SmartUs won NOT 2007 Innovation Prize in Holland
(29.1.2008)

During the official opening of the National Exhibition on Education (NOT) 2007, the Minister of Education Maria van der Hoeven rewarded Yalp sport & spel with the NOT innovation award 2007 for the interactive play revolution SmartUs by Lappset.

The innovation award has been adjudged in three categories: Education and Teaching in General, Education and Teaching with IT and Education and Teaching with Facility Products, Equipment and Services. The jury, existing of Loek Hermans, Annet Kil, Mathieu Weggeman and Leen van Driel, had a difficult task: 51 projects signed in for the award. This emphasizes the priority that has been given to innovations in the educational sector.

Yalp sport & spel has been awarded in the category Education and Teaching with Facility Products, Equipment and Services. In the explanation during the reward the jury said the following concerning SmartUs: “A computer orientated play area that inspires children to play and to learn. The first SmartUs playground has been installed at the end of November 2006 in the Netherlands. We have to see how the SmartUs concept will function in everyday practice, but: without a doubt it is very challenging play equipment based on an innovative concept.”

The jury report highlighted the following about SmartUs:
• Innovative and challenging for the youth at different levels
• Combination of education, activity and competition
• Combination of technology and traditional play
• Combination of play and computers outside

The Innovation Prize was received by managing director Ben Admiraal Of Yalp, Wim Olde Kalter, school principle of the Dalton de Bongerd, the first school in the Netherlands with a public SmartUs playground, and product manager Reijo Koivula in SmartUs Ltd. The delegation of the municipality of Oldenzaal celebrated the rewarding with the others, for they made it possible that the first public SmartUs environment in the Netherlands was realized.

For more information:
Marketing Manager Tamara de Lange (Yalp sport & spel) 0547-262170, info@yalp.nl
Managing Director Asko Alanen (SmartUs Ltd) +358 40 8233033, asko.alanen@smartus.fi