UNLOCKING THE FUTURE Digital innovation in Europe - Insight Media
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Science, Technology and Innovation €20
UNLOCKING
THE FUTURE
Digital innovation in Europe
SPECIAL FOCUS ON THE BEST OF DUTCH RESEARCH
Interactive Digital Platform
An innovation in
research dissemination...
CREATE PUBLISH DELIVER
w ww . ipl.eu.com ww w. seedresearchlibrary.com
editor’s note
EDITORIAL
Editorial Director William Davis What if . . .? Two short words, one fascinating question and many
wdavis@ipl.eu.com
Editor Harry O’Neill
different answers. It’s an interesting notion when considering the past,
harry@ipl.eu.com for example, although one often tinged with regret, implying that
Editors Damon Jones, Daniel Hill
perhaps things could have turned out better. When looking into the
future, however, the same question generally prompts thoughts of
PRODUCTION
Production Manager Ellen Haggan
great optimism and excitement, of wonder at what could be possible if
ellen@ipl.eu.com we really put our minds to it.
Design Crystal Mather
crystal@ipl.eu.com This year, iMinds The Conference is asking that question, but as you would expect, the focus is
Client Services Manager Steve Harper
steve@ipl.eu.com well and truly fixed on the future, on a world of invention and innovation, on a world of
Support Assistant Frances Smolinski possibilities driven by ICT.
frances@ipl.eu.com
Insight is delighted to be a Media Partner at the event, once again supporting iMinds in its
CIRCULATION can-do attitude to invention with an array of media coverage that will help bring the debate
Circulation Manager Karen Norman and interaction, the research and the innovation, the opportunities and the collaborations to as
marketing@ipl.eu.com
Data Manager Jane Brewis wide an audience as possible. We will be at the event in Brussels, offering live news feeds of
jane@ipl.eu.com
the main sessions and from the exhibition floor, as well as live video interviews with many of
the key delegates, speakers and researchers involved in driving ICT development in Europe and
PUBLISHING beyond. You can see all this on the Projects website, www.projectsmagazine.eu.com
Managing Director William Davis
wdavis@ipl.eu.com
Director, Communications Sam Davis This publication will be at the event, too, adding the many hundreds of delegates to our already
sam@ipl.eu.com impressive and targeted circulation. This gives us the opportunity to highlight the brilliant work
Finance Director Louise Keane
louise@ipl.eu.com of those projects we feature in this edition to even more people looking to make the most of
Dissemination Consultant Marcell Marafko ICT in all aspects of research and innovation.
marcell@ipl.eu.com
Dissemination Consultant Marlon Stanley
marlon@ipl.eu.com
Projects Magazine is always looking to promote the very best research in Europe and not just
Dissemination Consultant Domingo Herrero Luque ICT research. We strive to provide projects from many thematic areas a platform from which to
domingo@ipl.eu.com
Dissemination Consultant Greg Kett publicise their aims and objectives, their methodology and their results. As well as appearing in
greg@ipl.eu.com the publication, Insight also provides all these projects with a full communications strategy
that delivers real impact. Most recently, the CRISPR project attracted widespread coverage in
European mainstream newspapers following Insight’s publicity drive (see the original article on
ABC application approved
page 54), while the MINTWELD project has been approached by potential investors following
Insight’s communication with our specialist database.
Meanwhile, we also offer all our projects the opportunity to feature in the SEED Research
Library, with their very own project SEED. You can find out more about this exciting tool at
www.seedresearchlibrary.com, (and on page 12 of this edition) and discover all about what is
fast becoming Europe’s most valuable research dissemination resource.
Insight Publishers Ltd
12/13 King Square, As well as our focus on iMinds in this edition, we have also developed a special focus on Dutch
Bristol BS2 8JH,
United Kingdom research, providing a quick snapshot of some of the very best research in the country, which, of
t: +44 (0)1172 033 120 course, is a hotbed of creativity and innovation.
f: +44 (0)1173 150 400
William Davis
e: info@ipl.eu.com
www.ipl.eu.com
www.projects.eu.com
© Insight Publishers Ltd November, 2013 William Davis
ISSN 2040-7335 Managing Director, Insight Publishers
Want to subscribe? Go online and register for a FREE
subscription to Projects (8 issues per year), the leading
European research and development magazine.
www.projectsmagazine.eu.com Insight Publishers | Projects 3
contents
06
Feature - Phone Innovation
Foreword - Wim De Waele 19
06 Foreword 16 WENMR Siobhán Clarke
Wim De Waele, Alexandre M.J.J. Bonvin,
CEO for iMinds Facilitating researcher access to
powerful ICT resources
09 R&D Insight
The latest from the world of research 19 Feature
and development with Harry O’Neill Meet the next generation
of smart(er) phones
14 Enzyme Structures
Anja Palmans, 22 NADES
Mimicking enzyme structures for Young Hae Choi, The missing link in
improved organic catalysis cellular metabolism in physiology
38
Anja Palmans
24 P-gp Tracers
Gert Luurtsema, Enhancing molecular 34 Opinion
imaging to treat brain disorders Neelie Kroes, EC Commissioner for the
Digital Agenda on the European cloud
26 Interview
René Medema, Director of Research, 36 USEFIL
NKI, Getting the balance right Homer Papadopoulos, Bridging the gap
between ICT and the elderly
29 CAP2M-SCHED
Hamid Chehade, 38 Smart and Sustainable Cities
Bringing developed Siobhán Clarke, The Trinity Centre for
scheduling tools to market smart and sustainable cities
30 Retinal Signal Processing 40 SUSTAINCITY
14 Maarten Kamermans,
Deciphering the retinal code
Balz Bodenmann, Integrating transport
simulations with land use models
4 Insight Publishers | Projects
26 Opinion - Neelie Kroes
50
Interview - René Medema
34 Opinion - Heinz K. Becker
43 Semantic Web 48 COMACOD
Erik Mannens, Ingrid Moerman, Engineering new 66
Semantic web technology proves tracking systems to monitor sea freight
everything is connected
50 Opinion
46 DIWINE MEP Heinz K. Becker on unlocking
Hrjehor Mark, access to technology for older people
Optimising communications in
wireless cloud networks 52 MAGMA
Carmen Sanchez-Valle, Shedding light
into deep waters
Katia Monastyrskaya
54 CRISPR-Cas9 Konstantina Yannakopoulou
Emmanuelle Charpentier,
A new tool for genomic
editing 64 PROMICROBE
Peter Bossier
56 Microarrays New strategies to sustain aquacultures
Morgan Alexander,
High-throughput screening for 66 CYCLON
new era of medical devices Konstantina Yannakopoulou
New nanotechnology solutions for
58 Urinary Tract Dysfunction drug delivery
Katia Monastyrskaia, The molecular
causes of bladder pain syndrome
STAY IN TOUCH
61 BIOCOR ITN Visit & subscribe
58 Régine Basséguy, Training researchers
in microbially-influenced corrosion
www.projects.eu.com
www.projectsmagazine.eu.com 5
Wim De Waele
iMinds:
Making our
mark on the world
6 Insight Publishers | Projects
Foreword
By Wim De Waele, CEO, iMinds
imes have never been more exciting in our digital cryptography, distributed systems and cloud computing but we also
T industry than they are today; digital technology has
become a true enabler of societal change and
economic growth. It is hard to believe that the
industry fuelled by the Internet is only 25 years old
if one considers how pervasive it has become. With 3 billion people
have legal and communication scientists on board, who can deal
with policy-making and societal implications in this field. It is a
skill set that will be in huge demand over the coming years as cloud
computing conquers the industry.
