Subsidy and Innovation News, No 315_8 December 2020 - Topsector Agri & Food
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Subsidy and Innovation News, No 315_8 December 2020
Newsletter for Wageningen University & Research on the EU Framework Programme for Research and
Development, other international subsidies, national and regional subsidies, EU policy and national R&D and
innovation programmes.
Table of Contents
Articles in Dutch are marked by the symbol
HORIZON 2020 3
Horizon Europe 4
STATEMENT BY THE ERC SCIENTIFIC COUNCIL ON THE HORIZON EUROPE BUDGET (7 December 2020) 4
Five days to save 2021 research budget, senior EU official warns (3 December 2020) 4
EU research chief says Horizon Europe programme will be better if UK joins (2 December 2020) 6
Other International subsidy news 8
Eurostars – 2 call 15 is open (7 december 2020) 8
Commission invests €100 million in innovative clean technology projects (1 December 2020) 8
National subsidy news 10
Venture Challenge: Registration open for new edition (3 December 2020) 10
Follow up SA-NL Dialoque on education and research (3 December 2020) 10
Take-off startups score well in Academic Startup Competition (3 December 2020) 11
Alliance Seed fund (2 December 2020) 12
NWO launches new NWA-call Climate adaptation and health (2 December 2020) 12
Call Smart Industry 2020 open for initiatives (2 December 2020) 13
Call for Complexity Research in connection with the Covid-19 crisis open (2 December 2020) 14
Sixteen groundbreaking research projects launched through NWO Open Competition – XS (2 December 2020) 15
New funding instrument to stimulate Open Science (1 December 2020) 16
Regional subsidy and innovation news 17
Honderden Europese miljoenen voor innovatie in Noord-Nederland (3 december 2020) 17
1
Actieplan om onderzoek en innovatie op regionaal niveau te stimuleren (3 december 2020) 17
Commissie en het Comité van de Regio’s ondertekenen actieplan voor O&I (30 november 2020) 17
New subsidy scheme for shared pilot-facilities (30 November 2020) 18
EU R&D and innovation policy 19
Onderzoeksorganisaties brengen innovaties vooral via licenties op de markt (3 december 2020) 19
Europese landen voeren weinig beleid in kennisoverdracht wetenschap – industrie (3 december 2020) 19
‘Civic engagement’ van universiteiten komt in Europa nauwelijks van de grond (3 december 2020) 19
Deelname VK aan Horizon Europe hoogst onzeker (3 december 2020) 19
Hoe DG Onderzoek & Innovatie wil bijdragen aan ambities Europese Commissie (3 december 2020) 20
Loopt de EU technologisch achter op de rest van de wereld? (3 december 2020) 20
Kansen en uitdagingen voor de circulaire en klimaatneutrale bio-economie (3 december 2020) 20
Duitsland: Verdubbeling van onderzoeksinspanningen voor klimaat (3 december 2020) 20
Europese Onderwijsruimte roept nog vragen op bij onderwijsministers (2 december 2020) 20
Lidstaten bespreken Europese Onderzoeksruimte: “nu uitvoeren” (1 december 2020) 21
Portuguese presidency keen to explore new research ties with Biden administration (1 December 2020) 22
Commissie evalueert Erasmus Mundus: programma te gefragmenteerd (30 november 2020) 24
National R&D and innovation policy news 26
Betere bescherming van hoogwaardige kennis in Nederland (3 december 2020) 26
De Jonge Akademie: Vijf aanbevelingen voor anders waarderen wetenschappers (3 december 2020) 26
Open Access vergroot maatschappelijke impact van de wetenschap (3 december 2020) 26
Kleine stappen vooruit in impactmeting alfa- en gammawetenschappen (3 december 2020) 26
Wetenschappers werken liever samen met andere wetenschappers dan met bedrijven (3 december 2020) 27
Tweede Kamer haalt streep door diversiteitsagenda voor het hoger onderwijs (3 december 2020) 27
Kabinet past opzet Nationaal Groeifonds aan (3 december 2020) 27
Rabo Research: CPB-doorrekening verkiezingsprogramma’s moet en kan anders (3 december 2020) 27
Nederland geeft minder uit aan onderzoek dan Europa (2 december 2020) 27
Fors budget voor nieuwe alliantie van universiteiten (2 december 2020) 28
Mega-samenwerking tussen universiteiten Utrecht, Wageningen en Eindhoven. Dit zijn de voordelen (2 december 2020) 28
Global R&D and innovation policy news 30
Plaatsing open access-artikel in Nature zal 9.500 euro kosten (3 december 2020) 30
Mondiale life sciences-ecosystemen gaan voorop in bestrijding coronapandemie (3 december 2020) 30
ZEW: China’s innovatiebeleid is soms effectief maar zelden efficiënt (3 december 2020) 30
VS: Biden kan helpen bij reset wetenschaps- en technologierelaties in de wereld (3 december 2020) 30
OESO: Vooruitzichten van de digitale economie (3 december 2020) 31
Events 32
SAVE THE DATE: WKE Horizon Europe Brokerage event 2020, 9-15 December 2020 32
6th JPI HDHL International Conference, Brussels, 17 June 17 2020 POSTPONED SPRING 2021 32
10th International Conference on Smart Cities and Green ICT Systems - SMARTGREENS 2021, Prague, 20-30 April 2021 33
Life2021 Congress, 27 MAY 2021 TILL 28 MAY 2021 33
ICSD 2021 : 9th International Conference on Sustainable Development, Rome, 8-9 September 2021 34
Courses and Workshops 35
Foreseen Courses EU office in 2020 35
Overzicht trainingen Team IRIS / RVO 2020 35
Overzicht trainingen IRIS / RVO 35
Call deadlines 36
HORIZON Europe calls 36
HORIZON 2020 calls 36
Other related EC calls (JTI, ERA-COFUNDS, JPI´s etc.) 37
Other international calls 38
National calls 38
Regional calls 43
About the EU office 44
Contacts 44
Disclaimer 45
WUR is serious about data 45
2
HORIZON 2020
3
Horizon Europe
STATEMENT BY THE ERC SCIENTIFIC COUNCIL ON THE HORIZON EUROPE BUDGET (7
December 2020)
Source Website ERC https://erc.europa.eu/news/statement-erc-scientific-council-horizon-europe-budget
After the shocking cut to the Horizon Europe budget at the European Summit last July (€13.5 billion taken out, representing
more than 15% of its budget) a lot of efforts have been made by many in the scientific community to argue why it was so
critical to repair the damage done in order to make credible the political ambitions stated in terms of societal transitions
(climate change, digitalisation, new health perspectives) that all rely on key contributions from research and innovation.
