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Surfix celebrates its 10th anniversary

Today Surfix celebrates its 10th birthday! Surfix was founded as a spin-off from Wageningen University. Recently, the company has been making big steps towards maturity.
Wageningen, The Netherlands, April 1st, 2021

Ten years ago, the founders of Surfix recognized that control of surface properties is a key requirement for successful application of micro- and nanotechnology. And more importantly, they also saw the business opportunity this represented.

Han Zuilhof, founder of Surfix and professor of Organic Chemistry at Wageningen University, said: ”During 15 years of research in my lab we published a number of patents on chemical surface modification. Starting a company seemed like the best way to get something out of them, and I already knew the best person to do this: my former PhD Student Luc Scheres. With Lionix and Aquamarijn we found investors who were not only in it for the money, but also wanted to contribute in other ways. With this combination of conceptual innovation, high-energy drive and sound business experience, we were good to go!”

Surfix started as a provider of R&D services in the field of nanocoatings. In the past decade, Surfix has been growing steadily, developing custom nanocoatings in a wide range of projects for customers of all sorts and sizes. Gradually, a focus on nanocoatings for biosensors and microfluidic devices arose. In this process, Surfix also strengthened and expanded its technology base by developing several new proprietary nanocoating processes.

The next major milestone for Surfix was its acquisition by Dutch companies Lionix International and Qurin Diagnostics in 2019, followed by an additional investment from PhotonDelta in 2020. Surfix is now focusing on developing and marketing a diagnostic platform based on a photonic biochip.

CEO Maarten Buijs said: “Surfix started by developing nanocoating processes, then moved to nanocoating-enhanced components, and is now making the next step to integrate these components in a product. During the last year we have focused on becoming a diagnostics company. All signs are there that Surfix’s unique capabilities in photonic biosensing will enable wide-scale deployment of point-of-need diagnostics in a variety of areas. The initial target areas are early cancer diagnosis, covid-19 detection, and detection of pathogens in water for aquaculture”.

CTO and founder Luc Scheres said: “I am very happy and grateful to celebrate Surfix’s tenth birthday today! We would not have reached this milestone without the hard work of our staff, the loyal trust of our customers and suppliers, and the loving support of our family and close friends. We have come a long way, and I am looking forward to many more exciting developments at Surfix in the years to come!”

Contact info@surfix.nl for more information or visit www.surfix.nl.

About Surfix

Surfix was founded as a spin-off from the laboratory of Organic Chemistry of Wageningen University & Research in 2011, and was acquired by Dutch companies Qurin Diagnostics and Lionix International in 2019. Surfix received financial support by public private partnership PhotonDelta in 2020 to further grow its photonics business.
Follow us on LinkedIn, Vimeo, Twitter or for more information visit https://www.surfix.nl
All trademarks used herein are the property of their respective owners.

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MIT Scheme for SMEs

Holland High Tech (TKI HTSM) helps high tech SMEs innovate within the knowledge and innovation agendas in the Mission-driven Top Sectors and Innovation Policy. The RVO scheme for SME innovation stimulation Region and Top Sectors (MIT) stimulates innovation in small and medium-sized enterprises. RVO offers various instruments for this, of which Holland High Tech facilitates two instruments for the high tech sector;

Network Activities (NA)
Innovation Broker (IM)

Both the NetworkActivities and innovation advisory services by InnovationMakelaars must fit into one of the roadmaps of the Knowledge and Innovation Agenda, or in the KIA ICT.

Network Activities Regulations (NA)

Network activities may consist of: master classes, workshops or conferences to promote knowledge sharing and networking between SME entrepreneurs. The Network Activity itself and the results (presentations, knowledge documents, insights) must be accessible to all SMEs. For Network Activities, TKI HTSM uses a required statement of approval from a roadmap leader.

InnovatieMakelaars Scheme (IM)

Through this scheme, TKI HTSM enables SMEs to make free use of innovation advisory services from InnovationMakelaars affiliated with TKI HTSM. The type of advice may include the following services: consulting and knowledge transfer assistance; acquisition, protection and exploitation of intangible assets; the use of standards and rules in which these are laid down.

The advice offered by TKI HTSM is aimed at innovation of products, processes or services; providing technological assistance or technology transfer services. A direct link to one SME is mandatory for this. These SMEs are referred to by name on settlement. Indirect advice is not permitted, such as co-writing innovation agendas, participation in symposia or advice to clients other than SMEs.