But there is so much more to iMinds than basic research. We
connected, our industry has become truly global – with multiple strongly believe in the value of an ecosystem that brings together
devices and platforms distributing and generating enormous all actors active in the field of innovation. That is how we structured
amounts of data. iMinds The Conference; Flemish SMEs as well as multinationals
That is the playing field of iMinds. iMinds is Flanders’ digital sharing their perspectives on how to translate research into
research and entrepreneurship hub. Every day, companies and non- innovative products and services. Moreover, the exhibition f loor
profit organisations leverage the know-how and experience of our contains more than 40 showcases of collaborative research projects
800+ researchers at five Flemish universities. As such, we help that have already translated into tangible results and proofs-of-
them develop products and services that have the potential to concept. We obviously rely on our industrial project partners to
impact profoundly on the way we live and take project outcomes to the market,
work – both in Flanders, in Europe and far and I am happy to see – through
beyond. Additionally, we help researchers and project testimonials – that this is
young entrepreneurs successfully bring their actually happening. The fact that a
ideas to the market. “iMinds has always number of companies are entering into
iMinds has always been a strong believer in longer-term strategic relationships
the value of connecting people and ideas. been a strong with iMinds testifies to the value of
Therefore, to mark our annual industry event these collaborations.
– iMinds The Conference – I wanted to briefly
dwell on some major industry trends and on
believer in the value Start-ups are another strategic
component of our ecosystem. Our
how iMinds’ research expertise ties into those.
We are seeing many of our research activities
of connecting incubation and acceleration team has
experienced a real boost in the number
now becoming ready for widespread adoption.
Our Future Internet department, for instance,
people and ideas” of requests over the last years. This is
due to increasing awareness in the
has built up tremendous knowledge on the start-up community that iMinds offers
Internet of Things (or the ‘Internet of Everything’ as some people now quality coaching and tailor-made programmes for aspiring
call it) with possible application areas being smart grids, healthcare, entrepreneurs. The surge of interest in our incubation programme has
smart cities and manufacturing. led to the creation of many new companies and we intend to do all we
Analytics and data management, now commonly referred to as Big can to help them in their ambitions towards global leadership in their
Data, have always been a further focus area for our researchers. In domain. In an Economist article of 2011, I read the following quote:
healthcare, for instance, they are working on data analytics “For Europe to become truly successful in technology it will have to
approaches that hold the promise of revolutionising the process of adapt an entrepreneurial culture similar to Silicon Valley”. I think we
drug discovery. Other iMinds research groups are focusing on are making good progress on this in Flanders!
innovative solutions that enable policy-makers to control the cost of In this global industry, however, we cannot confine ourselves to our
our healthcare systems. Our media researchers are working on the Flemish region. Next year, iMinds will celebrate its 10th birthday
future of the semantic web, and the results of our research on giving us the chance to reflect on our contribution to Flemish industry
audiovisual storage and retrieval have led to the creation of VIAA, and the Flemish economy, and the successful partnerships we have
the Flemish Institute for (Audiovisual) Archiving. made with companies and non-profit organisations. But it will also be
Security and privacy are two other hot topics. People are becoming a moment to reflect on iMinds’ international presence – ensuring our
more aware of the impact and value of the data they share through research is globally relevant and building a network of international
social networks and other online channels. In this discussion, partners in research and incubation to support these global ambitions.
which has been overshadowed recently by the NSA revelations, we Moving this year’s conference to Brussels, away from my beloved
need to find a delicate balance between privacy and progress hometown of Ghent, is further proof of our European and global
through better data-driven decision-making. iMinds has a strong ambition – an ambition always driven by the fact that there is more
security department with internationally recognised expertise in than enough talent in Flanders to make our mark on the world!
www.projectsmagazine.eu.com 7
An innovation in
research dissemination... Interactive Digital Platform
S E E D i nco rp o ra tes three services:
CREATE PUBLISH DELIVER
Digital content creation service Content publishing service Content delivery service
All existing dissemination material is SEED offers a purpose built content Once created, your research project
reviewed by Insight’s editorial team. management system (CMS) where all SEED is published on the library.
They are specialist science and technology types of web content can be uploaded Via this library platform your SEED will be
journalists who are experienced at taking and then published into an digital disseminated to your target audience and to
complex research information and turning brochure called a SEED. Projects can important decision makers and influencers
it into material that is accessible to a choose from a range of flexible brochure within research and innovation. Interested
project’s target audience. Insight offers a templates in which the content can be library users can select to ‘follow’ your SEED.
number of services to turn research project presented. Brochures come with in-built This keeps them abreast of your research and
information into visually appealing digital intereactive functionality and integration innovation updates and developments. By
content including; copy writing, video with social media sites such as Facebook, featuring in the Library, projects benefit from
production, building flash presentations, Twitter and Linkedn. This enables direct being placed next to other research projects
creating interactive visuals and designing communication between research projects that are exploring similar or complimentary
eye catching graphics and images. and their audiences. areas of research and innovation.
www . ipl. eu. c om w w w. s e ed resear c h li b rar y. c o m
R&D REGULARS:
IMAGE OF THE MONTH (Pg11)
INSIGHT
A different kind of mating dance
for the sea slug Siphopteron
IN BRIEF (Pg11)
Substitutes for alcohol and a new
network for astroid deflection
Latest from the world of Research SEED REVIEW (Pg12)
and Development with Harry O’Neill
We review the EUROSTRUCT SEED
from the SEED Reseach Library
L E A D ST ORY
C3 project addresses
climate change in the
Vietnamese coffee sector
(Turn over to continue)
www.projectsmagazine.eu.com 9
R&D INSIGHT
L E A D ST ORY
Dutch organisations UTZ Certified and the Douwe Egberts
Foundation have launched the Coffee Climate Care project
(C3), a three-year multi-stakeholder initiative aimed at
establishing adaptation strategies that will make coffee
producers more resilient against the impacts of climate change.