In this context, the openness and the interest shown by many deputies in the European Parliament have been highly appreciated. This
encouraged many scientists to approach their governments and make the case for Frontier Research and the need to take a longer
view in the preparation of a seven-year framework programme than just dealing with emergency issues.
Thanks to the efficient engagement of the negotiators of the European Parliament, the trilogue of 10 November resulted in €4 billion
being added to the Horizon Europe budget, a small but still significant step to repair the damage.
The key issue still pending is of course the breakdown of this supplementary budget. The proposal made by the EU Council to reserve
the €5 billion coming from the Next Generation EU Fund to some actions in Pillar 2 of Horizon Europe and the European Innovation
Council (EIC) has increased significantly the imbalance between pillars. In Horizon 2020, Pillar 1 “Excellent Science”, hosting the Marie
Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), the European Research Council (ERC) and the large infrastructures, represented 32% of the
overall budget when it is presently down to only 25%. This is why all organisations representing the university community (the European
University Association, the League of European Research Universities, the Guild of European Research Intensive Universities, the
CESAER representing science and technology universities) and the G6 (the Italian CNR, the French CNRS, the Spanish CSIC, the
Helmholtz Gemeinschaft, the Leibniz Gemeinschaft and the Max-Planck Gesellschaft) have all defended the view that the totality or at
least a large part of the €4 billion should go to the Pillar 1 “Excellent Science”.
A similar view is also defended by many in the European Parliament.
The final budgetary discussion concerning Horizon Europe is likely to take place in the coming days. Motivated by the lack of prospects
offered to them, a group of young researchers decided to launch on their own a campaign called “#RescueHorizonEurope” that
received, and is still receiving, a massive echo. They too defend the allocation of the extra €4 billion to Pillar 1.
The members of the ERC Scientific Council have been actively engaged in many aspects of this battle for the simple reason that the
present proposed ERC budget (€14.861 billion in current prices), if not corrected, would mean a freeze of the ERC resources for the
seven years to come (except a yearly 2% increase for inflation) at a level slightly below the 2020 budget reduced to 27 countries (after
the UK departure). This level is already insufficient now since, every year, the ERC identifies about 30% more absolutely excellent
proposals than the ones it can fund. We clearly see this as a considerable threat for the development of bottom-up Frontier Research in
Europe and to the overall competitiveness of Europe in view of the intensity of the international competition and the massive
investments made in other continents. The absolutely minimal budget that leaves some hope for non-stagnation to the ERC is €16.6
billion in current prices.
We, members of the ERC Scientific Council, therefore urge all people who care for the future of Frontier Research in Europe to express
their views by all means before it is too late. We must offer decent prospects to the next generation of researchers in Europe.
Five days to save 2021 research budget, senior EU official warns (3 December 2020)
Source: Science|Business Bulletin No. 895
Cohesion, science and student exchange programmes will go on the scrap heap next year if EU leaders can’t do deal on long-
term budget and recovery package by next week
4
Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán is one of the key players standing in the way of a deal
EU leaders have five days to agree on a long-term budget and COVID-19 recovery package or the Horizon Europe research
programme simply won’t start next year, a senior commission official warned on Wednesday. EU leaders have come up with a
huge €1.8 trillion budget and stimulus package, but Hungary and Poland are preventing it from being finalised because of
their opposition to tying disbursements to upholding the rule of law.
The showdown threatens to become one of the fieriest in recent EU history. Failure to do a deal with the two countries by next Monday
would leave the Brussels budget on “life support” in 2021, and bring an automatic stop to new research projects and student
exchanges. Payments to cohesion programmes for poorer member states, meanwhile, would be substantially reduced.
“The December 7 deadline is a hard deadline for next year’s budget, as defined very strictly in legal terms,” the senior official told a
press briefing.
If there is no deal by Monday, officials warn there will be no time for a new round of negotiations. If an agreement is reached, it will still
need to be signed off by EU leaders during their summit in Brussels on December 10 and 11. Absent any agreement, the commission
will be legally forced to present a brand new budget.
EU officials and diplomats are scrambling to find creative ways to stop short of the looming cliff edge, and are even considering pushing
ahead with a politically explosive deal that excludes Hungary and Poland.Described by the commission as “a bridge”, it would allow
COVID-19 recovery money to start flowing to 25 member states and would stay in place “until such time when an agreement is found
among all 27 member states.” The proposal ratchets up pressure on the two eastern EU states, which are already under investigation
by Brussels for democratic backsliding.
But any arrangement for 25 member states faces challenges, the senior official warned. “Given the complexities of what we’re dealing
with, this [still] looks extremely unlikely, even if all of this magic was to happen.”
Hits to research, cohesion, students
The EU’s cohesion spending, designed to lift living standards in central and eastern Europe, faces the biggest hit under a no-deal
scenario: an automatic reduction of between 50-70 per cent of its budget would be required, the senior official said.
Brussels would not be able to issue new research grants because the forthcoming €85 billion Horizon Europe programme would not be
allowed to start. Payments to existing research contracts under the current Horizon 2020 programme would continue to be honoured,
with delays.
The student exchange agreement Erasmus+ would have to be paused. The bloc’s huge COVID-19 stimulus package, dubbed
NextGenerationEU, “would simply not happen”, the senior official said.
Cliff-edge explained
The EU faces a budgetary cliff edge because it’s the last year of a seven-year budget period that started in 2014. The legal basis for
most EU programmes, including research, will expire on December 31. A very limited number of EU programmes – those without so-
called sunset clauses – would continue to be paid out of EU coffers next year, no matter what happens.
This EU reserve, which officials call “own resources”, can be used to cover payments to a maximum of 1.2 per cent of EU gross
national income.
