Cartilage repair, energy efficient Internet of Things, new ways of controlling light, better flood protection and a brain prosthesis that can give sight to the blind.
In five out of six large ‘Perspectief’ projects of Dutch Technology Foundation STW, University of Twente participates. Of three of them, UT scientists are coordinators.
The STW Perspectief (Eng perspective) program challenges scientists to collaborate with industry and societal organisations, to define research projects that match the ambitions of Dutch Top Sectors like ‘High Tech Systems and Materials’, ‘Life Sciences and Health’ and ‘Water’. For the six new projects 25 million euros is available, of which STW contributes around 17 million.
Cartilage repair: ‘William Hunter revisited’
Prof Marcel Karperien (MIRA)
“There’s no cure for arthrosis”, is what Wikipedia and all available text books say. The world famous anatomist William Hunter already said it in 1743, writing about joint diseases. According to the consortium ‘William Hunter revisited’, it is now time to revise this. The group of scientists and companies, supported by Dutch ‘Reumafonds’ (Arthritis Foundation) aims at stopping arthrosis and joint wear. Based on recent developments in cell growth, tested on both animals and humans, they think it is even possible to regrow cartilage. The ambition of the consortium is to develop a method that is ready for clinical use. Apart from that, the partners want to develop techniques for early diagnostics and monitoring of the joints.
Partners: AMC Amsterdam, University of Twente, Erasmus MC, UMC Utrecht, Utrecht University, Radboudumc, Maastricht UMC+, Reumafonds, Hy2Care, InGell Labs, Crystal Therapeutics, QVQ Holding, Percuros, Zimmer Biomet, TETEC, LifeTec Group, InGell Labs, ArthroSave, IBIS Technologies, SSens, BioVolt, Waters
ZERO: towards energy autonomous systems for Internet of Things
Prof Gerard Smit (CTIT)
More and more, dyke sensors, street lights and surveillance cameras have a wireless internet connection. In the near future, we will see an explosive growth of Internet of Things (IoT). There is, however, one major problem: energy consumption. The common Lithium-Ion batteries will not be sufficient for delivering the energy to the expected 100 billion devices in 2025. The ZERO project wants to design energy autonomous IoT devices. They will have to produce twice as much energy, while at the same time consuming ten times less. For this, solar energy is an option, but also heat and vibration energy. New ways of energy storage will complete this, as well as methods of reducing energy needed for processing and wireless communications.
Partners: Altran, Dialog Semiconductor, Holst Centre, Nedap, NXP Semiconductors, Prodrive, Recore Systems, Resound, Sorama, Technolution, Thales, Topic, TU Eindhoven, TU Delft, University of Twente, Vinotion, Vodafone.
Free-form scattering optics
Prof Willem Vos (MESA+)
How can we transport light from A to B in the most efficient way? That is the central question for manufacturers of electronics such as cameras, projectors, earth observation satellites, LED lights and optically secured bank passes. The behaviour of light is very well known when it passes free-form transparent objects. Its behaviour is also well known, when passing an opaque layer and scattered by tiny particles. An unsolved puzzle still is the behaviour in free-form and scattering materials. At the same time, these materials and systems are already in use. Guessing is, all too often, the major part of the design strategy. The consortium wants to develop new design strategies using techniques like ‘wave front shaping’, for application of light ranging from the nanometer to the centimeter scale.
Partners ASML, DIFFER, Focal, Lumileds, Philips Lighting, SCHOTT, TNO, TU Delft, TU Eindhoven, University of Twente
Flood risk standards
Co-applicant Prof Suzanne Hulscher
This project, led by TU Delft, aims at research on better prediction and prevention of floods. Knowledge about the risks will make the major investments in dykes, retention areas and water pomps a lot more efficient. Scientists, industry and government organisations will combine scientific knowledge with data obtained from day-to-day practice and jurisdiction. The research aims at water systems, soil and chain reactions at dyke breakthrough. Who is responsible at what moment in time? The project will give valuable input for the flood protection program of Dutch government.
Partners: Deltares, NIOZ, Radboud University Nijmegen, University of Groningen, Rijkswaterstaat, STOWA, Taskforce Delta Technology, TU Delft, UNESCO-IHE, University of Twente, Utrecht University, Wageningen University, Water Boards.
NESTOR - NEURONAL STIMULATION FOR RECOVERY OF FUNCTION
Co-applicants Prof Richard van Wezel (MIRA) and Dr Mark Bentum (CTIT)
Giving eyesight to the blind again, that is a major wish of brain researchers. This is exactly what the new consortium, led by Dutch Brain Institute, wants to achieve. The consortium exists of neurobiologists and of engineers specialized in microelectronics and wireless communication. They want to develop a prosthesis, stimulating a blind person’s brain and connected to a camera. The coming four years, the consortium will work on an optimized design of the prosthesis, wireless power supply, data transfer and algorithms requiring a minimum of processing power for converting the camera images into useful brain signals.
Partners: AEMICS, ATLAS Neuroengineering, Bartiméus, Blackrock Microsystems Europe, Bluemark, Brain Innovation, De Oogvereniging, Elitac, Nederlands Herseninstituut, Radboud Universiteit, ReSnap, Tiberion, Twente Medical System International, Maastricht University, University of Twente, Vicarvision, Visio
For more information on Dutch Technology Foundation STW and its funding programs: www.stw.nl/en
