Seven broad research consortia will receive a total of 35 million euros to conduct research on technological innovations that provide answers to societal challenges. The new Perspectief projects will focus on, among other things, tastier plant-based foods, more affordable and accessible medical imaging technology, and flat optics for more sustainable high-tech devices.
The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy is providing a total budget of almost 24 million euros for research within the Perspectief programme. No fewer than 82 companies, civil society organisations and governments are involved in the projects. They are contributing more than 11 million euros from their own resources. This budget will enable 77 researchers to start their work over the next six years.
Projects awarded funding
- Using AI to make medical imaging more accessible
AI4AI: Artificial Intelligence for Accessible Medical Imaging - Using AI to make medical imaging more accessible
AI4AI: Artificial Intelligence for Accessible Medical Imaging - MRI to fingerprint dementia
CHIME: Cerebral HemodynamIcs, Metabolism and clEarance: A comprehensive, non-invasive brain imaging approach to characterize key biological processes in dementia
- Tools for building living materials
FAB4FUTURE: A biofabrication toolbox for the next generation of sustainable living materials in life sciences - Tasty proteins from plants
FERMI: FErmentations optimized by Rational Models to Improve plant-based substrates - Better biological factories
INDUSTRIOPHILE: tailored and robust cell-factories for the next-generation Industrial Biotechnology
‘Creating economic opportunities’
Micky Adriaansens, Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy: ‘Dutch knowledge is a source of national pride. Yet the pressing societal challenges of our time, including the need to strengthen our economic position in the world, require us to use this expertise more effectively. The development of new technologies is vital for the success of our start-ups, SMEs and large companies. This will not happen without targeted innovation, which is why this programme actively ensures collaboration between entrepreneurs, civil society organisations , scientists and governments.’
‘In this impressive package of winning projects, researchers, industry and society join forces to work on new technologies,’ says Margot Weijnen, chair of NWO’s Applied and Engineering Sciences domain. ‘Perspectief brings together these different parties with all their unique qualities. Such collaboration is not only crucial for addressing societal challenges but also for maintaining our country’s leading position in in science and knowledge development. This clearly illustrates the importance of Perspectief in driving technological innovation and creating economic opportunities.’
Perspectief
Perspectief is a programme of the Dutch Research Council (NWO), funded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy. The programme challenges researchers to establish broad, cross-disciplinary consortia with industry, civil society organisations and governments to conduct research focused on societal challenges and key technologies. Together, they work on technological innovations with societal impact and the creation of economic opportunities for the Netherlands. In doing so, the projects contribute to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy’s mission-driven top sectors and innovation policy.