V
ietnam is the world’s largest and the Initiative for Coffee and on the greenhouse gas emissions and
producer of Robusta coffee, Climate, among many others. The carbon stocks of farms, ii) training and
and the second largest project will start with one pilot group of implementation of farmers on adaptation
supplier of UTZ certified about 500 producers in Vietnam’s Lam measures, and iii) the consolidation of
coffee after Brazil. The Dong province. results into a refined version of the UTZ
negative occurrences caused by climate “During our time in Vietnam, since Certified code of conduct. At the end of
change in the country have the potential to 2001, we have seen rainfall patterns 2016, UTZ Certified and the DE Foundation
threaten the livelihoods of thousands of become more erratic, with longer and are expecting to present the results,
smallholders, whose livelihoods depend on more pronounced drought periods and which will serve as the basis for future
coffee farming. heavier rainfall in the wet season. In development of adaptation techniques
“Climate change is a global challenge, the central highlands, this is creating and greenhouse gas emission
therefore, eventually we want to apply problems for farmers in drying their measurement tools in the coffee supply
the lessons learnt from the C3 project in coffee. In combination with the chain.
Vietnam across our worldwide network of expected temperature increase, we may UTZ Certified started operations in
coffee producers,” said Britta Wyss also see drastic effects on coffee Vietnam in 2002 and has been
Bisang, Standards Director at UTZ production,” says Don Jansen, Program promoting its programme in all coffee
Certified. “By strengthening our Manager at the DE Foundation. regions. Today more than 27,000
certification program in adaptation “Therefore, innovative adaptation farmers and 44,000 hectares of coffee-
measures related to climate variability, strategies are fundamental for assuring producing land in the country are UTZ
we can build new capacities at the farmer the future of coffee producers in certified. The requirements for
level that will benefit all actors along the Vietnam and other regions. The C3 achieving the UTZ label are stringent,
supply chain.” project is expected to contribute to the with farms and businesses being closely
The C3 project will be a collaborative development of such strategies.” monitored by independent third parties
approach supported by the know-how of The C3 project will have three stages: i) on farm management, working
several institutions such as the assessing the climate vulnerability of the conditions, environmental protection
Vietnamese Coffee Research Institute pilot group, and collecting relevant data and a strict no child labour policy.
10 Insight Publishers | ProjectsR&D INSIGHT
IMAGE OF THE MONTH IN BRIEF
Alcohol substitutes
could reduce health risks
A drug that mimics some effects
of alcohol but lacks its harmful
properties would have real benefit
for public health, a leading scientist
has argued. Professor David Nutt
of Imperial College London has
identified candidate molecules that
reproduce the pleasurable effects
of alcohol but are much less toxic.
“We want to get rid of any of the
unwanted effects like aggression and
memory impairment, leaving just
pleasure and the sense of relaxation.
© Johanna Werminghausen/University of Tübingen
A different kind of mating dance Evolvability is
Many animals have been observed to have the head. The researchers suspect that the
evolvable in bacteria
unusual mating habits, but this one might secretions they inject contain bioactive The capacity to generate genetic
just top them all. Evolutionary biologists proteins which can enter the acting female’s variation is itself an evolvable
from the University of Tübingen have nervous system to manipulate reproduction trait, according to new research. B.
observed that part of the hermaphroditic – possibly increasing the number of eggs burgdorferi, the bacterium that causes
sea slug Siphopteron’s mating process laid or ensuring that the most recent sperm Lyme disease, uses unexpressed
involves reciprocally stabbing each other in are preferred to those of earlier mates. genetic sequences organised into
“cassettes” to tweak its surface
antigen in order to escape detection
by the host immune system.
Researchers from the University of
Pennsylvania found that natural
selection seemed to favour bacteria
with more genetic variability within
these cassettes (and hence a greater
capacity to generate different
versions of the antigen).
New training network
for asteroid deflection
World-leading scientists will push
the boundaries of studies on how
to deflect asteroids and manipulate
space debris. Led by the University of
Strathclyde, the Stardust programme
– the first research-based training
network of its kind – aims to protect
Cow massage on-demand the planet and space assets from
catastrophic impacts. Lead scientist
Professor Massimiliano Vasile said:
“Asteroids and space debris represent
We all appreciate a nice massage and a good scrub, and cows are no exception. Dutch a significant hazard for space and
farmer Gerrit Jan Vink decided to simplify the process of cleaning his herd by inventing terrestrial assets. However, they
the Rotating Cattle Brush. The cylindrical rotating brush is driven by an electric motor may also represent opportunities for
that starts automatically when the cow makes contact with it. Not only do the cows enjoy debris recycling or asteroid mining.”
it, the brush also keeps them clean, healthy and calm, which in turn produces more milk.
www.projectsmagazine.eu.com 11R&D INSIGHT
SEED REVIEW
Neurosurgeon uses daughter’s
Eurostruct head to create surgery simulator
www.seedresearchlibrary.com/science-
A
new neurosurgical designs for the model on her skull size
technology-research-projects/178/eurostruct- simulator designed to and shape. The model was created in
structural-biology teach basic surgical Wales by a company normally involved
techniques has been in special effects for Hollywood film
created by practicing studios.
neurosurgeon Richard Ashpole. Known “It was essential that the Rowena
as Rowena, the design of the two part model be as close to a real skull as
plastic simulator was named after and possible, both internally and
modelled on the head of the inventor’s externally, so it seemed logical to base
own daughter. the design on a real person,” explains
Rowena stands for Realistic Operative Ashpole. “Fortunately my daughter
Workstation for Educating was happy to help, and sat for over an
Neurosurgical Apprentices, and hour and a half whilst the model
consists of a moulded plastic base with makers did their work. Rowena has
internal skull anatomy on which is been developed over many months to
fixed a replaceable upper cranium with ensure all layers of the cranium
I
n the first
st in
n a new
new se
ne series
ries
ri
iess o
off fe
feat
features
t ur
ures
e on projects scalp, bone and dural layers. Inside the behave as realistically as possible. As
using thee SEED RResearch
essea
earc
rch
h Li
Lib
Library,
brary we we take a closer skull is a realistic plastic brain. a result, it offers a unique, cutting
look at EUROSTRUCT, a project designed to Richard used the head of his daughter edge teaching aid to train the next
unlock the full research potential of the Structural Rowena, now aged 14, basing his generation of neurosurgeons.”