Contact

For more information about the services and procedure, please contact Petra Wicherink, MIT officer Holland High Tech, via MIT@hollandhightech.nl. You can also find more inforamtion about the Innovatie Makelaars on the overview page of TKI HTSM.

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Quantum photonics company Quix sells first photonic processor

The Enschede-based quantum photonics company QuiX has sold its first quantum photonic processor to Qontrol. This quantum technology company from the UK makes control electronics and supporting infrastructure for complex, massively multichannel photonic integrated circuits (PICs). Their applications can be found mainly in research laboratories worldwide.

QuiX, located at Kennispark Twente and cooperation partner of the ANP cluster for Applied Nanotechnology at the University of Twente, confirms with this sale that it is a leader in the world of light technology. With this photonics technology, they are making an important contribution to the development of the first quantum computers. These do not yet exist, but their introduction is coming ever closer. These computers are going to change the world radically, is the prediction. Just think of personalised medication. With quantum computing, it is possible to calculate exactly what the composition and quantity of a medicine should be for an individual. However, the fields of application are much broader. The technology can be used in sectors such as MedTech, the chip industry and agriculture. What is the best time to sow (precision agriculture), can you ‘smell’ cancer through your breath and therefore detect it earlier, and when does an aircraft need specific maintenance? The trick is to calculate exactly what the right moment is, with the help of a computer that can make unprecedented calculations.

Photonic processors from QuiX

QuiX develops quantum photonic processors for quantum information processing and simulation. Using the proprietary TriPleX platform, QuiX provides unique quantum photonic processors that are not only large-scale and fully reconfigurable but also low loss and widely transparent to all suitable quantum light sources. QuiX demonstrated the world’s largest quantum photonic processor in a product launch last December, which can be found here:

 

QONTROL as first customer

Qontrol, based in Bristol (UK), makes control electronics and supporting infrastructure for complex, massively multi-channel photonic integrated circuits (PICs). These PICs are now finding uses from telecommunications to fundamental science, and Qontrol’s products can be found powering them, in research labs worldwide.

Jelmer Renema, CTO of QuiX: “This is great news for QuiX. Qontrol is one of the leading quantum photonics technologies companies in Europe. This shows how QuiX can meet the most stringent technological requirements for quantum photonics.”

“We are thrilled and honoured to be the first to be able to kick the tires on QuiX’s awesome new line of photonic processors,” said Dr Josh Silverstone, Qontrol’s CTO. “With this device in our Bristol labs, we will be able to better understand and serve our customer’s needs, and particularly those customers wanting to put QuiX’s technology to use. It will be a fantastic tool for us to demonstrate what our own products can do, too, with the device’s visible-light capability promising to make for fabulous live demos.”

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Smart energy scale-up Sensorfact raises € 3.7M to expand across Europe

Sensorfact raised new capital from Korys, venture capital fund FORWARD.one, a current major shareholder, and EIT InnoEnergy, to further invest in the development of its energy efficiency platform for the industry and further expand across Europe. With this Series A investment, the innovative Utrecht based scale-up can continue to grow in Benelux and Italy and launch its activities in the Nordics, Austria and Switzerland.

Established in 2016, Sensorfact developed a plug-and-play energy management system, to provide an easy and affordable solution for industrial SMEs to reduce their energy consumption. Pieter Broekema, CEO and founder of Sensorfact: “Energy bills are counted among the top highest operational expenses faced by industrial SMEs. Also, European legislation is pushing industries to improve their energy efficiency. We experience that especially SMEs face challenges to comply with government regulations and often lack the machine-level consumption data and analytics to identify savings opportunities”.

Over the last 5 years, the company grew its customer base to more than 350 customers in more than 14 countries. “Our customers are primarily active in the Plastics, Food & Beverages, and Metal Industry as their energy consumption is the highest among all industrial branches”, says Pieter Broekema. To date, the company also heavily invested in optimising its software platform, developing new algorithms, and offering new solutions to make energy-saving easy for its customers.

Reducing the human environmental footprint by eliminating industrial energy waste

By 2030, the EU will have to reach an energy efficiency target of 32.5%. Putting energy efficiency first is a key objective of the EU, as energy savings are the easiest way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Pieter Broekema: “To realise energy savings, it is important to increase insight into the company’s energy use. The first step to take is to install energy sensors to get data on your machine-level energy consumption. The data can be used to benchmark the machines, monitor the energy flows and create an energy balance”.

