics design engineer Georges Meinders. Megahard is currently operating as a sole proprietorship which collaborates with other specialist freelancers, design houses and production companies. During Georges' career at scientific research institute INCAS³ some projects required outsourcing to electronics design firms. This outsourcing of projects turned out to be rather frustrating, if not impossible due to a lack of product design companies out there with acceptable prices, quick response times, clear communication and multidisciplinary knowledge.

This lack of acceptable electronics design outsourcing options, caused Georges to be motivated to create a much better product design service. This resulted in the founding of product design company Megahard as an INCAS³ spin-off in 2011.

Megahard as an INCAS³ spin-off

INCAS³ is an independent, non-profit research institute with the ambition to create a bridge between basic knowledge and the practical applicability of sensor systems. INCAS³ focuses on the reliability, reduction of energy usage and the applicability of sensor systems in open environments. The research is carried out on its premises in Assen by doctoral students, postdocs and senior scientists in combination with a team of excellent engineers. Because INCAS³ is a research institute, its role ends with the field prototype. For INCAS³, however, the final step into an actual product or solution is essential. INCAS³ encourages and enables its researchers to go into business with the knowledge they gathered during their stay at INCAS³. Spin-offs are an integral part of the philosophy.

At INCAS³ employees are allowed to spend 20% of their time on research and engineering projects of their own interest, provided that there is some consistency with the INCAS³ activities. Some of the items in the Megahard portfolio resulted from 20%-time projects.

INCAS³ is co-financed by the European Union (European Fund for Regional Development), the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation (Peaks in the Delta), the Province of Drenthe and the Municipality of Assen.