But after Brexit, the GNI of the 27-member bloc is smaller than it was for the EU-28. And it’s shrinking even more now because of the
economic hit of the pandemic.Under current rules, the EU cannot legally ask member states to contribute more money to Brussels.
Therefore, the payments in budget 2021 would have to be cut by between €25 and €30 billion. As a result, spending to honour existing
commitments, such as research contracts, would have to be delayed.
This emergency budget scenario has a name in Brussels: the provisional twelfths, which says that the executive can only spend one-
twelfth of what it spent the year before. The last time this happened was 1988.
5
EU research chief says Horizon Europe programme will be better if UK joins (2 December
2020)
Source: Science|Business Bulletin No. 895
Jean-Eric Paquet expects a close science deal with the UK as part of a post-Brexit trade agreement
European Commission’s director general for research and innovation Jean-Eric Paquet. Photo: Lysiane Pons.
The EU’s next research programme will be “more impactful and more powerful” if the UK joins as an associate member, the EU’s
research chief said on Tuesday. Jean-Eric Paquet, the European Commission’s director general for research and innovation, said he
expects Brussels will strike a close science deal with the UK, so long as both sides find agreement on the trickier aspects of a post-
Brexit trade deal. “I would very much expect association to Horizon is a component of [the trade deal],” Paquet said.
His comments to a Politico virtual event on ‘European research and innovation beyond 2020’ suggest he thinks both sides can resolve
a tricky conversation around money. The UK government is uneasy about how much it would be asked to pay for a high status
membership to the next research programme, Horizon Europe that is due to run to 2027, versus how much UK-based researchers will
get out in grants.
Brussels has proposed making the UK pay a proportion of the research budget based on its gross domestic product as a share of EU
GDP, which currently stands at 18 per cent. The UK wants a “downward correction mechanism” to compensate the government if its
researchers come away with less than it puts in.
Paquet sounded confident about the UK’s continued involvement, but he dismissed the idea that distant non-EU countries like Canada
and Japan might choose not to participate in the seven-year programme if the UK isn’t a part of it. “We are absolutely attractive with 27
member states and associated countries, there should be no doubt,” Paquet said. Non-EU countries like Israel and Switzerland are
already associated members of Horizon 2020, giving them essentially the same status as EU members when applying for grants.
There isn’t long to wait to discover the UK’s fate either way, with the clock rapidly running down to the end of the Brexit transition period
on 31 December. “We need to be patient a few more days,” Paquet said.
An interesting conversation to have
Paquet wants to open Horizon Europe up for other strong science countries, such as Canada, Japan and perhaps Australia to join as
associate partners. But with Horizon Europe due to get off the ground in just a few months from now, these countries are still awaiting
details of membership terms from the commission. EU sources close to talks now say that detailed negotiations with foreign countries
are unlikely to see results before the second half of 2021. The wait has already dragged on for two and a half years, as the EU has held
back from putting any specifics on the table in case they affected the Brexit trade talks.
Asked if the incoming administration of the new US president Joe Biden could get interested in joining Horizon Europe, Paquet initially
laughed, but then added, “That would be an interesting conversation to have.” The EU has made attempts in the past to open its
research programme to the US, but has frequently met objections from Washington over grantee contract agreements, with officials
complaining they compromise intellectual property rights and raise legal problems for US researchers. As a result, many US universities
have avoided the programme.
The issue was a complete non-starter under president Donald Trump, who openly disliked the EU. In February, the State Department’s
Office of Science and Technology said that EU-US cooperation in research “is not where we would like it to be” and that the terms the
commission has offered for joining its programme “give us pause.” https://sciencebusiness.net/news/washington-brussels-we-dont-
horizon-deal-youre-offering
Now though, Paquet suggested the EU would be making a fresh approach to an administration that “wants to put science to the
forefront again”. “We will be keen to explore it [but] you need to leave the commission and the new administration a few months to look
into that,” he said. The research chief said he also expects “more-joined up” work with the US on COVID-19 vaccines and climate
change.
Horizon Europe warning
6
Plenty remains up for grabs with Horizon Europe, including its overall shape, budget and when it officially gets going.
The latest agreement on the programme is that it will get around €85 billion – a dispiriting drop, researchers say, from the €100 billion
promised some years ago.
Hit hard by the COVID-19 crisis this year, the EU’s appetite for spending so much on science has fallen slightly, with funds urgently
needed instead for an EU-wide pandemic recovery scheme. The bloc has rustled up a huge €1.82 trillion budget and stimulus package,
but Hungary and Poland are preventing it from being finalised because of their opposition to a new mechanism that would allow the EU
to cut off funds to countries found in violation of the rule-of-law.
Asked if EU leaders had failed researchers by not securing more money for science during negotiations, Paquet responded, “I don’t
think one should put it in these terms.” Horizon Europe will have a “very significant budget” and while the headline amount matters to
people, what matters more is achieving “maximum impact” from the investment, Paquet said.
Paquet also sent a warning that as long as the budget fight between member states goes on, research funding won’t be locked down.
“If there is no budget agreement, there is no [research] programme,” he said.
7
Other International subsidy news
Eurostars – 2 call 15 is open (7 december 2020)
Bron: Mailing RVO 7 december 2020
De 15e call in Eurostars 2 is nu officieel geopend door het Eureka secretariaat. Het internationale indieningsportaal (zie www.eurostars-
eureka.eu) is opengesteld. Nieuwe aanvragen kunnen nog niet worden ingediend (de ‘submission knop’ ontbreekt nog), maar al wel
vast worden voorbereid. De sluitingsdatum is op 4 februari 2020 om 20:00 uur. De adviseurs van IRIS bij RVO staan klaar om u te
helpen..
Graag wil ik nog uw aandacht vestigen op twee online bijeenkomsten over de 15 e call van Eurostars:
- Op 10 december organiseert RVO voor de Nederlandse deelnemers een webinar over Eurostars.
Meer informatie is te vinden op https://www.rvo.nl/actueel/evenementen/online-informatiebijeenkomst-eurostars
- Op 12 januari 2021 organiseert het Eureka secretariaat een webinar over het internationale aanvraagproces en het
indieningsplatform.