Biology and Chemistry Group (SBCG) with emphasis
on structure-based drug design and discovery.
Macromolecular crystallography has been the core
activity of SBCG for over 20 years and the use of
X-rays has played a pivotal role. The establishment of
an X-ray facility, the development of a computational
infrastructure along with the recruitment of new
personnel will allow the thorough investigation of a
number of macromolecular targets of biotechnological
and pharmaceutical interest, increasing SBCG’s
research capacity at international level.
Modern structural biology, particularly protein
crystallography, can provide a clear insight into the
mechanism of action of a protein and can generate the
structure of therapeutically important targets. In
structure-based drug design, the crystal structure of a
ligand bound to a protein provides a detailed insight
into the interactions made between the protein and
the ligand, and such an understanding can be used to
design changes to the ligand to introduce new
interactions to modify the affinity and specificity of
Meet the real “Iron Chef”
the ligand for a particular protein. In structure-based before. “The manipulation of non-
The art of making a pizza is
drug discovery a number of experimental and usually something mastered rigid, deformable objects – food
computational methods, such as de novo design, through years of practice and or clothes in our daily lives, soft
virtual screening and fragment-based discovery have refinement. However, Professor tissues such as muscles and skin in
been developed to use the structure of the protein Bruno Siciliano is hoping that medical operations – has not been
target as a route to discover novel hit compounds. within the next five years, his much investigated so far and offers
robot – named RoDyMan – will be an important challenge to the
able to compete with the famed robotics community”, says Siciliano.
The SEED Research Library (www.seedresearchlibrary.
pizzaiolos of Napoli. According to data of the
com) is the publishing portal for SEED, Insight’s very International Federation of
RoDyMan (Robotic Dynamic
own platform for hosting interactive multi-media Robotics, about 3 million service
Manipulation) is a service robot
content as an effective and affordable form of that will be able to mimic complex robots for personal and domestic
dissemination for projects. If you would like your project human tasks with a level of use were sold in 2012, 20% more
to appear in the SEED Research Library, please contact dexterity and mobility never seen than in 2011.
Sam Davis on 01172033120 or sam@ipl.eu.com
12 Insight Publishers | ProjectsR&D INSIGHT
Left to right - Stephen Greenland, Julian Hodgson, Campbell Brown, Jethro Coulson, David Willetts MP , Brianna Stubbs, Patrick Cottam, James Dimmock and Jordan Conway.
Young scientists and engineers awarded Great Exhibition
funds to develop world-changing technologies
I
n 1851, the doors of the Crystal Palace The Industrial Fellowships provide recent chimney that could greatly reduce the cost of
in London opened to the public. Inside graduates with the means to develop solar power generation.
was what is now referred to as “The innovative technology with commercial Bernard Taylor, Chairman of the Royal
Great Exhibition”, the first and still potential, ideally leading to a patent, while Commission for the Exhibition of 1851, said:
most successful world trade fair ever. completing a PhD or EngD. Each Fellow “Building on our rich history, the Royal
Now, still using the profits from this receives £80,000 worth of funding for their Commission remains at the cutting edge of
original show, the 1851 Royal Commission work, to be carried out in collaboration with science and engineering, through investing
awards a range of fellowships and grants to an academic and a business partner. in young talent across the depth and breadth
support science and engineering research This year, eight young scientists and of modern British industry. This work
and industrial education across the UK. It engineers have been recognised for their continues the legacy of Prince Albert and the
has previously funded luminaries such as ideas, including a sports drink that could Great Exhibition, which brought science, art
Prof Peter Higgs, Sir James Chadwick and significantly improve physical and cognitive and industry together, with the aim of
Paul Dirac. performance, and a 1000m tall fabric driving innovation.”
Slaying the “dragon kings”
Physicists in Brazil, Switzerland and the the conditions from which they emerged. The oscillators may not be obvious, the equations
US have predicted the onset of extreme researchers then looked for ways of averting used to model markets are similar to those that
events in a chaotic electronic circuit and these extreme events. Their solution was to describe the oscillators used in the experiment.
then worked out a way of preventing the turn on a second, stronger coupling between As a result, techniques developed to predict
events from happening. The team believes the two circuits whenever the master circuit and prevent dragon kings in the lab could
that its work could provide important insights approached the region of instability. someday be used to ensure market stability by
into how to prevent “dragon kings”, which While the connection between events such intervening only when the conditions suggest
are extreme events such as earthquakes as financial crashes and coupled chaotic a dragon king is about to occur.
and financial crashes that can occur with
devastating effect in complex systems.
Researchers who study these occurrences
use the term “dragon king” to describe an
extreme event that is predictable – at least
in principle – and not a random “act of God”.
The system used to model these events is
comprised of two electronic circuits, one
“master” and one “slave”, that both undergo
chaotic oscillations. The circuits occasionally
fall out of synch for brief periods of time
and such out-of-synch events are called
“bubbles”. Every once in a while a large
bubble occurs.
