DTU has achieved a number of significant milestones in attracting funds from the EU’s R&D Horizon 2020 programme.
DTU has intensified its efforts in submitting applications to the EU’s R&D programme Horizon 2020, and it has borne fruit.
Most recently, DTU researchers received four out of ten Danish Consolidator grants from the Horizon 2020 Excellence programme European Research Council (ERC). And in November, DTU came first in Europe within the bioeconomy with six projects with a total budget of more than EUR 5 million.
Earlier this year, DTU became coordinator for five Innovative Training Networks and a partner in a postdoc programme in collaboration with the Eurotech Alliance universities under Horizon 2020. This placed DTU joint first in Europe in relation to MSCA Innovative Training Networks (ITN).
“All the EU projects are opening new doors to networks and the chance to influence long-term strategic research agenda. We believe that DTU’s potential is much larger in the EU than we have seen so far in Horizon 2020. And looking ahead, we will use the results when submitting major applications to Danish foundations,” says Katrine Krogh Andersen, Dean of Research at DTU.
Considerable funding secured
According to Katrine Krogh Andersen, more EU funding has been secured this year because it has been the subject of greater focus among DTU researchers, and because they have devoted considerable efforts to submitting several highly qualified applications. DTU is regularly involved in a wide range of EU partnerships, applications and projects. In addition, the support team at DTU’s central research office makes researchers aware of current EU calls and supports the writing and optimization of EU funding applications.
At the more strategic level, DTU is in close contact with European decision-makers on research policy and research grants. This contact is maintained through the Danish Ministry of Higher Education and Science, but equally through various alliances and partnerships. Thus, DTU participates actively in three strategic lobby platforms in Brussels: the Copenhagen EU Office, the EuroTech Universities Brussels Office, and the European Energy Research Alliance (EERA).
Sensor tested in European countries
One of the EU projects which DTU has acquired within bioeconomy is called VIVALDI, which is a groundbreaking research project to develop a sensor for diagnosing pathogenic bacteria. The project is so promising that the EU has given the application top marks in its evaluation. Now the sensor will be tested in practice in different countries in Europe.
The sensor enables quick on-site testing and immediately raises the alarm in the event of infected animals or food products, stopping the spread of infectious diseases. DTU and the company Dianova have developed the sensor in a joint venture.