- Registratie kan via deze link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/1928248037815443727
Commission invests €100 million in innovative clean technology projects (1 December
2020)
Source: website EC https://ec.europa.eu/inea/node/13694.
Building up on the success of the first call for large-scale projects, today the European Commission is launching the Innovation Fund
call for small-scale projects https://ec.europa.eu/inea/node/13694.
This call is targeting projects with a capital expenditure between €2.5 and 7.5 million, and it will provide grant funding of €100 million for
innovative clean technologies that will contribute to Europe’s green recovery.
With this call, the Commission aims to support clean technologies and help businesses investing in clean energy and clean industry to
boost economic growth, create local jobs and give a competitive advantage to the European industry.
The call is open for projects in eligible sectors (renewable energy, energy-intensive industries, including products substituting carbon-
intensive ones, energy storage and carbon capture and storage) from all EU Member States, Iceland and Norway. The funds can be
used in cooperation with other public funding initiatives, such as State aid or other EU funding programmes.
Projects will be evaluated according to their potential to avoid greenhouse gas emission, innovation potential, financial and technical
maturity, and potential for scaling up and cost efficiency.
Next steps
Projects can apply via the EU Funding and Tenders portal https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-
tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/innovfund-ssc-2020-single-stage where more details on the overall
procedure are available, submission will be available soon, in the meantime applicants may check the documents: the call
text https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/innovfund/wp-call/call-fiche_innovfund-ssc-2020-single-
stage_en.pdf and application formshttps://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/innovfund/temp-form/af/call-
af_innovfund-ssc-2020-single-stage_en.pdf .
The deadline for submission of applications is 10 March 2021, 17:00 CET.
Applicants will be informed about the results of the evaluation in the fourth quarter of 2021.
Background
The Innovation Fund https://ec.europa.eu/inea/en/innovation-fund is one of the world’s largest programmes for the demonstration of
innovative low-carbon technologies, financed by revenues from the auction of emission allowances from the EU’s Emissions Trading
System https://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/ets_en.
The Innovation Fund aims to create the right financial incentives for companies and public authorities to invest now in the next
generation of low-carbon technologies and give EU companies a first-mover advantage to become global technology leaders.
More information
• Innovation Fund: https://ec.europa.eu/inea/en/innovation-fund
• DG Climate Action website: https://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/innovation-fund_en
• Funding and Tenders portal: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/programmes/innovfund
• European Green Deal: https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal_en
8
• European strategic long-term vision for a prosperous, modern, competitive and climate neutral economy:
https://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/strategies/2050_en
9
National subsidy news
Venture Challenge: Registration open for new edition (3 December 2020)
Source: Website NWO News https://www.nwo.nl/en/news/venture-challenge-registration-open-new-edition
From this week onwards, starting entrepreneurs in the life sciences & health sector can once again register for a new edition
of the Venture Challenge. Teams that pass the selection round will receive professional guidance for the development of their
business case.
The upcoming spring round of the Venture Challenge will start mid-April with a first boot camp and is being organised on behalf of the
Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy (EZK) by NWO and top sector Life sciences & Health (Health~Holland). After an
intensive trajectory of about two months, the participants will pitch their plans to a jury of investors and other experts on 18 June. The
deadline for registering for this round is 12 January 2021. After that, based on the advice from the advisory committee, the board of
NWO Domain Applied and Engineering Sciences will determine which teams will be admitted (see the brochure for the exact
procedure).
Bringing the invention to the market
The Venture Challenge was set up by Health~Holland with the aim of providing starting entrepreneurs in the life sciences with
professional support during the development of their business case. That helps with applying for funding and, ultimately, the marketing
of the invention. Participation is open for teams of three to five people who have established a new start-up in the area of life sciences &
health or will do that shortly. The product or service is based on a new technological invention or a new application of existing
technology, which has emerged from scientific research. The programme consists of two, three-day long boot camps and regular
coaching sessions. During these sessions, the participants work on setting up or refining their business case under the guidance of
experienced coaches from the consultancy GameChanger Challenge.
PacingCure and SLAM Ortho winners 2020
The winners of both rounds from 2020 were announced during the online Dutch Life Science Conference last Friday. The spring round
was won by PacingCure, a biotech start-up from Amsterdam that employs an innovative and precise approach to develop gene
therapies for prevalent cardiac arrhythmias. Start-up SLAM Ortho from Delft, developer of precise measurement equipment to optimise
drilling in bones, won the recently completed autumn edition of the Venture Challenge. Both winning teams received a cheque worth
25,000 euros that they can use to invest in the further expansion of their business.
Deadline for registration: 12 January
Candidates who submit the fully completed registration form by 12 January have a chance of securing one of the at most six available
places in the upcoming spring round. All information about the Venture Challenge at NWO, including the registration form, can be found
on the programme page on our website (www.nwo.nl/vc).
Follow up SA-NL Dialoque on education and research (3 December 2020)
Source: Website NWO News https://www.nwo.nl/en/news/follow-sa-nl-dialoque-education-and-research
On 29 September NRF, Nuffic en NWO-WOTRO organised for a second time a dialogue with the aim to synergise the
collaborative efforts in research, innovation and education. This time the focus was ‘Resilience of Cities’’. The online event
attracted 80 participants. The event gave a boost to the collaboration, and opened the way to concrete action and joint
activities.
10Please read the two-pager (SA-NL Dialogue follow-up) below and provide your ideas for further action through the survey
https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=aTWIC8A5A0Smqe1g-
Bvp5Zi60qrxv7JJht8W4W9HjLNUOVlCT1hQRUw2WDc2T0NYS0w5VEJLQkVKUS4u .
SA-NL Dialogue follow-up: https://www.nwo.nl/sites/nwo/files/media-files/SA-NL%20Dialogue%20follow-up.pdf
Take-off startups score well in Academic Startup Competition (3 December 2020)
Source: Website NWO News https://www.nwo.nl/en/news/take-startups-score-well-academic-startup-competition
Ten promising young startups have held the title “Best Academic Startup 2020” since the end of November. The professional
jury chose the ten winners from a shortlist of twenty nominees. Lusoco from Eindhoven, a former recipient of an NWO Take-
off grant, was one of the winners.