The team identified these large bubbles as
dragon kings and then looked carefully at
www.projectsmagazine.eu.com 13Dutch Focus
Organic catalysts are essential for a number of industrial applications, but their inability to work
within the same system or in water means that their efficiency is somewhat limited. Researchers from
the Eindhoven University of Technology believe that they may have solved this problem by taking a
leaf out of the structure of nature’s own catalysts – enzymes
Mimicking enzyme structures
for improved organic catalysis
Enzymes are highly selective and similar to enzymes, which we can then
effective catalysts, used both in the body insert a catalytic core into. The folded
and for industrial applications. Their polymer chain will have a hydrophilic
well-defined, compartmentalised three- outer surface similar to an enzyme,
dimensional structures mean that their allowing this synthetic catalyst to
active sites are highly specific to their work in water.”
particular substrates, making enzyme
catalysis extremely efficient. A crucial
characteristic of enzymes is that their
outside is hydrophilic, allowing them to
work in the watery environment of the
“When making drugs, for
body, while the inside – where the active example, the current
site is situated – is hydrophobic.
Catalysts used in organic chemistry, on process involves carrying
the other hand, are quite different to
enzymes. They are typically much smaller out one reaction, isolating
molecules that do not have large three-
dimensional structures around them, and the product and then
thus tend to be much less selective.
However, it is often the case that these
purifying the product Substrates --> Products
catalysts can stimulate reactions that before moving on to the
enzymes cannot. once in the same environment. “When
Is there a way to get the best of both next reaction and repeating making drugs, for example, the current
worlds? Dr Anja Palmans of the Eindhoven process involves carrying out one reaction,
University of Technology thinks so. “We the whole process” isolating the product and then purifying
can mimic the three-dimensional the product before moving on to the next
structure of an enzyme using polymer The possibilities opened up by this reaction and repeating the whole process,”
chains,’ she explains. “Using what is research are numerous. Enzyme-like explains Palmans. “This is because
known as a supramolecular recognition activity in a completely synthetic system standard organic catalysts tend to inhibit
unit, we can fold these chains into could be used for reaction cascades in or alter each other’s activity and so cannot
compartmentalised architectures very which multiple reactions are occurring at be used within the same system.”
14 Insight Publishers | Projects“However, with these synthetic catalysts consulting someone via email or at a AT A GLANCE
the active site is shielded and so they do conference, you can just drop in to their
not interfere with each other. This allows office and ask them directly.” Project Information
one to have a system in which a number of Working with people from different Project Title:
reactions can be happening simultaneously scientific fields does sometimes have its Mimicking enzyme structures for
within a single procedure.” problems, as Palmans illustrates: “There improved organic catalysis
The Eindhoven University of Technology are often issues when it comes to the
has been the base at which this research language we use. When a physicist explains Project Objective:
has taken place, and the unique something to a chemist and starts talking We fold synthetic polymer chains
in water into compartmentalized,
multidisciplinary environment it has about phase transitions, the chemist is
catalytically active nanoreactors.
provided has been fundamental to the usually left with a confused expression on The hydrophobic interior of the
success of the work, according to Palmans. their face! Likewise, when a chemist talks folded polymers allows efficient and
“The institute we work in, the Institute for to a physicist using fairly standard selective catalysis, reminiscent of
Complex Molecular Systems, was chemistry terms, the physicist is equally the catalysis performed by enzymes.
specifically created so that researchers perplexed. It has taken some getting used Through this, we aim to open new
from a number of different disciplines to, but I feel that we have all ended up vistas for catalysis in water, the next
can work within the same building,” she learning a lot about each other’s subjects.” step in polymer supported catalysis.
says. “We have polymer chemists to work The research has now reached the stage
Project Duration and Timing:
with the polymer chains, organic chemists at which a good understanding of the Start: 2010, duration: not yet known
to develop the catalysts and polymer folding has been reached, as
Project Funding:
NWO-ECHO, 1 PhD, k€ 260.0. Marie
Curie Actions, 1 post doc, k€ 180.0.
The National Research School
Catalysis (NRSC-C)
MAIN CONTACT
supramolecular recognition units, well as a fairly high level of catalysis. Anja Palmans
polymer physicists to aid our The first experiments on the cascade Anja Palmans studied chemical
understanding of the folding and to bring catalytic systems are now running, but engineering at the Eindhoven
University of Technology, followed
complex methods of analysis, as well as the next step will be to relate the
by a PhD in supramolecular
mathematicians who utilise their structure of the polymers back to the chemistry. After a post-doc at the
knowledge of modelling.” catalytic activity. “We can now shield ETH Zürich and a stay in industry,
This wide array of scientists have the catalysts within the polymer; that she returned to Eindhoven in
worked together on the research from the has been proven,” says Palmans, “but 2002, where she became associate
beginning, approaching the task from what we really want to do now is to get professor in 2010
different directions but with one common back to design principals so that we can
goal. This has resulted in a far more improve the levels of catalysis. The Contact:
thorough understanding of what has been mathematicians we are working with Tel: 0031-40-2473105
achieved than is normally realised with a will be crucial for this step, as their Email: a.palmans@tue.nl
narrower field of researchers. “When we knowledge of models will allow us to Web: www.tue.nl/en/research/
take steps forward, they are not just in the work on molecular design.” research-institutes/top-research-
sense of improved catalysis; we also It will be another few years before the groups/institute-for-complex-mo-
lecular-systems/people/dr-ara-anja-
understand why these catalysts are final results of this intriguing research
palmans/
behaving like they are and why the are published, and it could be that it helps
polymers are folding like they are. We to revolutionise the use of organic
know the exact shapes of the particles catalysts. Until then, it is good to know
and how the supramolecular recognition that scientists from different backgrounds
units will affect these shapes. It is only are able to work in harmony, which is
through working in an institute such as surely something to note for anyone with
this by which you can achieve such a aspirations of starting a new research
depth of knowledge. Rather than project. +
www.projectsmagazine.eu.com 15Dutch Focus
Many recent scientific breakthroughs have been achieved through detailed analysis of ‘big data’. Consequently, demand
is growing for access to powerful computers that can efficiently process this information. To assist researchers, an EU-
funded project, WeNMR, is facilitating access to IT resources which can considerably enhance their capabilities
A user-friendly e-infrastructure
for life-science research
“Science is evolving. Relying on a single subjects within a magnetic field to obtain within our bodies,” he continues. “They
method is no longer the most practical way information about their properties. “We’re are a critical component in the machinery
of engaging with, or trying to solve looking at the structure, function and that makes life possible. Understanding
scientific questions,” says Alexandre dynamics of bio-molecules, studying them how they communicate is an important
Bonvin. To effectively progress, he argues, in a solution or solid state. By scrutinising step, for example, in the design of new
one needs to rely on a combination of their magnetic resonances (a response to drugs. Diseases are often a result of
different types of experimental methods the magnetic field), we can measure miscommunication at the molecular level,
and computations to address the big distances between atoms, enabling us to or may occur when these minute bodies
challenges. A professor in computational construct models of them. By examining fail to interact correctly.”