Besides offering machine-level energy data, Sensorfact also developed industry-specific algorithms to identify energy-saving opportunities: “The data is analysed with the help of AI tools and industry-specialised algorithms, enhanced by the industrial knowledge of Sensorfact energy consultants. This way, we can offer the industry a complete solution to bring down their energy use”. To date, Sensorfact has identified 54GWh of energy savings.

Four million to accelerate development energy efficiency platform and international expansion

This new capital increase will enable Sensorfact to further accelerate its growth. “We are really happy with this powerful consortium of investors as this will allow us to turn our growth plans into reality. Our ambition is to become the number one industrial energy management provider, targeting 370K SME industrial companies in Europe. Together we are making a difference in scaling up this impactful technology”, says Pieter Broekema.

Loïc de Schaetzen, Investment Director at Korys: “As part of our Energy transition portfolio, we were eager to invest in the sector of energy efficiency for some time. With Sensorfact we found exactly what we were looking for: a company combining the offer of a non-invasive product, a clear reporting platform providing immediate insight for potential energy savings and an already sizable portfolio of industrial clients. Sensorfact manages to do so while targeting the SME segment with an affordable and cost-effective solution for the client. We see important development potential and want to bring Korys‘expertise and network to expand the presence of the company in Belgium and Europe”.

Frederik Gerner, Partner at FORWARD.one: ”As an existing investor in Sensorfact we are excited to further support the Sensorfact team on their mission to reduce energy usage within the industry in Europe and beyond. We have seen the team and company develop strongly since we initially invested in Sensorfact halfway through 2019 and therefore believe in the ability of the team to drive further growth and impact. Since our initial investment Sensorfact has developed their technology, expanded their product range and expanded the team in order to further address their growing customer base’s energy and cost saving needs. We are excited to see Sensorfact play an even more important role in their industry and accelerate their growth with this funding round”. 

With this Series A investment, Sensorfact can continue to grow in Benelux and Italy and launch its activities in the Nordics, Austria and Switzerland.

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Another €24 million for Dutch start-ups in artificial intelligence, Medtech and water technology

Dutch State Secretary Mona Keijzer expects this financial support for innovation to help several dozen new knowledge-intensive companies get off the ground in the coming years.
Bart Brouwers

The Dutch government is allocating 24 million euros for start-ups that can grow thanks to knowledge from research. Three collaborations between innovative companies, universities, other knowledge institutions, and (venture) investors in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), Medtech, and water technology are involved. This is the second tender of the so-called Thematic Technology Transfer (TTT) scheme.

In September 2019, the Dutch government made the same amount available for collaborations in the fields of regenerative medicine, smart systems, and circular solutions. According to the government, this support has now led to the first investments such as in a startup developing a biological drug against thrombosis.

The Netherlands Enterprise Agency and the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) selected the three consortia. Each consortium will receive 8 million euros of the available 24 million euros.

1. Artificial intelligence

The first collaboration will focus on the application of artificial intelligence within the themes of healthcare and security. Coordinated by the University of Amsterdam, five Dutch universities, four university medical centers, the Center for Mathematics and Computer Science, and the Eindhoven-based venture investor LUMO Labs will participate.

TTT.AI is intended to become the Dutch counter for AI startups that originate from a knowledge institution. “With this AI consortium we can successfully bring more AI initiatives from our knowledge institutions to the market and to society,” says Peter Westerhuijs, project leader of the consortium and business developer at IXA-UvA.

Andy Lürling, Founding Partner of LUMO Labs, says that his investment fund is already working extensively with knowledge institutions. “Thanks to this TTT.AI consortium, together we are much better able to identify promising initiatives and give them a flying start. Pioneering research and innovative development in the field of AI can thus find their way into society faster and better. Early-stage funding is indispensable to make the step from idea to impact.”

2. Medical technology for better diagnoses

A consortium of the four technical universities, university medical centers in Rotterdam, Nijmegen, and Maastricht, and the Amsterdam-based venture investor Innovation Industries are joining forces for more successful medical technology. They are building a national and open program that will bring together the right knowledge and expertise at an early stage and accelerate the market passage of medical technology innovations for better or less burdensome diagnoses and treatments, for example.

