Mirjam van Praag, Chair of the Executive Board, responded with delight to the approval, stating, "This is fantastic news. Our society faces tremendous challenges, including nature restoration, climate change, healthcare personnel shortages, and the quality of education. With the contribution from the National Growth Fund, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, together with partners, can continue to invest in essential knowledge development and valorization to address these challenges and contribute to a better world."
The approved proposals vary in research areas but all address significant societal issues. One of the projects in which VU Amsterdam participates focuses on researching microbiomes: the rich communities of billions of bacteria, fungi, and viruses that have major effects on human health, animals, plants, and the environment. Microbiomes play a crucial role in issues such as chronic diseases, antibiotic resistance, declining soil and water quality, and nitrogen emissions. By bringing together innovation in agriculture and livestock farming, food production and healthcare, and soil and water management in the Netherlands, the consortium aims to comprehensively understand the complexity of microbiomes and their relationships with sustainability and health and, with the help of AI-based models, predict them.
Other projects in which VU Amsterdam is involved:
- Nationale Aanpak Professionalisering Leraren
- Digital United Training Concepts for Health Care (DUTCH)
- 6G Future Network Services
- Deltaplan Valorisatie
- Regeneratieve Landbouw (Re-Ge-NL)
- Creative Industries Immersive Impact Coalition (CIIC)
Two proposals receive direct financial contributions, namely the National Approach to Professionalizing Teachers (73 million) and Digital United Training Concepts for Health Care (48 million). The remaining proposals need further development and have been conditionally approved.