structural biology at the Bijvoet Center for where and how they interact, we can then Bonvin has developed software that
Biomolecular Research at Utrecht begin to build physics-based simulations assists researchers in interpreting the
University, Bonvin’s work is a paradigm of to help understand their functional large amounts of data harvested from
this principle. The groups of Bonvin and of relationships.” NMR and other experimental or
his colleagues, Professors Baldus and “The role of biomolecules is very bioinformatics methods. For over a decade,
Boelens, exploit NMR spectroscopy, a important to human biology, since they they have pioneered and refined a system
technique that places atomic and molecular define functions and communication called HADDOCK (High Ambiguity Driven
16 Insight Publishers | Projectsbiomolecular DOCKing). By submitting power, the duration of
experimental data and factoring in computations may be
predictions – known as ‘Ambiguous significantly lengthened, or, if
Interaction Restraints’, the software allows restricted to the limited
users to examine how molecules can capabilities of overstretched
combine, forming structures or ‘complexes’ in-house servers, deemed
by theoretically ‘docking’. This process is unviable. To address this
also integral to modern medicine. scenario, in which less
Predicting the mode of interaction at the well-resourced scientists
molecular level is critical to anticipating could become marginalised
the function of drug candidates, as their in a hierarchy of HPC elitism,
effectiveness may depend on how they an EU project called WeNMR
attach themselves to specified molecular (Worldwide e-Infrastructure
targets like proteins. for NMR and Structural
biology) has been launched,
with Bonvin as its
coordinator.
“The role of biomolecules “WeNMR builds on grid
computing, making use of the
is very important to European Grid Initiative (EGI)
resources,” he details. “This is the
human biology, since they collective usage of geographically
disparate IT assets, combined to achieve a
define functions and common research goal – in this case,
communication within progress in molecular biology”. A three
year venture, the project aims to unite
our bodies” complementary research teams within a not exclusive to NMR specialists, and also
virtual research community at a global aims to engage those conducting work
Despite the availability of such tools, level. To aid them, the initiative provides using small-angle x-ray scattering
many researchers find their progress an integrated, streamlined platform (SAXS), and to form relationships with
inhibited by inadequate IT resources or a (which supports HADDOCK), to provide other branches of the life sciences, which
lack of experience in dealing with complex an interface assisting with computational diversify the usage of the grid.
software. Without sufficient processing analysis and modeling. The platform is Grid computing was historically developed
by CERN in Geneva. Consequently, it has
made a formidable contribution to
An overview of WeNMR
discoveries like the Higgs Boson, but this
NMR early precedent ensured that grid usage was
Titrations RDC, PCS Bioinformatics initially, and continues to be, dominated by
Cross-linking
A EFRGSFSHL physics. “However, over time, other
15N
MS EFKGAFQHV
B
LFRLTWHHV
EFEPSYPHI
disciplines have started moving in,” says
1H
Bonvin. “We’ve begun to combine the
H/D Exchange Mutagenesis power of grid computing with numerous
D O D
D
H w -nmr + applications in the life sciences.” To
2 D
calculate the 3D structures of molecules
using NMR, scientists must repeat complex
EPR, FRET
calculations potentially thousands of times
cryo-EM, SAXS – hence the necessity to accelerate the time-
consuming process. A critical goal for the
project has thus been to develop a user-
friendly gateway or online ‘portal’ for
researchers to access the grid. The system
allows them to input and upload data from
their experiments, which are processed on
the grid. Once analysis is complete, the
results are returned to the researchers who
usually deposit them into public digital
knowledge repositories. The project offers
support and training to novices, providing
a hub around which expertise and
knowledge can be shared online for the
benefit of the collective.
www.projectsmagazine.eu.com 17project has resulted in over 80 AT A GLANCE
publications, and succeeded in
attracting almost 900 users, in Project Information
locations ranging from
Afghanistan to Vietnam. Another Project Title:
laudable achievement is WeNMR: A worldwide
becoming one of the largest e-Infrastructure for NMR and
virtual organisations structural biology
supporting life science
Project Objective:
research and, of course, WeNMR aims at bringing together
having contributed to complementary research teams
several notable projects. in the structural biology and life
One recent study accessing grid science area into a virtual research
facilities examined the sting of community at a worldwide level
ocean-dwelling cone snails, with and provide them with a platform
integrating and streamlining
the aim of harnessing the
the computational approaches
underlying biological mechanisms to necessary for NMR and SAXS data
generate a new anaesthetic. The video can analysis and structural modelling.
be found at http://www.youtube.com/
watchv=1tWduGtNRYg. By conducting Project Duration and Timing:
NMR analysis on peptides contained Three years: November 1st, 2010
within the snail’s sting, which inflicts – November 1st 2013. The portal
numbing paralysis by disrupting will remain operational beyond the
project end date.
