The money is intended for relatively large programs with an annual budget of up to one million euros, explains IJsbrand Haagsma, secretary of the 4TU.Federation. “This is enough to appoint ten tenure trackers (young researchers set to gain a permanent position if they produce good results, ed.) within programs in which another twenty to thirty researchers from the various technology universities are also involved.”

With a budget of 19 million euros there is scope for five programs, whereby each university will eventually recoup the money that it originally invested. The research community is very keen; a matchmaking event in October, intended for researchers meet colleagues at the other TUs, was attended by one hundred fifty interested scientists, says Haagsma. They have until February 19 2018 to submit their plans. “After that we hope to come to a decision quickly, so that in April we know which proposals will be funded.”

Sustainable future

The decision to choose seven themes, all of which can be ranged under the banner ‘High tech for a sustainable future’, is a deliberate one. These socially relevant themes appear on the National Science Agenda.

The 4TU.Federation is directly challenging government and industry to contribute to its initiative. Haagsma: “The coalition agreement includes an appeal for more public-private cooperation. In our opinion, this program provides a good basis for that.”

The themes chosen are: robotics, sensors, health and vitality, cutting-edge materials, renewable energy generation and storage, resilient technology and society, and high-tech solutions for the agrarian and food sectors.

VSNU chairperson Pieter Duisenberg also said two weeks ago during his visit to TU/e that the technology universities in particular would find that the implementation of the National Science Agenda presents opportunities.