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.
Programmeleader: Prof. Arnold Tukker (Leiden University)
Participating knowledge institutions: Delft University of Technology, Eindhoven University of Technology, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Leiden University, Radboud University, Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences, Saxion University of Applied Sciences, TNO
Companies: A&M Recycling / In2Waste, ASML Netherlands, Drake & Farrell, Famostar emergency lighting, Huawei Finland, KPN, Mirec, Nedap, Neways Technologies, Nexperia, NXP Semiconductors, Rabobank, Reconext Netherlands, Reukema Blocq & Maneschijn, Signify, Umicore, Umincorp
Other societal partners: Chip Integration Technology Centre (CITC), Materials innovation institute (M2i), Province of South Holland (PZH), Stichting OPEN
Preventing airborne transmissions of viruses
MItigation STrategies for Airborne Infection Control (MIST)
Since the global impact of COVID-19, we are acutely aware of the risk of diseases dispersed through the air. Virologists, epidemiologists, fluid mechanics and engineers will join forces in the MIST programme to better understand and prevent airborne viral transmission. Under various conditions, the researchers will study the infectiousness of viruses, the spread of fluid droplets in the air, and the influence of ventilation and the purification of air on the transfer of viruses. They will subsequently translate this knowledge into practical recommendations about which measures can be deployed in the most efficient, cost-effective and sustainable manner in various environments ranging from people at home to hospitals, schools and trains.
Programmeleader: Prof. Detlef Lohse (University of Twente)
Participating knowledge institutions: Delft University of Technology, Eindhoven University of Technology, MARIN, Radboud university medical center, Royal Netherlands Aerospace Centre, TNO, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Amsterdam, University of Twente
Companies: Arcadis, BAM, Carrier, Euromate, Greensol, Hiensch Engineering, Heinen & Hopman, I-Vention Medspray, Novaerus, Philips, PlasmaMade, Signify, Virobuster
Other societal partners: ArtiZ, CCN, KHN, KNHB, KNLTB, NS, PO-raad, REHVA, Rijksvastgoedbedrijf, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Sportinnovator, TVVL, VLR, VO-raad
Fighting arthritis
OAinject
In the Netherlands, more than 1.5 million people suffer from arthritis – a rheumatic condition of the joints that causes pain, stiffness and difficulty in moving. As arthritis is a condition that mainly occurs among older people, the number of patients is set to increase due to the ageing of Dutch society. At present, there is no adequate treatment for arthritis. The OAinject programme will develop new diagnostic tools that will determine which form of arthritis a person has so that individualised treatments can be offered. The researchers will also work on innovative ways of gradually administering drugs locally over a longer period of time via an injectable drug depot in the joint. With this approach, the consortium will ensure that patients can retain an active lifestyle that helps to prevent other conditions such as cardiovascular disease and dementia.
Programmeleader: Prof. Marcel Karperien (University of Twente)
Participating knowledge institutions: Delft University of Technology, Erasmus MC, Maastricht University, Maastricht University Medical Center, Radboud university medical center, University Medical Center Utrecht, University of Twente
Companies: Chondropeptix, DSM Biomedical, IBIS Technologies, InnoCore Pharmaceuticals, 20Med Therapeutics, Nordic Bioscience, Orthros Medical, Procore, QVQ, Ssens
Other societal partners: Deventer Hospital, ReumaNederland, Dutch Society for the Replacement of Animal Testing