3. Water technology for energy reuse and storage

Netherlands Enabling Water Technology (NEW), the consortium for water technology, will also receive €8 million. The consortium consists of Wetsus, University of Groningen, Deltares, and Investment and Development Company North Netherlands (NOM). NEW stimulates startups with initiatives in the field of water technology to accelerate the transition to a circular, sustainable and climate-neutral economy, for example in the field of water and raw materials reuse and production and storage of energy from water.

The NEW plan consists of two parts: knowledge transfer and a fund. The partners in the knowledge transfer part will scout promising knowledge startups, have them develop at an accelerated pace and nominate the most promising startups to the NEW fund. “Without the financial support from the NEW fund, many good ideas in the water technology field will ultimately not make it to the market,” said an explanation from NEW. “Through the combined knowledge and broad expertise, stronger innovations will be developed by the knowledge starters. This, in combination with the NEW fund managed by NOM, will lead to more promising knowledge startups and a faster transition of startups to the growth phase.”

“The Netherlands as an innovation leader”

State Secretary Mona Keijzer expects that with this targeted financial support for innovation, several dozen new knowledge-intensive companies can get off the ground in the coming years. “The Netherlands is Europe’s innovation leader and we want to remain so. This scheme focuses on technological cooperation between science and entrepreneurs and gives a boost to our future jobs and income. It is important that we focus on innovation for both the short and long term in the current economic crisis.”

Original article: Innovation Origins

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TU/e Innovation Space nominated for first Dutch Higher Education Prize

Eindhoven University of Technology’s innovative learning environment, innovation Space, has been nominated for the Dutch Higher Education Prize. The award ceremony will be held on March 1.

“I learned from the outset how to make a prototype.” “The instructor gave me the confidence to try out my ideas.” “The teachers motivated us to go even further than we ever thought possible before we took the course.” These are just a few quotes from an evaluation of courses at Innovation Space. An open community where students, student teams, student entrepreneurs and researchers work in interdisciplinary teams together with businesses and civil society organizations on the challenges of today and the future. Innovation Space is a finalist along with the Urban Futures Studio from Utrecht University and the ‘Re-imagining Tomorrow through Arts and Sciences’ minor from Erasmus University.

Innovation in education

This new education award serves as a great token of appreciation for teacher teams that are achieving outstanding results. According to the website of the Dutch government, it also motivates teachers to continue with innovation in education and knowledge sharing. TU/e innovation Space is to receive half a million euros in prize money. That amount could rise even further to 1.2 million euros once the Minister of Education, Culture & Science announces on March 1 who is in first, second and third place.

“It’s a national acknowledgement of what we have been working on for the past five years,” says Professor Isabelle Reymen proudly. She and two other faculty members were at the forefront of what has grown into the student community that it is today. “Five years, ago we started out very small with two or three courses.” Meanwhile, 2200 students take 38 courses there, the teaching team has grown to 27 teachers in charge and 120 teachers are involved.

Creating impact

There were two main reasons driving innovation in education, Reymen explains. “We are dealing with a different generation of students. They really want to create impact, to improve the world.” At first she thought it was one student who wanted to graduate in Sustainable Energy, “but no, it was one after another. You have to offer education to these students in a different way. By addressing their passion and challenging them.”

As the second reason, Reymen cites industry, in particular, the Brainport region, which she says: “Just craves different kinds of employees. Engineers of the future who can really work together in interdisciplinary teams, have an entrepreneurial attitude and are able to think on a systems level.”

Reymen and her colleagues drew inspiration from abroad. “We combined that with our experiences with the student teams that we already had. Even though students don’t gain any study credits for that, you could just see that students there were working on what they are passionate about and learning a lot.”

World Champions

For instance, Team Solar built a car that runs on solar energy. The team became world champions four times in Australia. “That’s just fantastic, those students learn an awful lot. Not only about working together, but also about applying that battery technology in the real world. They used the know-how they learned and all that new knowledge and insights, because they wanted to become world champions, of course.”

Challenge-Based Learning forms the basis of the learning environment. With this, students work on relevant social problems for challenge-owners from the field. “Real-life clients for whom the students come up with a solution.” They work together on that solution from a variety of disciplines. Where applicable, they build a prototype and reflect on their work together.

Reymen herself teaches a course on innovation and entrepreneurship, the Innovation Space Project. “When you see what students learn in six months – that’s how long a course takes – it’s amazing. They have done something that they would never have thought possible. The self-confidence they gain from that is wonderful to see.” In addition to the courses, there are also activities that students do not receive any study credits for, such as the student teams. “There, too, you see students are really thriving and accomplishing some truly amazing things.”