Lusoco develops inks, solar cells and electronics for a new generation of visual communication for light advertising, information boards
and glass facades. The glass developed by the company generates energy during the day and can use that at night to emit light, for
example. This is possible thanks to specially developed inks with fluorescent dyes, which efficiently conduct light to the solar cells at the
edge of the glass. In this way, entire facades can be made sustainable with the help of solar energy and this could make an important
contribution to the desired transition towards energy-neutral buildings. Architects will acquire new possibilities to create landmarks that
are visible during the day and the night. ‘Our future therefore lies in those facades,’ but, says Jeroen ter Schiphorst, a PhD graduate
from Eindhoven University of Technology and together with his business partner Teun Wagenaar, founder of Lusoco
https://lusoco.com/ , ‘then you have to immediately take on large volumes. Furthermore, strict requirements apply for these facades,
and so it will be another five to ten years before we can realise an economically viable product that is fit for the market. Teun has
already learned that with his previous company that also received funding from NWO.’
Feasibility study
At the start of 2019, Lusoco received funding from NWO Take-off to carry out a feasibility study. Since the end of September last year,
Ter Schiphorst has worked full time for the business. ‘We now have a very clear idea about which market we want to launch our
products in’, says Ter Schiphorst. The company will initially focus on visual communication and signposts. ‘In this market, the surface
areas are smaller, and the production is more manageable. That means we can demonstrate the value of our technology in the field on
a smaller scale and give the market a chance to become familiar with our energy-generating glass. Therefore, in 2021, we will focus on
introducing our product via pilots into the advertising world. We expect the real commercialisation to take place from 2022 onwards.’
Take-off and Venture Challenge
11Besides Lusoco, several other winning startups are current or previous recipients of a Take-off grant: uCrowds
https://www.ucrowds.com/, developer of crowd simulation software, Kaminari Medical https://www.kaminarimedical.com/ that improves
imaging technology for angioplasty operations, IamFluidics https://iamfluidics.com/, producer of minuscule droplets and particles as a
raw material for products such as drugs and cosmetics, and VanBoven that develops drones to predict harvests. Joint winner Bimini
Biotech https://biminibiotech.nl/, a startup that develops new drugs against cancer, was last year’s winner of the autumn round of the
Venture Challenge. Both NWO funding instruments were partially established by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy to
encourage commercial activity and entrepreneurship within Dutch knowledge institutions.
Further growth
The Academic Startup Competition https://academicstartupcompetition.nl/ is an initiative of the Association of Universities in the
Netherlands, the Netherlands Federation of University Medical Centres, Techleap and Netherlands Academy of Technology and
Innovation (AcTI). AcTI president Margrethe Jonkman, also a board member of NWO Domain Applied and Engineering Sciences,
emphasises that innovative starters offer the Netherlands ‘the possibility to achieve things we could not previously have realised’. ‘By
congratulating these ten winners, we can demonstrate that we are proud of these startups and of the ecosystem from which they have
sprung. At the same time, this ecosystem requires our continued attention because new challenges require new solutions.’
Alliance Seed fund (2 December 2020)
Source: https://ewuu.nl/en/collaboration/seed-fund/
The alliance offers staff members the opportunity to explore new interdisciplinary connections between the partner
institutions. We have set up a Seed Fund for small-scale initiatives such as preparing for an external grant application,
developing a new course, organising an event or setting up collaboration with social partners.
Three rounds
Each year there will be three opportunities to apply for seed money. Deadlines are 1 March, 1 July and 1 November. In each round
funds are available to award three applications.
Call March 2021
More information on the March 2021 call: guidelines https://ewuu.nl/wp-content/uploads/sites/370/2020/11/Guidelines-Seed-Fund-call-
1-March-2021-2.pdf and application form https://ewuu.nl/wp-content/uploads/sites/370/2020/11/Template-Seed-Fund-March-
2021.docx
Requirements
Applications must meet a number of requirements:
• At least 3 of the 4 partners within the alliance are involved in the application
• The application may involve any scientific discipline within the alliance and should focus on (one of) the alliance’s themes:
health, food, energy and circular society
• The application has clear deliverables such as a grant application, the organisation of an event or an educational activity. The
resources cannot be used for matching in a grant application
• The application amounts to a minimum of 10 k€ and a maximum of 50 k€
• The maximum duration of the project is 1 year
Selection procedure
Applications will be assessed by the Seed Fund Committee and will be ranked on quality and awarded in order.
Contact
Esther Stiekema
e.i.stiekema@uu.nl
+31 (0)6 34 16 10 48
NWO launches new NWA-call Climate adaptation and health (2 December 2020)
Source: Website NWO News https://www.nwo.nl/en/news/nwo-launches-new-nwa-call-climate-adaptation-and-health
12How do we ensure a healthy living environment for people, animals and plants in times of climate change? This is the key
question in the new call that NWO has published for the theme Climate adaptation and health. In this call, the Dutch Research
Agenda (NWA) is making 4.36 million euros available for research by broadly composed consortia. The aim of the programme
is to develop potential courses of action for adapting to the consequences of climate change, with a focus on health and the
healthy living environment in the Netherlands. The so-called “adaptation measures” must be shaped at the interface of the
physical environment, social and health care domains.
Despite efforts to prevent further climate change, various sectors of society will need to radically adjust to the consequences of climate
change. This adjustment is called climate adaptation. This NWA programme contributes to climate adaptation in relation to health and
healthy living environment for people, animals and plants. The focus is on an integral and interdisciplinary approach in whic h
collaboration is needed between the physical environment, social and health care domains. Furthermore, prospective solutions will
have to connect with other transition challenges and policies in the various sectors.
The effects of climate change and the possible adaptation measures will not be the same throughout the Netherlands. The call
therefore makes a distinction between research proposals with a focus on potential courses of action for either urban or rural areas. For
each research area, one project can be awarded funding.
Consortia and submission
This NWA call invites knowledge institutions, societal stakeholders and other interested parties to form broad consortia that collaborate
in an extensive research project. In each consortium, the entire knowledge chain from fundamental to applied and practice-oriented
research is represented, as well as expertise from the physical environment, social and health care domains.
