Radboud University: Radboud scientists share in millions of ‘Perspective’ grants

Towards circular electronics, less airborne viral transmission, and fighting arthritis: three consortia in which researchers from Radboud University and Radboud university medical centre participate will receive an NWO Perspectief grant of 1.5 to 4 million euros to tackle these problems. In addition to scientists, companies, social organisations and government bodies also participate in the consortia.

A total of seven applications were granted within the Perspectief program of the Dutch Research Council (NWO). These are grants totaling more than 22 million euros from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy. In addition, the 117 companies and societal organisations involved have contributed almost 10 million euros in co-funding.

All programmes awarded funding are centred on an urgent societal problem. The three programs in which Radboud researchers participate are:

Towards circular electronics
Circular Circuits: design of next-generation electronics for a circular economy

Our digitalising society increasingly depends on heavier electronic equipment. We need to radically change the design, production and use of electronics. Otherwise, the amount of electronic waste will increase fourfold in the next two decades, and the required raw materials will be exhausted rapidly. This Perspectief programme will use a systematic approach to develop a completely circular generation of electronics. The researchers will work on solutions for extending the lifespan, reuse, repair and recycling of electronics. For this, they will examine technological design aspects as equally new business models and advanced recycling technology. The project focus on applications in telecommunication, consumer electronics, lighting and power electronics.