Learning from each other

As did industrial design student Tom Cobbenhagen, who completed a Master’s project. He flourished due to the multidisciplinary nature of the curriculum. “What often happens at a university, and certainly at a technical one, is that people tend to stick to their own field. As a result, they come into less contact with other disciplines. It is precisely because you are thrown into a group here with all sorts of different backgrounds that you can combine those strengths. There is much more room to learn from each other. I didn’t end up deepening my studies, but actually broadening them. We learned to create an impact for the challenge owner – Eindhoven Airport. And its social goals: a solution to the mobility problem.”

Read more about the activities at TU/e innovation Space here.

Looking back, Reymen finds it “really wonderful that with a relatively small team, we can still make a major structural change in education at TU/e happen.” “I am most proud of the fact that we succeeded in doing that.”

The prize money has already been allocated. Reymen will use the money in any event to invest in a wider range of courses, “so that more students can come into contact with Challenge-Based Learning.” To that end, she wants to develop training courses for teachers to help them deal with challenge owners and coach them properly. “Also, we want to offer more choice in the courses and themes that students are interested in. Right now, we are still working on a course level; in time, we would really like to be able to give students an individual learning path.”

Working together with other schools

One example is an online platform so that students from different schools and universities in the Netherlands and Europe can work together on challenges. “We already work together with Fontys and with the four technical universities in the Netherlands and we are active in European Alliances. If you really want students to work together, you have to be able to do that very effectively online, because you’re not all in the same place at the same time.”

Should Innovation Space win the top prize, Reymen will be looking further into the future and envisioning innovative ecosystems. “At the moment, we are still taking on challenges ad hoc. We want to see if we can set up long-term partnerships so that we can work together in a more structural way with multiple partners. For example, a Sustainable Energy learning line, where citizens work with companies, and governments work with students and cross-disciplinary research groups at Eindhoven University of Technology.”

At the end of the second Comenius Festival on March 1, the Minister of Education, Culture & Science, Ingrid van Engelshoven, will award the first Dutch Higher Education Prize.

Source: Innovation Origins

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The Netherlands aerospace industry and Airbus sign agreement for sustainable aviation research

Press release Ministry of Economic Affairs and NAG, February 25, 2021.

The Netherlands Aerospace industry, represented by Mr. Lex Besselink, Chairman of the National Association for the Aerospace Industry NAG, and Airbus SAS, represented by Mrs. Grazia Vittadini, Airbus Chief Technology Officer, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Thursday, 25 February 2021. The signing of the MoU is an important step towards the future of sustainable aviation. The signing was witnessed by the Dutch Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management, Mrs. Cora van Nieuwenhuizen, and the Dutch State Secretary for Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, Mrs. Mona Keijzer, who both emphasized the importance of the agreement and the role of the Dutch industry in the realization of sustainable aircraft. In attendance were also the French Minister Delegate Mr. Jean-Baptiste Djebbari and the German Commissioner for the Digital Industry and Start-ups and Federal Government Coordinator of German Aerospace Policy Mr. Thomas Jarzombek. The CEO of Schiphol, Mr. Dick Benschop, emphasized the support of the complete Netherlands aviation sector; the infrastructure, the operators and industry.

The purpose of the MoU between NAG and Airbus is to establish a long-term strategic relationship in the field of sustainable aviation research and innovation, for both academic and industrial parties. The dedication of Airbus to connect with the innovative and robust Dutch industry and knowledge centres is welcomed to enable a sound return of aerospace after the pandemic. “We look forward to reaching the goals set together and realising a healthy future business for both Airbus and the NAG members”, says Lex Besselink, Chairman of the Netherlands Aerospace Group.

The Netherlands aviation sector, as represented by the parties united in the Dutch Sustainable Aviation Roundtable in which both the NAG and Airbus participate, committed to ambitious CO2 reduction targets towards achieving zero emission aviation in 2070, including:

  • reaching CO2 emission levels of 2005 in the year 2030, and 50% less in 2050;
  • zero emission ground-based operations in 2030;
  • use of minimum 14% blended SAF in 2030;
  • replacement of all fossil kerosene by sustainable alternatives by 2050;
  • and aiming to be a frontrunner in aviation electrification.