communication channels in neurons,
scientists in Utrecht have been able to Project Funding:
comprehend how it operates at the molecular Three years: November 1st, 2010 –
level. Equipped with this mastery, future November 1st 2013
scientists could attempt to recreate and
“WeNMR allows researchers to reach EU enhance some of these natural attributes, Project Partners:
computational resources and that of the synthesising an effective painkiller. t Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular
Research, Utrecht University
rest of the world,” says Bonvin. Within the research community, there is
t Center for Biomolecular
“Computational jobs can be sent to the grid presently much speculation over the EU’s Magnetic Resonance (BMRZ),
in South America and Asia, and we have Horizon 2020 ambitions, in which WeNMR Johann Wolfgang Goethe Uni-
recently linked with the US Open Science hopes to play a meaningful part. Although versity, Frankfurt am Main
Grid (OSG). Locally, we’ve maintained the focus of policy makers is often on the t Interuniversity Consortium for
direct connections with the EGI (European most powerful supercomputing hardware Magnetic Resonance on Metal-
Grid Initiative) from inception. A their nations possess, Bonvin insists that the loproteins (CIRMMP), Florence
fundamental strength of our approach is EU must support grid access for projects of University
t National Institute of Nuclear
that users don’t need to worry about all scales. “Many researchers are conducting
Physics, Padua
settings or strict procedures and can focus smaller – but nonetheless important – t Radboud University, Nijmegen
on their own scientific problems. We projects, which don’t require access to t University of Cambridge
provide solutions for people to use top- intensive HPC, but could benefit from IT (UCAM)
flight software, which is often complex, resources offered via the grid. This is the t European Molecular Biology
and requires expertise in computing, community we want to target,” says Bonvin. Laboratory (EMBL)
administration, systems and installation to “Scientists are developing very specific tools t Spronk NMR Consultancy
(SpronkNMR)
fully utilise. Our growing community finds to obtain small, yet fundamental pieces of
t Academia Sinica (AS), Taipei
this very attractive”. information about biological systems. You
Now in its third year of operation, WeNMR need to put all of the fragments together to Contact:
has achieved notable recognition. The obtain a complete, holistic picture.” + Tel: +31-30-2533859
Email:a.m.j.j.bonvin@uu.nl
Web: www.uu.nl/staff/AMJJBonvin
MAIN CONTACT Prof. Dr. Alexandre M.J.J. Bonvin
Alexandre Bonvin (1964) studied
Chemistry at Lausanne University and
obtained his PhD at Utrecht University
(1993). After two post-docs at Yale
University (Prof. A.T. Brunger) and at
Photo: @ Ed van Rijswijk
the ETHZ (Prof. W.F. van Gunsteren) he
joined Utrecht University in 1998 where
he was appointed full professor of
computational structural biology in 2009.
w e -nmr
18 Insight Publishers | ProjectsFEATURE
MEET THE NEXT
GENERATION OF
SMART(ER)PHONES
The smartphone is undoubtedly the gadget of a generation. For many people
they are an essential tool of their day-to-day working life, while for many more
the thought of being without one is simply unbearable. The direction in which
the smartphone market moves is consequently of great interest to a great many
people, and it is two companies from the Netherlands that have emerged as the
ones that may well shape the future of these devices, as Harry O’Neill explains
>>>
www.projectsmagazine.eu.com 19T
(Above) here is no denying that smartphones one part that has lost its functionality, it is often the
The modular are big business. Approximately 700 whole phone that gets discarded due to the way they
design concept of million units were sold in 2012 alone, are made. With Phonebloks, however, each module,
Phonebloks allows a forty-three per cent increase from such as the camera, battery or memory, would exist
for easy repair and
2011, and it is now the case that these as a separate “blok” that could be detached and
customisation
devices are often people’s main access replaced at will from the base. This would allow for
point to the internet. The Five Star Equities research the easy upgrade or repair of the phone.
group recently predicted that by 2015 the number of Not only could this system help reduce the huge
smartphones will top two billion globally. amounts of e-waste generated from people constantly
Innovation in this sector is, subsequently, a big replacing their phones, it could also allow people to
deal. Here we look at two Dutch companies who customise their phones to their personal needs and
have taken very different approaches in their beliefs. If someone is a keen photographer, they can
attempts to revolutionise this market, but which install a bigger and better camera blok. If they are
have both garnered their fair share of media particularly environmentally conscientious, they can
attention and have thus put the Netherlands at the use biodegradeable or locally sourced bloks. The
forefront of future smartphone innovation. possibilities are limitless.
Google-owned communications company
Phonebloks – the DIY phone of the future Motorola have also stepped in to the fray, revealing
Undoubtedly one of the most successful internet PR their similar scheme titled Project Ara. They have
campaigns in recent memory, the Phonebloks now teamed up with Phonebloks, brainchild of
introductory video, which clocks in at just under Design Academy Eindhoven graduate Dave
three minutes long, had approximately eighteen Hakkens, to continue development of the open-
million views at last count. Not bad for a product that source modular mobile phone concept. Motorola
hasn’t even been made yet, because as yet the hopes to share its technical development work with
Phonebloks concept remains just that – a concept. Hakkens’ widespread social media communities
However, as concepts go, it is a good one. At present, and will be releasing a developers’ kit this winter,
mobile phones, no matter whether they are top-of- so people can begin designing their own components
the-range smartphones or bargain-bin-bricks, only for the phones.
tend to last for a couple of years before they either In a recent interview with Forbes magazine,
break or become obsolete. Although it is usually only Hakkens responded to widely voiced concerns about
20 Insight Publishers | Projectsthe viability of the project. “Price point, ergonomics scratch resistant screen. The phone is rootable,
and standardisation will all pose big challenges, but meaning that the user can install their operating
they are challenges which can be overcome,” he said. system of choice. The Fairphone website also gives
“If it’s pricey, you can decide to buy cheaper blocks. a complete breakdown of all the costs involved in
The challenge is to make it actually work. That’s the the production of the device.
key. It should really work perfectly.” The project has not been without its difficulties,
with problems in the supply chain and delays in the
Fairphone – the phone with principles certification process putting back the delivery of the
Also touching on the issue of e-waste, but delving smartphones to December from an initial projected
much deeper into the provenance of each internal deadline of autumn 2013. As people are paying for a
component, is the Fairphone. The company behind device they haven’t even seen or held, a large degree
this crowdfunded and ethically sourced smartphone of trust is involved, something alluded to by Bas
sent out a statement of intent recently after van Abel, founder and CEO of Fairphone.
announcing that its initial run of 25,000 pre-orders “25,000 people have put down €325 for a phone
had already sold out. they have never seen before, from a company that
The Fairphone, which has been produced by the has never made a phone before. This is quite a
small Dutch social enterprise of the same name, has statement for fair electronics and that the idea of a
been created in part to shine a light into the darker fairer economy is incredibly valuable to people.
recesses of the electronic supply chain. Assembled People have made their statement. Now it’s up to
in China by workers who are guaranteed a fair wage us,” he said recently.
and working conditions, the raw minerals (tin and Whether the Fairphone or Phonebloks will be able
tantalum) for the Fairphone are sourced from to convert their groundbreaking ideas into economic
conflict-free mines in the Democratic Republic of success is another story, and one that will most
Congo that are not controlled by warring parties in likely only be answered with time. However, both
(Below) Members of
the ongoing civil strife in that country. Other parts should take encouragement from the overwhelming
Fairphone travelled
to the DRC to visit such as the case are made from recycled materials. support they have received from potential users on
mines from which In keeping with the theme of sustainability and the internet, which surely sends a message to the
they source essential openess the phone itself is built to last, with user- smartphone industry at large as to which direction
raw minerals replaceable parts, dual SIM cards and a high-end they hope phones develop in the future.
