With the National Growth Fund, the government is investing €20 billion between 2021 and 2025 in projects that will ensure the sustainable earning capacity of the Netherlands. Radboud University previously received awards for several projects within the Growth Fund, including the National Education Lab AI led by Inge Molenaar, and the Robot Lab led by Wilhelm Huck. Radboud University researchers are also involved in several projects in this new round. More information and the full list of projects can be found on the National Growth Fund website.
Holomicrobiome Institute
The Dutch cabinet has allocated 200 million euros from the National Growth Fund to a public-private consortium that will conduct research into "microbiomes" and their economically interesting applications. Innovative microbiome applications have great potential for the economy and quality, health and sustainability of our food system. Microorganisms play a crucial role in developing new techniques for recycling animal manure and fertilizing agricultural crops. Moreover, these applications lead to nutritional products that strengthen the resistance of both humans and animals, as well as new approaches to preventing, detecting and treating chronic diseases.
Coordinator of the project is Marten Smidt, professor at the University of Amsterdam. Radboud University, the Radboudumc and OnePlanet are also involved. 'Specifically, from Radboud University we will work on climate objectives such as sustainable nitrogen removal from manure and air scrubber effluent within the livestock sector, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and developing biosensors for very early detection of water pollution,' explains Laura van Niftrik. She is a researcher affiliated with RIBES, the Radboud Institute for Biological and Ecological Sciences. 'We will do this in "living labs" in the agriculture and livestock sectors where we can test the new technologies directly. The strength of the Holomicrobiome Institute lies in the cooperation and synergy between universities, medical centers, colleges, knowledge centers, social organizations and companies.'
Meer uren werkt!
Labor market tightness is an urgent social problem in the Netherlands. This is partly because a lot of people work part-time. The project 'Meer uren werkt' will remove barriers in the social environment, at work organizations and at part-timers themselves, so that they can work more. Ellen Verbakel, professor at the Radboud Social Cultural Research institute, is involved in this project.
Center for Animal-Free Biomedical Translational Testing
Continuing to improve human health with appropriate and affordable medicines requires a different approach to the development of new drugs and medical technologies. For that approach, new activity is being created around animal-free technology. The Center for Animal-Free Biomedical Translational Testing includes Erik Storkebaum, director at the Donders Center for Neuroscience.
Material Independence & Circular Batteries
Battery technology plays a crucial role in the energy transition as a storage system for green energy. The Material Independence & Circular Batteries project focuses on realizing a strong position for the Dutch manufacturing industry in the global battery chain, with sustainability and circularity at its core. From Radboud University, among others, Evan Zhao of the Institute for Molecules and Materials is involved in the project.