The NAG members are committed to these agreements and they aim their Research and Innovation programme to fulfil these targets. Airbus welcomes the Netherlands’ ambitious government policy towards sustainable aviation which will contribute greatly to our industry-wide decarbonisation targets. “The Netherlands’ rich talent pool, capabilities and experience has always made it an attractive home base for Airbus”, said Grazia Vittadini, Airbus Chief Technology Officer. “We look forward to accelerating research and working towards disruptive technologies to achieve a sustainable future together.”

An important link in this MoU is the Dutch Government. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure and Water Management are closely involved in this cooperation.

“It is my mission to successfully position Dutch tech companies and our manufacturing industry”, said Mona Keijzer, State Secretary of Economic Affairs of the Netherlands. “After all, we want to remain an innovation leader. International cooperation creates jobs and income in the Netherlands. For example, when our entrepreneurs can develop and produce composites for aircraft. The signing of this MoU today means that we can keep engaging in this area. And this is important, so that when the aerospace industry climbs out of this corona crisis, it can continue to innovate and find sustainable solutions.”

Breakthroughs are needed for aviation to become more quiet and green.

“To realise CO2 reduction, focussing on sustainable aviation fuels and technological innovation, including novel aircraft designs and new types of propulsion is important”, says Cora van Nieuwenhuizen, Minister for Infrastructure and Water Management. “The first steps have been taken, such as the world’s first passenger flight with a blend of 500 liters of synthetic kerosene. Let’s inspire each other and enter a new era for aviation together”.

Source: NAG news

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Quantum Technology Conference QuApps 2021

Online workshop with ZEISS Quantum Challenge and hybrid conference in combination

Due to the restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the QuApps conference cannot take place as a face-to-face event in March 2021 as originally planned. For this reason, a combination of an online event on March 2, 2021 and a hybrid event from September 13 to 15, 2021 will be held. In this way, both topicality and personal contact, which is very important in this subject area, is guaranteed.

Current research and fields of application of quantum technology

The international QuApps conference deals with the state of the art and the development of quantum technology. The technology is developing rapidly and offers previously unimagined potential for future innovations in business and science. The subject areas include quantum computers, cryptography and quantum sensors. In addition to quantum engineers and researchers, the event is also aimed at business development strategists and trend scouts in industry as well as investors and the interested public. The participants get deep insights into current research and existing applications. The focus of the conference is the exchange with and between renowned experts in quantum technology.

Virtual workshop with expert presentations and award ceremony of the ZEISS Quantum Challenge

QuApps will kick off with the virtual event “QuApps Online: Workshop on Applications on Quantum Technologies” on March 2, 2021. The winners of the ZEISS Quantum Challenge 2020 will also be announced in this context. The idea behind the ZEISS Quantum Challenge is to advance the leap in quantum technology from scientific application from laboratory scale to marketable products.

In 2020, ZEISS launched the Quantum Challenge, a competition dedicated to the use of quantum technologies in sensor and imaging applications in a real setting. To this end, ZEISS has called on the scientific community in the field of quantum technology to face six real challenges in the categories of medical technology, microscopy and industrial metrology. The challenge aimed to identify promising solutions, discuss them among experts and become partners to advance these ideas together. The contributions submitted by numerous participants were evaluated by a jury of experts. The winners have now been determined. As part of the QuApps Online Conference, they will be announced on March 2, 2021 and present their approaches to the professional world.

News item via IVAM

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Eindhoven incubator for high-tech wants to produce next ASML: ambition for start-ups must be increased, according to HighTechXL

EINDHOVEN – As Brainport, do not think that you are have made it already. The ambition with high-tech start-ups must increase to create new ASMLs, says John Bell of HighTechXL.

New chip technology to correct for movements of the patient when making an MRI scan. This can prevent the scan from failing and having to be recreated. It is an example from the nursery of HighTechXL in Eindhoven. The organization is building dozens of high-tech start-ups on the High Tech Campus.

Biggest in the world

John Bell, who took up his position as director six months ago alongside founder Guus Frericks, has a mission. He wants to become the largest of its kind in the world with HighTechXL. That is building start-ups in “deep tech”, to indicate the difference with the part that focuses on online platforms based on existing technology. In Bell’s view, the Brainport region has the ideal breeding ground for the development of deep tech, with its ecosystem built around the collaboration between high-tech companies, education and knowledge institutions and the government.

