In addition, Radboud University is participating in projects led by Erasmus University Rotterdam (Macroscoop), Nikhef (KM3NeT++) and the University of Amsterdam (EBRAINS-Neurotech). The projects are part of the NWO programme for Large-scale Scientific Infrastructure (GWI). A GWI is a research facility that is widely accessible to researchers and involves a minimum investment of 10 million euros over five years. The research facilities can be equipment, but also collections of instruments, archives, collections or digital networks. GWI is essential for researchers to conduct innovative scientific research.
Rector Magnificus José Sanders: “Radboud University and Radboudumc together score excellently in the large-scale scientific infrastructure that has now been awarded; we are participating in ten of the eleven consortium projects. This shows that our positioning in various research networks is solid and fruitful. We are very pleased with this!”
FASTTRACK
The FASTTRACK program focuses on developing new sensor techniques that enable particle detectors at CERN to record particle collisions up to fifty times faster. This acceleration is essential to disentangle the deluge of particles in the LHC accelerator as particle beams become up to ten times more intense in the coming years.
When the beams in the LHC collide, hundreds of protons interact almost simultaneously, creating thousands of new particles that pass through the detector. Reconstructing the trajectories of these particles from all the sensor signals poses a significant challenge. By increasing the recording speed, proton-proton collisions can be distinguished more clearly from each other.
The aim is that higher measurements rates will also make it possible to observe important but extremely rare particle processes, which can be used to test and refine existing particle theories. Within the research programme, Nikhef and its six university partners (Amsterdam, VU, Nijmegen, Utrecht, Maastricht, Groningen) are collaborating on everything from new chip technologies to advanced software.
Frank Filthaut: 'This grant will allow our national consortium to make critical contributions to optimising the detectors at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN for the wealth of data that is awaiting us. In addition its topic of very precise time measurement offers prospects for application outside particle physics.'
UTOPYS
This consortium project called Understanding Large and cOmplex Power sYstems (UTOPYS) will enable researchers to build the world’s largest research cluster for real-time energy system studies. The new research infrastructure will be the first of its kind worldwide. It will be capable of dynamically representing the complex energy systems, allowing researchers to simulate and study the energy system of the future before building it.
This unique platform will enable investigation of crucial phenomena such as cyber-physical dynamics, hidden instability modes, complex controller interactions, swarm behaviour, and cyber vulnerabilities—all key challenges that future energy scientists must master.
Gabriel Lord: ‘We are excited to be part of this large initiative and to help develop models of future power systems. In particular our role in identifying parameters form available data and to quantify uncertainty in models and predictions. This builds on our existing links with a number of power grid operators and the Alliander - Radboud alliance.’
EBRAINS-Neurotech: Assembly Line for Brain Reading and Writing
In 2023 UNESCO declared that we are at the threshold of a new revolution: neurotechnology. This emerging field develops devices that interact with neural systems to read out brain signals and/or alter brain activity. Neurotechnology offers novel means to better understand the brain, but also unlocks innovations to treat brain disorders. Dutch neurotechnology has made important steps, but is in need of far-reaching integration. EBRAINS-Neurotech will create a cohesive infrastructure for users developing smart materials for brain-machine interfaces, testing brain implants and designing computer models to better understand how these interfaces influence brain activity.
KM3NeT++: Deep-Sea Infrastructure for Neutrino (Astro)Physics and Beyond
The KM3NeT collaboration is building a neutrino telescope at two locations at the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea. The telescope is used to investigate properties of neutrinos; neutrinos are elementary particles that are not well understood yet. Furthermore, the telescope searches for neutrinos from the cosmos and performs neutrino astronomy. Using a new type of hydrophones, KM3NeT will also start listening to the sea, for future detection of ultra-high-energy neutrinos. These data are also of major interest for research on deep-sea life, including whales on the hunt.
The Macroscope
This project aims to create the world’s first “Macroscope”, a powerful tool for investigating complex societal issues at scale. Building on existing Dutch infrastructures such as ODISSEI (for the Social Sciences) and CLARIAH (for the Humanities), the Macroscope will enable researchers to securely access and analyse large amounts of sensitive, interconnected data. It will include advanced data collection systems, AI tools, and a platform for collaboration. This innovative facility, expected to be completed in 2030, will enable groundbreaking research in the Social Sciences and Humanities, making it easier to investigate complex social dynamics and answer critical societal questions.