National Growth Fund awards over 2.5 billion euros to projects in which TU/e is involved

April 14, 2022

Ten project proposals to which TU/e contributes will receive investment in the second round of the government's investment fund.

Image: jamesteohart via Shutterstock

Through the National Growth Fund, the government is investing 20 billion euro between 2021 and 2025 in projects intended to ensure long-term economic growth. In the second wave, 5 billion euro is being allocated to 28 project proposals. Over 1.6 billion of this will go to projects in which TU/e plays a role in the category of Research, development and innovation. In the category Knowledge development a total of 952 million euro was awarded to projects with TU/e involvement. A portion of these grants will become available immediately; the rest of the amounts are subject to additional conditions.

In the Research, Development and Innovation pillar, these are the projects in which TU/e is involved:

Self-thinking molecular systems

The top science consortium for Self-thinking molecular systems will receive up to 97 million euros conditionally. They are working at the interface of molecular chemistry and digital techniques such as AI, focusing on faster computing power, known as 'neuromorphic computing', and radical innovations in materials that can, for example, repair themselves. This project is led by a consortium in collaboration with the German Max Planck Institute. Read more about this project.

NXTGEN HIGHTECH

NXTGEN HIGHTECH is developing a new generation of high-tech equipment within six application domains: laser satellite communication, biomedical production technology, semiconductors, composites, energy and agrifood. The investment from the National Growth Fund in the project is a conditional maximum of 450 million euros. Read more about this project.

PhotonDelta

This proposal lifts the Dutch ecosystem for integrated photonics to European levels of excellence. The maximum investment from the National Growth Fund in PhotonDelta has been set at a conditional 471 million euros. Read more about this project.

Digital Ecosystem Mobility and Smart City (DEMS)

The DEMS (Digital Ecosystem Mobility and Smart City) proposal concerns the realization of a digital infrastructure for sharing and using data. The National Growth Fund investment in the project concerns a reserve of up to 85 million euros.

Duurzame MaterialenNL

The Duurzame MaterialenNL (Sustainable Materials NL) program connects three materials clusters in the Netherlands: energy materials, construction materials and circular plastics. The investment from the National Growth Fund in the project is a conditional allocation of up to €220 million for the plastics research.

Biotech Booster

The Biotech Booster proposal focuses on extending the development of knowledge into business. In addition to application in healthcare, the proposal also focuses on other sectors such as the chemical industry and agriculture. The maximum investment from the National Growth Fund is 246 million euros, with €50 million set aside for the first phase along with a conditional allocation of €196 million.

PharmaNL

The PharmaNL proposal focuses mainly on technical facilities for startups in the pharmaceutical industry. The maximum conditional investment from the National Growth Fund in the project is 80 million euros.

Future-proof living environment

Future-proof living environment aims to promote innovations in the design, construction and engineering sectors by removing barriers to innovation development. Increased productivity in the construction sector creates earning capacity and is crucial for the major social challenges in the built environment. The investment from the National Growth Fund in the project, an initiative of the Bouw en Techniek Innovatiecentrum, concerns a reservation of 100 million euros.

In the Knowledge Development pillar, these are the projects in which TU/e is involved:

Digitalisationimpuls education NL

Digitaliseringsimpuls onderwijs NL (Impuls digitization education NL) is aimed at strengthening digitization in higher education and post-secondary vocational education (mbo). With this major impulse, digitization in higher education and mbo can really be taken to the next level. The investment from the National Growth Fund in the project is up to 560 million euro, of which 420 million euro is conditional.

Nationale LLO Katalysator

The Nationale LLO Katalysator (National LLO Catalyst) focuses on the creation of new offerings for lifelong learning by educational institutions. The investment from the National Growth Fund in the project is up to 392 million euro, of which 225 million euro is conditional.

About the National Growth Fund

The National Growth Fund is intended for one-off public investments that contribute to future economic growth. According to the independent Growth Fund Committee, headed by Jeroen Dijsselbloem, the projects must lead to higher productivity and new economic activity. Between 2020 and 2024, the Dutch cabinet will allocate a total of 20 billion euros for investments in knowledge development, infrastructure and research, development & innovation. In this second round, announced on April 14, the cabinet is awarding funding to 28 proposals. The total amount in this round is 5 billion euros. The third round of submissions is expected to start early in 2023.