In the most recent ICT call, the European Union approved no less than fourteen projects of UT researchers. The CTIT in particular scored extremely well and was awarded €5.7 million in research funding. Iddo Bante, managing director at the CTIT, is proud: "Evidently, we have a perfect network at European level and now it is paying dividends."
The Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), the EU's largest programme for funding research, promotes international collaboration between businesses and scientific institutes. Researchers can apply through various 'calls' for funding to conduct research in close collaboration with other European partners. The University of Twente was also very successful in the last ICT call. Fourteen projects were approved: two for the research institute MIRA and twelve for the CTIT.
Funding no fluke
Of the forty-five projects submitted by the CTIT, twelve were approved: a pass rate of 27 percent. That may not appear very much at first glance, but Iddo Bante, business director of the CTIT, explains that it is indeed exceptional. "The competition is extreme. A 27 percent pass rate is an enormous achievement, far above the average of less than 18 percent! In total, it concerns an EU contribution of €5.7 million. More importantly, not only were we able to score this time, we were able to do so structurally. The CTIT also did well in the year prior. Apparently, the previously successful research groups have been able to repeat that success. Thus, this is certainly not a fluke!"
Success factors
Bante named the extensive international network maintained by the CTIT research groups as the most important factor to success. "We have a perfect network at European level, both with other knowledge institutes and with corporate life. Europe is becoming increasingly important for research funding. We collaborate a great deal and have been involved for years in all manner of European projects. That is paying off now."
Bante is, apart from the number of approved projects, especially proud of the fact that the CTIT has scored across the board - from smart systems for future energy supply to robotics, and from sensor networks to ethics: "The European agenda is structurally embedded in our research groups' overall approach."
Top scorer
Vannessa Evers, of the Human Media Interaction (HMI) research group, is the top scorer for the UT. She was awarded funding for no less than three projects. Central to all of these projects are 'social systems': (computer) systems that interact with people. Evers: "These systems need to be able to monitor social situations. Our research includes examining how robots can best respond in social situations. The first project should lead to a system for telepresence, essentially an autodidactic robot that is able to take over the physical location of a user sitting behind a computer. This robot has to learn how to adopt social behaviour - such as maintaining an appropriate distance from conversation partners - so that the user can focus solely on the talk at hand. The other two projects focus on children and should lead to a (virtual) system that provides between one or two children with an environment to learn by discovery, and a robot that can playfully clean up with several children and teach them how to work well together. Cleaning up becomes a game to play with the robot."
More than technology
Incidentally, the approved projects concern more than technological innovation alone, emphasizes Bante. "This is not science for science's sake; ultimately it's all about concrete applications for the benefit of society. The analogue and the digital world are growing ever closer together, which leads to changes in social systems. Therefore, it is very important that we always link technological research with the behavioural and social sciences, as we do at the University."
Philip Brey, of the Philosophy research group, similarly received approval for several projects. Among other topics, these projects include work in the field of the professional development of ethical aspects of research, such as privacy, information security and justice. Brey: "We are going to try to develop a system of ethical certification, a kind of quality mark, which companies and knowledge institutions can use to demonstrate that they meet prescribed quality standards. International standards provide the parties with the tools to better perform the work and exchange research results."
Pre-positioning for Horizon 2020
This year is the final year that EU research funding will be awarded through the Seventh Framework Programme. After which time, the funding will be awarded through the Horizon 2020 programme. The focus is on the so-called Grand Challenges such as climate change, ageing, food security and affordable renewable energy.
Even though along with a new programme comes new rules, Bante is not afraid in the least that the CTIT will not perform as well. "Due to our strong European network, our technical expertise, and our linking of technology with the behavioural and social sciences, as well as our excellent track record in commercial knowledge transfer - we are already well positioned for the challenges of Horizon 2020."
Note for the press
For more information or requests for interviews, contact Jochem Vreeman (06 1222 1253).
