Through the National Growth Fund, the government is investing €20 billion between 2021 and 2025 in projects intended to ensure long-term economic growth. In the second wave, €5 billion is being allocated to 28 project proposals. Over 1.6 billion of this will go to projects in which TU/e plays a role in the category of research, development and innovation. A portion of these grants will become available immediately; the rest of the amounts are subject to additional conditions.
Below are the projects in which TU/e is involved.
Self-thinking molecular systems
The top science consortium for Self-thinking molecular systems will receive up to 97 million euros conditionally. They are working at the interface of molecular chemistry and digital techniques such as AI, focusing on faster computing power, known as 'neuromorphic computing', and radical innovations in materials that can, for example, repair themselves. This project is led by a consortium in collaboration with the German Max Planck Institute.
Duurzame MaterialenNL
The Duurzame MaterialenNL (Sustainable Materials NL) program connects three materials clusters in the Netherlands: energy materials, construction materials and circular plastics. The investment from the National Growth Fund in the project is a conditional allocation of up to €220 million for the plastics research.
NextGenHighTech
NextGenHighTech is developing a new generation of high-tech equipment within six application domains: laser satellite communication, biomedical production technology, semiconductors, composites, energy and agrifood. The investment from the National Growth Fund in the project is a conditional maximum of 450 million euros.
PhotonDelta
This proposal lifts the Dutch ecosystem for integrated photonics to European levels of excellence. The maximum investment from the National Growth Fund in PhotonDelta has been set at a conditional 471 million euros.
Biotech Booster
The Biotech Booster proposal focuses on extending the development of knowledge into business. In addition to application in healthcare, the proposal also focuses on other sectors such as the chemical industry and agriculture. The maximum investment from the National Growth Fund is 246 million euros, with €50 million set aside for the first phase along with a conditional allocation of €196 million.
PharmaNL
The PharmaNL proposal focuses mainly on technical facilities for startups in the pharmaceutical industry. The maximum conditional investment from the National Growth Fund in the project is 80 million euros.
Digitaal Ecosysteem Mobiliteit en Smart City (DEMS)
The DEMS (Digital Ecosystem Mobility and Smart City) proposal concerns the realization of a digital infrastructure for sharing and using data. The National Growth Fund investment in the project concerns a reserve of up to 85 million euros.
National Growth Fund
The National Growth Fund is intended for one-off public investments that contribute to future economic growth. According to the independent Growth Fund Committee, headed by Jeroen Dijsselbloem, the projects must lead to higher productivity and new economic activity. Between 2020 and 2024, the Dutch cabinet will allocate a total of 20 billion euros for investments in knowledge development, infrastructure and research, development & innovation. In this second round, announced on April 14, the cabinet is awarding funding to 28 proposals. The total amount in this round is 5 billion euros. The third round of submissions is expected to start early in 2023.