In February 2021, NWO will organise an online information matchmaking meeting. The date will be announced on the programme
page https://www.nwo.nl/en/researchprogrammes/thematische-programmering/climate-adaptation-and-health.
When to apply
• The deadline for submitting pre-proposals is Thursday 3 June 2021, before 14:00 hours CES(S)T.
• The deadline for submitting full proposals is Thursday 18 November 2021, before 14:00 hours CES(S)T.
There is budget available for two research projects, each with a maximum budget of 2.18 million euros and a maximum
duration of five years.
Go to the funding page with the call for proposals: https://www.nwo.nl/en/calls/national-research-agenda-theme-climate-adaptation-
and-health
About the Dutch Research Agenda
Commissioned by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW), NWO has been funding research in the context of the Dutch
National Research Agenda since 2018. The aim of the research in the Agenda is to make a permanent positive contribution to the
future knowledge society by building bridges in the present and joining forces to address scientific and social challenges.
This is implemented through thematic programming in collaboration with ministries, among other things.
Call Smart Industry 2020 open for initiatives (2 December 2020)
Source: Website NWO News https://www.nwo.nl/en/news/call-smart-industry-2020-open-initiatives
Consortia can now submit initiatives for innovative research into smart products and services that can make industrial and
production systems ready for the future. The deadline for submissions for the call for proposal Smart Industry 2020 is 27 May
2021.
The NWO programme Smart Industry focuses on innovative research into smart products and services that prepare industrial and
production systems for the future. With the launch of the new call, Smart Industry 2020, NWO opened the third funding round of this
programme.The total available budget is 2.1 million euros, which will be allocated across several projects. The deadline for submissions
is 27 May 2021.
13Smart Industry programme
In the Smart Industry programme, academic researchers work together with companies and universities of applied sciences on themes
at the interface of personalisation, big data, autonomous systems, smart systems and equipment.
The Smart Industry programme has set its sights high: to make the Netherlands the most flexible and digitally best-integrated
production network in Europe. That requires flexible and error-free production in small series, but also modelling and simulating product
designs, the secure sharing of data in the value chain, increasing the productivity of people (human-technology interaction) and making
the product and the production sustainable.
Aim of the call for proposals
The call Smart Industry 2020 specifically focuses on research within the themes: Mass Customisation, Human Centered Technology,
Digital Twin, Cyber Physical Systems, (Trusted) Data Sharing, Advanced Manufacturing and Robotics. Smart Industry research is
characterised by the collaboration between academic researchers and industry. Universities of applied sciences can act as co-
applicants in this call for proposals.
Third round
In 2016 and 2019, NWO also organised funding rounds for the Smart Industry programme and nine research projects have now started.
The deadline for submitting proposals for this third round is 27 May 2021.
Links
• Call for proposals Smart Industry 2020: https://www.nwo.nl/en/calls/samenwerkingsprogramma-smart-industry-si2020
• NWO Programma Smart Industry: https://www.nwo.nl/en/researchprogrammes/smart_industry
Call for Complexity Research in connection with the Covid-19 crisis open (2 December
2020)
Source: Website NWO News https://www.nwo.nl/en/news/call-complexity-research-connection-covid-19-crisis-open
Examining how separate but interlinked complex systems work
The call Complexity Research in connection with the Covid-19 crisis is open. The call text had already been available for a number of
weeks and the call is now actually open for application. The Investments budget module (up to 150,000 euros) has also been made
available in the call. This call relates to research into the manner in which separate but interlinked systems work, with particular
reference to the national crisis organisation on the one hand and the decentralised systems of, say, the security regions and medical
institutions on the other. NWO encourages researchers to collaborate across the boundaries of the relevant disciplines within the NWO
Domain Science (ENW) and the Humanities and Social Sciences domain (SGW). The deadline for submissions is Tuesday 26 January
2021.
Purpose
At present, it remains unclear how the Covid-19 crisis will unfold. Not only is there uncertainty with regard to the course of the pandemic
itself, in terms of the development of vaccines and treatments for example, but also the longer-term effects on the economy, public
health and social cohesion. When evaluating potential interventions, it is essential to take account of the relevant characteristics of the
multidimensional, interconnected system that is our society. A narrow, one-dimensional perspective will be totally inadequate and could
lead to choices which have undesirable secondary effects.
This complexity science call focuses on the mechanisms of separate but interlinked complex systems, with particular reference to the
national crisis organisation on the one hand and the decentralised systems of, say, the security regions and medical institutions on the
other. Specific attention is to be devoted to the dynamic interaction between such systems. How do they affect and influence each other
to create new relationships which may form the basis of alternative interventions? In assessing those interventions and their
effectiveness, it is necessary to consider the existing or potential resilience and/or adaptive ability of one subsystem which is dominant
in the current crisis: the healthcare system.
Much research is being conducted into various aspects of the Covid-19 crisis and its management. This call demands a distinctive
approach which, after the relatively short lead time of two years, will provide insights which are at the very least recognisable and
meaningful for decision-makers and their advisors at the national level. The call therefore specifically elicits ideas which will also foster
engagement on the part of all relevant actors, as well as the dissemination of knowledge.
The issues demand a combination of complexity science studies examining:
• intervention scenarios (based on quantitative models)
• social constructs further to the consequences of possible interventions in practice
• decision-making with regard to interventions.
Complexity programme
This call forms part of the NWO Complexity Science programme, which promotes research into diverse complex systems and
processes such as infrastructure networks, the spread of diseases, fluctuations in stock market values and climate change.
Possibility of cooperation
14Are you interested in this call and are you looking for cooperation partners? Then join the LinkedIn group "Complexity research in
connection with the Covid-19 crisis’ (www.linkedin.com/groups/9007291/).
Sixteen groundbreaking research projects launched through NWO Open Competition –
XS (2 December 2020)
Source: Website NWO News https://www.nwo.nl/en/news/sixteen-groundbreaking-research-projects-launched-through-nwo-open-
competition-xs
The Board of NWO Domain Science has awarded sixteen applications in the NWO Open Competition Domain Science - XS.