www.projectsmagazine.eu.com 21Dutch Focus
What makes it possible for cacti to survive for years in a drought-ridden desert? How can so-called
“resurrection plants” such as the Rose of Jericho survive months, even years, of extreme dehydration, only
to be seemingly reborn when supplied with a small amount of water? Three researchers from the University
of Leiden and the Delft University of Technology think they might know the answer
NADES could be missing
ingredient in biological mysteries
Dr. Young Hae Choi and Prof. Robert amount of choline in these processes, and Once the presence of NADES had been
Verpoorte of the University of Leiden, and concluded that it may point to the predicted and the physical proof of their
Prof. Geert-Jan Witkamp of the Delft existence of a naturally occurring ionic existence had been provided, the team
University of Technology, believe that liquid (IL). Synthetic ILs consist of an acid started to look at the biological
their research into Natural Deep Eutectic and a base in equimolar concentrations significance of their findings.
Solvents (NADES) and their specific and are tailor made from different ‘‘Think about a flower standing in the
properties can help to shed light on a synthetic components for chemical and Sun for weeks. If the water in the flower is
range of biological phenomena, and more enzymatic reactions. Their major stored where all of the flower’s fragrance
importantly, solve long-running problems advantage is that being totally non- is kept, then after a day’s sunshine the
in the pharmaceutical and food industries. volatile, these liquids last for ever. fragrances will be gone,’’ says Prof.
“It started about seven years ago when Experiments with choline and some Verpoorte. ‘‘In reality, there is a NADES
we were doing a lot of metabolomics common organic acids found in plants in the flower which remains after the
work, trying to identify as many gave rise to liquids that were able to water has gone, and helps the flower to
compounds as possible present in plant, dissolve a wide range of poorly water retain its fragrance.’’
animal, or microbial cells,’’ says Prof. soluble compounds commonly found in all Dr. Choi and Prof. Verpoorte suggest that
Verpoorte. ‘‘We noticed that they always kind of organisms. Further studies then the reason a flower is able to retain its
contained quite a large amount of organic led to the discovery of NADES, which are fragrant properties in its nectar is that
bases such as choline, more than you similar in properties to ILs but can be some of its component parts can combine
would expect in an appropriate made by mixing neutral solid compounds to form a NADES with high water retaining
biosynthetic pathway.’’ like sugars and sugar alcohols with capabilities. Essentially, the compounds
Dr. Choi and Prof. Verpoorte discussed common amino acids, organic acids and found in flowers that are solid at room
the implications of finding a significant bases as found in all organisms. temperature, for example sugars and
22 Insight Publishers | Projectsamino acids, can be mixed, resulting in a subject to limitations in terms of being AT A GLANCE
compound that still will be liquid when all administered, due to their resistance to
residual water has evaporated. This being dissolved in water. Prof. Witkamp Project Information
remaining liquid keeps the usually low says that a large number of these drugs
Project Title:
polar volatile fragrances dissolved. that cannot be dissolved using water, can
NADES: Natural deep eutectic
To obtain evidence for the role of NADES quite easily be dissolved using NADES. solvents: the missing link in
in other biological processes, Dr. Choi One particular characteristic that makes understanding cellular metabolism
conducted further experiments in an NADES well suited to this purpose is the in physiology
attempt to demonstrate the presence of ability to be tailor-made to suit different
NADES in barley seeds. Using NMR compounds. For example, the antitumor Project Objective:
spectroscopy he was able to show the drug paclitaxel is not water soluble at all, The main objective of project is
presence of equimolar amounts of choline but dissolved quite well in NADES, and to confirm the presence of natural
media alternative to water and lipids
and sugar in the tissues where germination thus could potentially be used for oral
in living organisms, to clarify their
starts. This NADES could thus serve as a formulations. physiological roles, and developing
solvent for the enzymes involved in The food industry can also benefit from novel industrial applications of the
germination, which become active when the advent of these NADES. The ability to NADES
the NADES is diluted with water. make a bespoke solvent that dissolves only
Prof. Geert-Jan Witkamp says that the the desired flavour-giving element of a food Project Duration and Timing:
stabilising nature of these liquids, their has massive potential for industrial 3 years, March 2013 to February 2016
strong ability to retain water and the application. A major advantage of all the
Project Funding:
NWO (Netherland Organisation
for Scientific Research, Chemical
Science)
“In reality, there is a NADES in the flower which Project Partners:
TU-Delft
remains after the water has gone, and helps the
flower to retain its fragrance” MAIN CONTACT
lowered melting (and hence freezing) NADES components is that they are non-
points, may be key to certain plants’ toxic, and are in fact present in large
abilities to survive in extreme conditions. amounts in most food. Pharmaceuticals and
‘‘There may be a way in which a plant the food industry are not the limit of possible
controls the water activity in its system, the applications for these non-toxic and
water activity effectively representing the sustainable solvents, however, as their
amount of free water available,’’ he explains. propensity for dissolving proteins may lead
Young Hae Choi
Prof. Witkamp is not solely interested in to their use in a great multitude of enzymatic Young Hae Choi has been working
the solving of biological phenomena, reactions integral to the chemical industry. as a head of Natural Products
however, and a large part of his work has Prof. Witkamp draws an analogy with Laboratory group in Institute
been aimed at discovering ways to use ionic liquids, where it has been claimed of Biology, Leiden University
these NADES and their unique properties that around 1018 combinations are since 2009. His current research
in real world situations. possible. A similarly vast array of NADES interests are plant metabolomics,
biosynthesis, refining of
An area in which these newly discovered with differing properties should also be
metabolites by chemical
liquids can be put to use is the world of achievable, but the professor and his engineering techniques, and
pharmaceuticals. Many existing drugs are colleagues are quick to point out that natural deep eutectic solvents.
designing NADES with specific intended
properties such as polarity or strength
will only come through partnership with Contact:
Tel: +31 71 527 4510
other companies and researchers who
Email: y.choi@chem.leidenuniv.nl
would help bring a deeper understanding Web:www.leidennpl.org
of the fields in which the NADES may
potentially be used. However, these three
researchers also believe that the right
kind of assistance will be attracted by the
far-reaching potential applications of
these new solvents. +
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