Science

Millions of euros for solving major societal needs

The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research granted EUR 19 million to six large science programmes. Delft researchers are playing an important role in five of these.

'Cognitive Robots for Flexible Agro Food Technology' was one of the projects that received funding. (Photo: WUR)

New robotics for food production, advanced imaging techniques to detect vascular diseases, smarter optical measuring techniques. Major societal needs lie at the heart of the six research projects that will receive the grants. The research programmes are being funded through NWO’s funding instrument entitled Perspectives for the top sectors.


Each year, NWO awards Perspectief funding to five or six new research programmes in areas in which Dutch industry and research centres are strengthening their position. The six research programmes that can now start have a joint budget of EUR 28 million. Nineteen million euros is from NWO’s Perspectief funding while the remaining EUR 9 million is being invested by companies and other stakeholder organisations. Delft researchers have the lead in two of the projects – Electrons to Chemical Bonds, and Synoptic Optics – and are involved in three others.