Last Friday 9 June, 4TU secretary Marjolein Dohmen-Janssen, together with the rectors of the 4TU (Arthur Mol, WUR; Tim van der Hagen, TUD; Sylvia Lenaerts, TU/e and Tom Veldkamp, UT), kicked off round two of the 'High Tech for a Sustainable Future' (HTSF) programmes during the HTSF Crossover Event. In HTSF round 2, with 20 million euros of funding, scientists from the four technical universities will work on personalised healthcare (RECENTRE), the heatless green city (HERITAGE), green, biodegradable sensors (Green Sensors) and a local, personalised food system (REDESIGN).
In an interactive morning programme, the experienced round 1 scientists shared valuable insights with the rpound 2 scientists including how to build a successful team and why a multidisciplinary approach is so important.
The round 2 scientists were grateful for all the insights and also curious about the input of the round 1 scientists on the choice of their research theme and how to increase its impact.
Societal impact
In the plenary afternoon part to which external audiences were also invited, moderator Liesbeth Staats guided the audience along the excellent results of round 1 and the social vistas of round 2.
A selection of the scientists and external partners who took the stage:
- Berend de Klerk gave a pitch on the recently founded startup Plense Technologies, a spin-off from the 4TU.Plantenna programme, in which he asked the audience to help him gain knowledge and network.
- Miranda Meuwissen talked about the vista of the Round 2 programme REDESIGN: the greenhouse of the future in which crops grow autonomously based on consumer desires. One of the team's ambitions? Making food attractive to young people!
- Wim Timmermans of the Round 2 programme 4TU.HERITAGE introduced the various measurement methods his team works on, from drones and small planes to satellites. With these methods, they map the microclimate in a city, which can help reduce the heat in the city.
- Nathan Blanken (4TU.Precision Medicine) provided a surprising intermezzo with his beautiful piano playing. Nathan appeared to have a talent for both music and science, but chose the latter to the delight of his entire team.
Following this, Petra Zoer (Dutch Cancer Collective), Kenneth Heijns (Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Metropolitan Solutions, AMS), Jacolien Eijer (President KIVI and Sustainability Director TAUW) and Reineke Timmermans (VNO NCW) joined the 'Table of Impact' to discuss the value of collaboration between science, society and industry. The speakers mentioned that there is still a gap to close in bringing knowledge and innovations to the public sector and industry.
After the talk show, secretary Marjolein Dohmen-Janssen expressed her pride and hope for the HTSF programmes. 'If you watch the research of all these young scientists and what it will yield, our future is promising! ''
This was echoed by the rectors of the 4TU (Arthur Mol, WUR; Tim van der Hagen, TUD; Sylvia Lenaerts, TU/e and Tom Veldkamp, UT). They announced that they were seriously considering a round 3 HTSF programme.
Keep following our channels about the follow-up of the HTSF programmes as well as all the talented scientists behind these programmes!
Watch the short aftermovie