Each project could apply for a maximum of 50.000 euros. The themes vary from research into molecular cell biology and 3D
printing to sustainable chemistry and bone disease. The XS category emphatically strives to encourage curiosity-driven and
bold research involving a relatively quick analysis of a promising idea. In ENW – XS the applicants are also the assessors in
the assessment process.
1. The summaries of the approved projects are listed below, in alphabetical order ( 2 projects for WUR PI’s):
Towards improved DNA protection and repair: from flatworms to human cells Prof. dr. E. Berezikov (Universitair
Medisch Centrum Groningen)
2. Acoustic microalgal biorefinery: Riding the sound waves towards a sustainable bioeconomy (WAVE) Dr. I.Z.
Boboescu (Wageningen University & Research)
Microalgae are remarkable organisms which convert carbon dioxide into proteins, sugars, oils and pigments, used as building
blocks in green chemistry, alternative fuels, food, cosmetics and even nutraceutical applications. However, these products are
trapped in their cells, out of reach from conventional extraction approaches. Extraordinary interactions occur among acoustic
fields and small particles in microfluidic devices, allowing their precise manipulation. Learning how to harness these forces
could be a Promethean moment for many bioprocess applications. Thus, this work will reveal how microalgal cells and their
components behave in these fields, possibly providing the foundation of a new line of research.
3. Mechanism of tissue damage in FLASH radiotherapy Dr. E.C.M. Carroll (Technische Universiteit Delft)
4. Beyond fossil fuels: a novel, economic solution to drive green chemistry Dr. ing. E. J. Devid (DIFFER - Dutch Institute
for Fundamental Energy Research)
5. Recapitulating bone development through 3D Printing in Suspension Baths – RePrint Dr. ir. M. Dias Castilho
(Universitair Medisch Centrum Utrecht)
6. Small differences, large impact: how actin variants differentially control cancer cell migration Dr. K. van den Dries
(Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen)
7. Rapid assessment of seismic damage using satellite dataDr. G. Giardina (Technische Universiteit Delft)
8. Deciphering bone formation to model diseases: towards a new generation of in vitro bone models Dr. A. Lolli
(Erasmus MC)
9. Identification of proteins that inactivate the female X chromosome Dr. ir. H. Marks (Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen)
10. Chemical bonding and reactivity in a new light Dr. E. Oksenberg (Weizmann Institute of Science)
11. Revealing the true colors of individual cells using barcodes N. Oosterhof (Universitair Medisch Centrum Groningen)
12. Impact of early electric activity of Purkinje neurons in brain development and function
Dr. C. Osorio (Erasmus MC)
13. Electrifying Bacteria for the Circular Economy Dr. ir. D.P.B.T.B. Strik (Wageningen University & Research)
Can we electrify bacteria and use this to stimulate them to make high-quality products? Who knows! We are investigating
whether we can use alternating current to add extra energy to the metabolism of bacteria. With this extra energy, the bacteria
can hypothetically produce energy-richer biochemicals which they elsewise could not produce! This principle can be tested
because bacteria transport free electrons to each other. If we can demonstrate the effect, this can lead to electrification of all
kinds of microbiological processes. Wastewater then becomes a raw material for production of food-ingredients. This way we
close cycles for the Circular Economy.
14. Fertile when wet – wet-deposition of Saharan dust as a means to combat climate change? Dr. J.B.W. Stuut (NIOZ -
Koninklijk Nederlands Instituut voor Onderzoek der Zee)
15. Hybrid Soft Robotic Implant (HyBORG) to modulate foreign body response V. Vaithilingam (Maastricht UMC+)
1516. Gelling by printing Dr. M.K. Wlodarczyk-Biegun (Rijksuniversiteit Groningen)
More info about funded projects: https://www.nwo.nl/en/news/sixteen-groundbreaking-research-projects-launched-through-nwo-
open-competition-xs
New funding instrument to stimulate Open Science (1 December 2020)
Source: Website NWO News https://www.nwo.nl/en/news/new-funding-instrument-stimulate-open-science
NWO is launching the ‘Open Science Fund’, a new funding instrument intended to give Open Science a boost. Projects can be
financially supported through the programme in the broad field of Open Science. Examples include projects aimed at
developing innovative ways of (open access) publishing, the FAIR sharing of data or software, and projects that help bring
about the necessary culture change. The Open Science Fund is a new tool for recognising and rewarding researchers for
open research practices.
The Open Science Fund is open to researchers from all fields of research. The aim is to support researchers in developing, testing and
implementing innovative ways of making research open, accessible, transparent and reusable across the full breadth of Open Science.
One million euros will be available in the first round for projects of up to 50,000 euros. The Open Science Fund is an important next
step in recognising and rewarding open research practices.
NWO has been promoting the transition to Open Science for a long time now. All publications funded by NWO must therefore be
available through open access. Research data generated during NWO projects must be made available as openly as possible too. The
launch of the Open Science Fund is also in keeping with the national ‘Recognition and Rewards’ programme and the ‘Room for
Everyone’s Talent’ position paper published a year ago by VSNU, ZonMw, KNAW and NWO.
The Open Science Fund was launched today. The first allocations are expected to take place in the summer of 2021.
Also read
News, 12 March 2020 | Making way for all aspects of quality: https://www.nwo.nl/en/news/making-way-all-aspects-quality
• Download
Position paper 'Room for everyone's talent': https://www.nwo.nl/sites/nwo/files/media-files/2019-Recognition-Rewards-Position-
Paper_EN.pdfhttps://www.nwo.nl/sites/nwo/files/media-files/2019-Recognition-Rewards-Position-Paper_EN.pdf
16Regional subsidy and innovation news
Honderden Europese miljoenen voor innovatie in Noord-Nederland (3 december 2020)
Bron: AWTI e-mail alert 3 december 2020
In de periode 2021-2027 krijgt Noord-Nederland 438 miljoen euro uit twee Europese fondsen: het Europese Fonds voor Regionale
Ontwikkeling (EFRO) en het Just Transition Fund (JTF). De drie provincies en vier grote steden van Noord-Nederland willen met dit
geld vier transities ondersteunen: van lineaire naar circulaire economie, van zorg naar gezondheid, van analoog naar digitaal en van
fossiele naar duurzame energie.
