Three researchers are involved in these two projects: Jan van Hest and Nadia Erkamp in one, and Ghislaine Vantomme in the other. In both endeavors, the scientists make intensive use of AI for the analysis and processing of large amounts of data. The research projects will each receive 400,000 euros which will be used, among other things, for hiring postdoc researchers.
With these grants, TU/e strengthens its position in the fast-growing research field where artificial intelligence and robotics are advancing chemistry. The fact that two Eindhoven-based projects have been awarded highlights the university's role as a frontrunner in linking fundamental research to solutions for major societal and industrial challenges.
Essential milk protein
The project by Jan van Hest and Nadia Erkamp is called CASEIN: Casein Assembly Systematically Engineered with Integrated Neural networks. In this project, researchers from Eindhoven University of Technology are collaborating with the Swedish-Danish dairy producer Arla to better understand the behavior of casein, an essential milk protein.
Using a combination of robotics and AI, they study its properties. This fundamental knowledge contributes to the development of new dairy products that combine milk with plant-based ingredients, thereby helping to reduce the ecological footprint of the dairy industry. The researchers are affiliated with the departments of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry and Biomedical Engineering .
Ultrasoft coatings
Ghislaine Vantomme (Chemical Engineering and Chemistry) received funding for the project BioSoftCoat: Balancing Softness and Durability in Ultra-Soft Coatings: A Robotics and Machine Learning Approach. This research focuses on ultrasoft coatings that are essential for biomedical applications such as implants, wound dressings and drug delivery. These coatings can seamlessly integrate with biological tissues. Balancing softness and durability, however, is a major challenge: the softer the coating, the more mechanical stability is often lost.
This project combines AI, robotics and high-throughput experiments (where multiple experiments are carried out simultaneously and large amounts of data are generated at speed) to map the relationship between structure and properties of ultrasoft coatings.
By gaining a better understanding of how molecular assembly affects softness and durability, Ghislaine and her team aim to develop innovative biomaterials that improve patient comfort, wound healing and therapeutic effectiveness. This approach accelerates material development and opens up new possibilities for medical applications. The application for this call was submitted together with SupraPolix, a young company on the TU/e campus that develops innovative polymer materials.
About Big Chemistry
Other researchers receiving funding from NGF Big Chemistry are based at TU Delft, the University of Groningen and Radboud University Nijmegen.
The eight new research projects all aim to contribute to a more sustainable and efficient chemical industry. Through high-throughput experiments and artificial intelligence (AI), large datasets are generated and analyzed at high speed. This enables researchers to identify patterns and predict properties of new chemicals, such as taste, smell or solubility. Ultimately, this knowledge this will be integrated into a fully automated RobotLab. The RobotLab itself is not part of this call.
2.8 million euros awarded
The call, set up by NWO together with the National Growth Fund project Big Chemistry, connects scientific research directly to industrial practiceNearly €2.8 million in NWO funding has been allocated, complemented by €556,000 in co-funding from Dutch and international partners.
The Big Chemistry project itself is developing a fully automated RobotLab where high-throughput experiments and AI converge. This lab will enable countless experiments to be conducted simultaneously, providing insights into complex molecular systems. In 2023, the project already received €96.9 million in funding from the National Growth Fund.
National Growth Fund programs
NWO implements several thematic programs financed through the National Growth Fund. These programs bring together public and private partners, support innovation, and contribute to the Netherlands' sustainable earning capacity and broad prosperity.
