1. Expertise

• Has specialist knowledge in the field and can make connections with other fields.
• Has sharp analytical skills, can understand and make sense of complex processes, can think conceptually and knows how to share this with others.
• Has contributed to the deployment and/or development of engineering sciences in a specific technical field.

2. Innovative capacity

• Has a clear vision of the subject, can develop a desired image of the future and then put it into practice.
• Is distinctive and striking in his/her work, transcending his/her own field.
• Works with new techniques and technologies or applies an existing concept in a very refreshing way that makes it demonstrably more useful.
• Shows originality and creativity in his/her work.

3. Entrepreneurship

• Takes initiative: identifies opportunities and problems, makes proposals and suggests solutions or takes action himself.
• Has ambition: is driven, sets clear and innovative goals and is result-oriented in achieving these goals.
• Dares to take risks and is able to develop a product/service/company and bring it to fruition.

4. Social impact

• Has a broad vision, strategic insight, broad (internationally) focused social and economic knowledge.
• Contributes to a sustainable solution to a (social) problem.
• Visibly keeps the interests of all parties involved in mind. There is some impact.

5. Ambassadorship

• Presents himself and the product/concept in a convincing and professional manner.
• Represents 'the engineer' in a credible and authentic manner.
• Has the ability to speak about his/her work in an engaging and attractive way.
• Knows how to enthuse and inspire people for engineering.
• Serves as an appealing example and role model.

Summary:

The engineer who best demonstrates these criteria gets to be an ambassador of engineering and all engineers for a year with the title 'Engineer of the Year'.