Nieuwsbericht SNN: https://www.snn.nl/nieuws/honderden-europese-miljoenen-voor-noord-nederland
Actieplan om onderzoek en innovatie op regionaal niveau te stimuleren (3 december
2020)
Bron: AWTI e-mail alert 3 december 2020
Samen met het European Committee of the Regions (CoR) heeft de Europese Commissie een actieplan gemaakt om het economisch
herstel, de braindrain uit, en de toenemende onderwijsongelijkheid van achterblijvende Europese regio’s aan te pakken.
Nieuwsbericht CoR: https://cor.europa.eu/en/news/Pages/COR-EC-boost-research-and-innovation-.aspx
Gezamenlijk Actieplan (pdf): https://cor.europa.eu/en/events/Documents/SEDEC/Action_Plan_EC_CoR_November_2020.pdf
Commissie en het Comité van de Regio’s ondertekenen actieplan voor O&I (30 november
2020)
Bron: Neth-ER Nieuwsbrief week 49, 2020
De Europese Commissie en het Europees Comité van de Regio's hebben een gezamenlijk actieplan ondertekend om nauwere
samenwerking op het gebied van onderzoek en innovatie in gang te zetten. Met dit plan willen zij onder andere de
innovatiekloof, braindrain en onderwijsongelijkheid tussen regio’s aanpakken.
Commissie en Comité van de Regio's ondertekenen actieplan
De Commissie en het Europees Comité van de Regio's (CvdR) hebben een gezamenlijk actieplan ondertekend voor nauwere
samenwerking op het gebied van onderzoek en innovatie (O&I). Het actieplan richt zich onder andere op het verminderen van de kloof
in innovatie, braindrain en onderwijsongelijkheden tussen regio’s. In het plan staan 26 punten om de regionale dimensie op het geb ied
van innovatie, onderzoek en onderwijs in EU-initiatieven op te nemen. Zo worden er voorstellen gedaan om de regio’s te betrekken in
de plannen voor de Europese onderzoeksruimte (ERA), de Europese onderwijsruimte (EEA), het Digital Education Action Plan (DEAP)
en de Horizon Europe Missies.
Concrete acties uitgelicht
Om de regio’s te betrekken in O&I ontwikkelingen stelt het plan onder andere voor om hun bestaande Knowledge Exchange Platform
Work Plan (KEP 2.0) in te zetten met een hernieuwde focus op ambities binnen de ERA. Zo krijgen regionale en lokale actoren de kans
hun O&I activiteiten te promoten en gebruik te maken van EU-instrumenten voor O&I. Het plan voorziet ook een rol voor het CvdR in
17ondersteuning van de vijf Horizon Europe Missies, in het bijzonder voor burgerbetrokkenheid en een lokale aanpak. Tenslotte zouden
de regio’s ook een rol kunnen gaan spelen als “katalysator en facilitator” in de synergiën tussen Europese structuur- en
investeringsfondsen en het O&I programma Horizon Europe en de Marie Skłodowska-Curie-acties (MSCA).
Context
Het Europees Comité van de Regio’s vertegenwoordigt regionale en lokale autoriteiten in Europa. Met dit gezamenlijke actieplan willen
het CvdR en de Commissie deze regionale en lokale actoren een grotere rol laten spelen in O&I plannen van de EU. Eerder in dit jaar
bracht het CvdR haar jaarlijkse EU-barometer https://www.neth-er.eu/onderwijs/europese-barometer-signaleert-regionale-ongelijkheid-
onderwijs voor regio’s en steden uit, waarin een toename van regionale ongelijkheden op het gebied van onderwijs werd gesignaleerd.
Scholen in lidstaten met een beperkte digitale infrastructuur werden door de coronacrisis extra benadeeld in de omschakeling naar
digitaal onderwijs.
Meer informatie
Publicatie Commissie en CvdR https://cor.europa.eu/en/events/Documents/SEDEC/Action_Plan_EC_CoR_November_2020.pdf:
Joint Action Plan
Persbericht CvdR https://cor.europa.eu/en/news/Pages/COR-EC-boost-research-and-innovation-.aspx: The CoR and European
Commission join their forces to boost research and innovation at local and regional level
New subsidy scheme for shared pilot-facilities (30 November 2020)
Source: WUR Intranet https://intranet.wur.nl/umbraco/en/news/new-subsidy-scheme-for-shared-pilot-facilities/
Over the next five years, as part of the Regional Deal Foodvalley, €7 million will be available for investment in shared pilot-
facilities. Foodvalley NL is taking care of the coordination, assessing subsidy applications, providing technical advice and
bringing parties together.
The subsidy scheme is intended for companies and research institutions that want to build a knowledge and innovation cluster together
with other parties in the fields of protein transition, circular agrifood, food and health, and smart and digital technology. Bringing various
partners together makes it possible to add facilities to the ecosystem that it does not yet have.
Shared facilities
"The new scheme should contribute to faster upscaling of innovations, reducing time-to-market of new products, services and
technologies. It is, without doubt, a valuable addition to current resources, such as Wageningen University & Research's Shared
Research Facilities," says Petra Roubos, Manager Foodvalley Shared Facilities at Foodvalley NL.
Criteria
A grant application must meet the following criteria:
• the application must concern investments in pilot-plant facilities, test kitchens and/or field labs;
• the investments are aimed at enabling innovations and rapid translation to the market;
• the facilities will not only be accessible to the applicants, but also to other parties.
Assessment and advice
Foodvalley NL is leading the implementation of the subsidy scheme and assessing the applications received. "We are investigating
which facilities are already in place and what we still need in order to successfully complete innovation programs," explains Roubos.
Foodvalley NL also provides technical advice when submitting the application and brings parties together where necessary.
Regional Deal Foodvalley & Foodvalley 2030
The subsidy scheme is part of the Regional Deal Foodvalley and is an essential element of the Foodvalley NL ecosystem development
strategy.
In the Regional Deal Foodvalley and the Foodvalley 2030 strategy, we are working together to accelerate the transition to a sustainable
and healthy food system.
More information
Questions about the subsidy scheme? Want to apply for subsidy? Contact Petra Roubos, petra.roubos@foodvalley.nl.
18You can also read
