National Science Agenda: TU Delft in four consortia

News - 12 June 2019 - Communication

In the first tranche of funding for the Dutch National Science Agenda (Nationale Wetenschapsagenda), TU Delft is active in four consortia, and is project leader for two of them.

Urgent issues

As part of Research along routes by Consortia 2019 (NWA-ORC), more than 200 researchers will be working on interdisciplinary research in 17 research projects. The projects that have been awarded funding focus on urgent issues concerning health, young people and behaviour, climate change and the environment, as well as digital security and history. Civil-society partners are well represented in the consortia and range from public bodies, such as the Police Academy and the Rijkswaterstaat national public works agency, to organisations including the Dutch Society for the Protection of Animals and the Netherlands Red Cross. Representatives from the world of business include Royal IHC, ABN Amro and Bayer.

TU Delft is the project leader in two projects: 

Optoacoustic sensor and ultrasonic microbubbles for dosimetry in proton therapy

Radiation therapy with X-ray is the standard for cancer treatment. In contrast, proton therapy treats only the tumour without damaging the surrounding tissue. By using microbubbles and a new very sensitive optical-ultrasound receiver, the exact position and dose of the proton-beam can be monitored essential for optimal treatment.
The main applicant is Prof N. de Jong (TU Delft). The other participating institutions are Erasmus University Medical Center, TNO The Hague, TNO Rijswijk, TNO Delft, HollandPTC, Bracco, Maastro Clinic, Maastricht University, Smart Photonics, ZonPTC.

Quantum microscopy: A new tool for future technologies

Quantum technology has the potential to transform global industries and markets. This revolution requires the ability to image how electrons behave in quantum systems. Collaborating with industry, we will develop a ‘quantum microscope’ that uses diamond sensors to image electrons with nanometer resolution, from near absolute-zero to above room temperature.
The main applicant is Dr. T. van der Sar (TU Delft). The other participating institutions are TNO Delft, Leiden University, QuTech, Applied Nanolayers BV, Leiden Spin Imaging BV.

For more information on these two projects, see the related news release: <link en tnw two-tnw-researchers-to-lead-new-nwa-programmes _blank>Two TNW researchers to lead new NWA programmes.

In addition, TU Delft is also participating in the following two projects:

Living on Soft Soils: Subsidence and Society

Ongoing subsidence is a complex problem for cities and polders in the Dutch lowlands. Old strategies for coping have limits. Based on deep investments in measuring and understanding subsidence, new strategies will be arranged, so that decisions on subsidence measures and strategies are based on figures in mm/yr and €/yr.
The main applicant is Dr. E. Stouthamer (Utrecht University). The other participating institutions are Wageningen University & Research, Delft University of Technology, Deltares, WEnR, TNO-GSN, Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, Rijkswaterstaat, Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, STOWA, HDSR (Water Authority Hoogheemraadschap De Stichtse Rijnlanden), WDOD (Water Board WDODelta), Province of Utrecht, Soft Soil Municipalities, Municipality of Gouda, SWECO, Tauw BV, NAM.

An Internet of Secure Things - INTERSECT

The Internet of Things represents one of the biggest challenges (and - as of today - failures) for cybersecurity and cyber-privacy. INTERSECT addresses this societal and technical challenge by adopting a completely new, foundational perspective that brings together security research (e.g. design, defence, attack generation) with legal and criminology approaches.
The main applicant is Prof S. Etalle (Eindhoven University of Technology). The other participating institutions are: VU Amsterdam, Radboud University Nijmegen, Delft University of Technology, University of Twente, Tilburg University, Netherlands Institute for the Study of Crime and Law Enforcement, Fontys University of Applied Sciences, TNO, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, BDO Advisory B.V., Brainport Development N.V., Bosch Security Systems B.V., Centric Netherlands B.V., Compumatica secure networks B.V., Consumentenbond (Dutch Consumer Association), Fourtress BV, ICT Automatisering B.V., Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, Océ-Technologies B.V., Omron Europe B.V., Oracle Nederland B.V., Royal Philips N.V., Qbit Cyber Security, Secura B.V., Foundation for Internet Domain Registration in the Netherlands (SIDN), Siemens Netherlands N.V., Signify Netherlands B.V., Simac Techniek N.V., SURFnet B.V., Synopsys Netherlands B.V., Technolution B.V., Verum Software Tools B.V.

For more information, see this related news release: National research project for a secure Internet of Things

More information

For more information, see the original press release by NWO: 61 million euros for collaboration between knowledge institutes and social partners to study urgent issues

Contact: Science Information Officer TU Delft Roy Meijer, r.e.t.meijer@tudelft.nl, +31 15 2781751