You must not think that you are already there. You have to keep providing oxygen and food, otherwise the plant will die. We need to pull even better talent from the world this way and try to be the best deep tech in the world.

John Bell, HighTechXL

HighTechXL is already on a list of the top five start-up builders in the world. Bell’s ambition is in line with that of the municipality of Eindhoven, which wants to become a deep tech start-up city of Europe. We still cannot be satisfied with the development that has been made in recent decades, says Bell. “You shouldn’t think you’re already there. You have to keep providing oxygen and food, otherwise the plant will die. We need to pull even better talent from the world this way and try to be the best deep tech in the world. To achieve this, cooperation with the municipality of Eindhoven, the ecosystem and the government will have to be further intensified. ”

ASML en Philips investeren mede om de regio te versterken, om een B- en C-SML te kunnen creëren.”

John Bell, HighTechXL

The organization is supported by ASML, Philips and the High Tech Campus as investors. ,, ASML and Philips are investing in part to strengthen the region, to create a B and C-SML. It is important for ASML and Philips that new parties arise. This gives their suppliers a stronger basis. They can also benefit from talent that is attracted and retained for the region. ”

Build from the ground up

HighTechXL changed its working method at the end of 2018. Instead of supporting existing start-ups, it opted to build new companies from the ground up. “From existing teams, something always went wrong. The team did not function well, patents were not strong enough or the company had the wrong customers. ”

The basis of the new set-up are unused patents, for which a team of bright minds is trying to develop commercial applications. For example, photonics technology for MRI scans comes from the European space agency ESA. There is also collaboration with the Swiss research organization CERN, TNO and Philips Research. The patent owners receive royalties based on the turnover that the start-up is able to generate.

International teams

A team trying to get a start-up off the ground is made up of people from all over the world. Based on profiles it is estimated whether they can work well together.

“We have people from Taiwan, Australia and European countries such as Italy, Turkey and Germany”, says Bell. “They are often people who have already built a company and sold it. Both technicians and specialists with, for example, a marketing background will join.

John Bell High Tech XL

John Bell wants to build a bridge between start-ups and large companies with HighTechXL. © Jean Pierre Reijnen/DCI Media

Collaborations from Philips

Bell, born in Eindhoven himself, worked for Philips for years on innovation by entering into partnerships with companies from completely different industries. The alliance with Sara Lee / Douwe Egberts led to the development of the Senseo.

After working at Johnson & Johnson on collaboration with start-ups for the development of new products, Bell is now on another side. At HighTechXL he looks at how large companies can help start-ups. Incooling, for example, which is developing a technology for cooling chips, is in talks with major chip manufacturers and data centers. “A start-up needs a large company for knowledge, financial resources, customers and the supply chain.”

Continuation during Corona crisis

Since the restart two years ago, 22 high-tech babies have been born under the flag of HighTechXL. During the corona crisis, 15 started, from behind the computer and virtually without physical contact.

Another 40 to 50 start-ups should see the light by 2025, according to the target. “This would create 2000 jobs and thus make a substantial contribution to the innovative strength of the region and therefore of the Netherlands. It is crucial that more money is made available for deep tech start-ups. The Netherlands is lagging behind other countries in Europe, the United States and Asia in this area. ”

IPO with start-ups

HighTechXL wil met zijn start-ups naar de beurs NXchange, een platform dat beleggers koppelt aan bedrijven. Het idee is dat ze kunnen handelen in zowel een ‘mandje’ van alle start-ups samen als in individuele bedrijven. ,,We proberen daarvoor 30 miljoen euro op te halen bij investeerders”, zegt John Bell. ,,Start-ups hebben dan zowel financiering als een beursnotering.”

HighTechXL wants to take its start-ups to the NXchange stock exchange, a platform that links investors to companies. The idea is that they can trade in a “basket” of all start-ups together as well as individual companies. “We are trying to raise 30 million euros for this from investors”, says John Bell. “Start-ups then have both financing and a stock exchange listing.”

The corona crisis is not making it any easier for the fledgling companies. Investors and customers are more cautious, Bell knows. The government’s corona loan has helped a number of start-ups. “But the repayment of the money will start soon and some have little income. Not everyone is going to survive. That is fine in itself; it is part of the start-up world. “”

Cover photo by Alexandre Debiève on Unsplash

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Launch of “Horizon Europe” reinforces goals for more innovation and research in Europe

The “Horizon Europe” programme, which was launched this Tuesday, 2 February, has a budget of around €95 billion for research and innovation all over Europe from 2021-2027.

