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Enabling Technology - 01-20-2012

The growth of the Chemelot Campus and the Maastricht Health Campus are crucially dependent on advanced Research and Development (R&D) support facilities. The Enabling Technologies Project goes a step beyond the existing infrastructure on both campuses. In a bid to open up that infrastructure to SMEs as well, the Province of Limburg is joining two parties in the Enabling Technologies consortium, DSM Resolve and UM/Maastricht UMC+.

Enabling Technologies plays a major part in:

  • Facilitating and encouraging the development and growth of businesses (including SMEs);
  • The valorization of research, and creating links between academia and industry;
  • Creating specific links between the two campuses;
  • Making the campuses more attractive.

Enabling Technologies BV will be founded in 2012. Its purpose will be to provide research support facilities for both academic and industrial researchers. In practice, these are large companies, SMEs (start-ups) and academic researchers, all of whom are based within a radius of about 100 km of the two campuses. The largest customer base is located at the Chemelot Campus and the Maastricht Health Campus. There, UM/Maastricht UMC+ research groups involve the business community in the analyses to be carried out. The advanced IT infrastructure allows researchers at even more distant locations (throughout the world) to participate in research projects here.

In specific terms, Enabling Technologies intends to set up Joint Facility Centres at both campuses. These will be equipped with high-end analytical instruments such as microscopes, spectrometers, and IT infrastructure. This plan involves a total investment of 9.3 million euros. SMEs will be able to make use of these facilities through a system of affordable vouchers. These centres will ultimately generate 100 new jobs.

Enabling Technologies will broadly focus on two areas:

  • The use of microscopic imaging to visualise microstructures and nanostructures in materials and cellular systems;
  • Chemical analysis techniques for identifying complex chemical structures.

The Joint Facility Centres will be digitally connected with one another, enabling research projects at one site to be monitored in real time from the other location. The campuses will also be directly linked via SURFnet, a digital network for academic institutions in the Netherlands. DSM Resolve, UM/Maastricht UMC+, and the Province of Limburg each have a one-third share in the Enabling Technologies consortium. The three parties are each investing 2.3 million euros in the project. In addition, the Province will provide another 2.3 million euros in the form of a loan. The operation is expected to make a loss over the initial five year period. The Province of Limburg will provide a grant to cover this. Thereafter, the services provided and the rental of equipment will have to be cost-effective. Maastricht University/Maastricht UMC+, and DSM have each made a commitment to do more than 16 million euros' worth of business with the facility centres.

Factsheets:

Joint press release

Chemelot Campus Consortium Business Plan

Limburg Ventures II

Strengthening sciences at Maastricht University

Source: Chemelot, Campuses: Zuid-Limburg's keys to the future, 19-01-2012

 

Enabling Technology - 01-20-2012

The growth of the Chemelot Campus and the Maastricht Health Campus are crucially dependent on advanced Research and Development (R&D) support facilities. The Enabling Technologies Project goes a step beyond the existing infrastructure on both campuses. In a bid to open up that infrastructure to SMEs as well, the Province of Limburg is joining two parties in the Enabling Technologies consortium, DSM Resolve and UM/Maastricht UMC+.

Enabling Technologies plays a major part in:

  • Facilitating and encouraging the development and growth of businesses (including SMEs);
  • The valorization of research, and creating links between academia and industry;
  • Creating specific links between the two campuses;
  • Making the campuses more attractive.

Enabling Technologies BV will be founded in 2012. Its purpose will be to provide research support facilities for both academic and industrial researchers. In practice, these are large companies, SMEs (start-ups) and academic researchers, all of whom are based within a radius of about 100 km of the two campuses. The largest customer base is located at the Chemelot Campus and the Maastricht Health Campus. There, UM/Maastricht UMC+ research groups involve the business community in the analyses to be carried out. The advanced IT infrastructure allows researchers at even more distant locations (throughout the world) to participate in research projects here.

In specific terms, Enabling Technologies intends to set up Joint Facility Centres at both campuses. These will be equipped with high-end analytical instruments such as microscopes, spectrometers, and IT infrastructure. This plan involves a total investment of 9.3 million euros. SMEs will be able to make use of these facilities through a system of affordable vouchers. These centres will ultimately generate 100 new jobs.

Enabling Technologies will broadly focus on two areas:

  • The use of microscopic imaging to visualise microstructures and nanostructures in materials and cellular systems;
  • Chemical analysis techniques for identifying complex chemical structures.

The Joint Facility Centres will be digitally connected with one another, enabling research projects at one site to be monitored in real time from the other location. The campuses will also be directly linked via SURFnet, a digital network for academic institutions in the Netherlands. DSM Resolve, UM/Maastricht UMC+, and the Province of Limburg each have a one-third share in the Enabling Technologies consortium. The three parties are each investing 2.3 million euros in the project. In addition, the Province will provide another 2.3 million euros in the form of a loan. The operation is expected to make a loss over the initial five year period. The Province of Limburg will provide a grant to cover this. Thereafter, the services provided and the rental of equipment will have to be cost-effective. Maastricht University/Maastricht UMC+, and DSM have each made a commitment to do more than 16 million euros' worth of business with the facility centres.

Factsheets:

Joint press release

Chemelot Campus Consortium Business Plan

Limburg Ventures II

Strengthening sciences at Maastricht University

Source: Chemelot, Campuses: Zuid-Limburg's keys to the future, 19-01-2012