27/06/2026
How It All Started 40 Years Ago
I was 15 years old when I discovered that I had a talent for solving technical problems with ideas that went beyond what most people could imagine. I would often visit the Innovation Centre in Alkmaar—sometimes almost every month.
I was practically part of the family there. They even made sure to save me a piece of birthday cake whenever I stopped by.
Over the past 40 years, I have developed more than 130 innovative concepts and have contacted over 260 companies—including Shell and Fokker—as well as educational institutions (MTS/HTS colleges, Delft University of Technology, and Eindhoven University of Technology) and research institutes such as NLR, ECN, TNO, and Rijkswaterstaat. Along the way, I have had the opportunity to speak with countless professionals, both within these organizations and beyond.
I also had many discussions with NOVU (The Dutch Order of Inventors). On several occasions, I was told: "Come up with something simpler—you are too far ahead of your time." Looking back, they were probably right. Fortunately, technology has advanced significantly since then, and today most of my designs can actually be engineered and manufactured.
During these 40 years, several of my concepts have indeed been realized. Unfortunately, some were taken by companies because of weak Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs), while other companies—sometimes connected to those organizations—eventually brought the concepts to market.
However, none of this has ever stopped me from starting over. Whether improving an existing concept or developing something entirely new, every setback has made me stronger and has helped me raise the quality of my designs to an even higher level.
At the age of 21, I was diagnosed with and . During the assessment, the specialists were surprised that I was able to read and do mathematics at all. Receiving that diagnosis brought a great deal of peace to my life and answered many questions I had carried for years.
The name Qlandex Design was created sometime between 2001 and 2003. However, I did not officially register my company with the Dutch Chamber of Commerce (KvK) or register the company logo until 2019. Feel free to visit my YouTube channel:
https://www.youtube.com/
The name Qlandex was created by rearranging the letters of my first name, Alexander, starting with the letter Q and ending with X.
I am certainly not yet where I want to be, but I am confident that I am moving rapidly in the right direction.
The journey of 40 years of innovation has been built on perseverance, frustration, determination, self-belief, and confidence in my abilities. It has been a challenging road, but one that continues to move forward.
P.S. I now have a much stronger NDA.
Thank you for taking the time to read my story, and perhaps our paths will cross in the near future.
Kind regards,
Alexander Janknegt
Qlandex Design
