Open Technology Programme funds UT research by Harold Zandvliet

Professor Harold Zandvliet is researching the development of a so-called multiprobe atomic force microscope cantilever for performing mesoscopic transport measurements on two-dimensional materials'.

The funding for this amounts to more than 5 tons, of which more than a ton is co-financing from spin-off company Bruker of Roelof Huijink. Zandvliet explains: 'Within this research, we are going to look at a double-layer graphene. By twisting this material slightly, you get interesting patterns, with unique layers. The application of this is intended for a new generation of electronic devices, such as mobile phones. For example, a new graphene layer can lead to better conductivity of transistors in telephones. And Bruker can market that again.'

Social Impact

The Open Technology Programme provides funding for application-oriented technical-scientific research that is 'free and unfettered and unfettered by disciplinary boundaries', according to the press release. The programme offers companies and other organisations an accessible way to connect with scientific research that should lead to social and/or scientific impact.