“Horizon Europe” is the ninth European framework programme for research and innovation, following on from the “Horizon 2020” programme (2014-2020), and will be the biggest programme ever undertaken in Europe. Its launch by the Portuguese Presidency of the Council of the EU is being promoted along with a mobilisation process for all of Europe, in conjunction with structural funds and, particularly, with the national recovery and resilience plans of each member state in preparation for the “Next Generation EU, 2021-26” programme.

The aim is for the European Union to lead the twin green and digital transition in association with a resilient recovery through a renewed European Research Area (ERA) and through an effective increase in public and private investment in R&D, particularly in the context of the recent reaffirmation by the European Commission of the goal of 3% of public and private investment in R&D in terms of gross domestic product by 2030.

“Horizon Europe” is thus based on three terms of reference:

  • 1. Scientific excellence: development of quality skills and expertise in order to reinforce the scientific leadership of the European Union, with the involvement of all the regions and all European citizens; creation of new markets, working conditions and skills, particularly in the sectors most severely affected by the negative impacts of the pandemic.
  • 2. Global challenges and European industrial competitiveness: natural resources, mobility, food, digital media and energy are just some of the areas that can count on additional support for research into the challenges they face, as well as for the associated industrial technology; it is in this area that partnerships are expected to be created with the aim of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
  • 3. Innovative and inclusive Europe: there will be stimuli for the creation of professional careers linked to research, both in the public and private sectors, making them more inclusive, particularly for women and minorities; it is also intended to foster research and recruitment ecosystems in order to train and retain talents in Europe. Other goals include cooperation between national funding agencies and the European Commission, while also contributing to promoting the creation of “European university” networks.

The “Horizon Europe” programme includes four implementation pillars:

Pillar 1: “Science of Excellence”, supporting scientific excellence in terms of human resources and infrastructure, particularly through the European Research Council (ERC), the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), as well as research infrastructures (ESFRI).

Pillar 2: “Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness”, which will support research and development activities in six areas (or clusters): Health; Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society; Civil Security for Society; Digital, Industry and Space; Climate, Energy and Mobility; Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment. Under the scope of these six areas, Pillar 2 also includes:

  • Research Missions, in five áreas:
  • Cancer;
  • Adaptation to climate change including societal transformation;
  • Climate-neutral and smart cities;
  • Soil health and food;
  • Healthy oceans, seas, coastal and inland waters.
  • Institutional Partnerships: aimed at mobilising public and private sectors in areas such as energy, transport, biodiversity, health, food and the circular economy.

Pillar 3: “Innovative Europe”, supporting the creation of new markets and SMEs, including new supports to be granted under the scope of the new European Innovation Council (EIC), the support for European Innovation Ecosystems (EIE) and for the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT). The EIT legislation was recently revised, on 29 January, already during the Portuguese Presidency, in order to encompass more inclusive action open to all of Europe and two new areas of intervention, through Knowledge and Innovative Communities (KIC) (namely, oceans and creative industries, in addition to the initial areas of health, digital, energy, materials and climate).

Pillar 4: “Extending participation in and reinforcement of the European Research Area”, including support for the extension of participation in and the reinforcement of the European Research Area, through a set of different funding instruments aimed at establishing networks for human resources and at institutional level.

Implementation of “Horizon Europe”

The implementation of the “Horizon Europe” programme will be coordinated by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research (DG RTD), following on from the previous European research and innovation framework programmes. Further details at Horizon Europe | European Commission.

In the case of Portugal, the coordination and dissemination of the strategy for reinforcing national participation in the “Horizon Europe, 2021-27” programme is carried out through PERIN – “Portugal in Europe Research and Innovation Network”, which includes the main funding agencies and promoters, namely FCT, ANI, AICIB, PT Space, the ERASMUS Agency and DGES, working closely with the promotion offices for European programmes in academic and research institutes, as well as in companies, business associations and company incubation centres and interface institutions.

Portugal’s aim is to double national participation in the “Horizon Europe, 2021-27” programme compared to participation in the Horizon 2020 (2014-2020) programme and attract around two billion euros for research and innovation activities on a competitive basis by the public and private sectors, including SMEs (in comparison to the approximately 1.1 billion attracted between 2014 and 2020 through supports granted by the H2020 programme, also in competitive terms).

Source: Europa.nu

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