University of the North presents Booster Fund cheques in round three

On Monday, the University of the North presented the cheques for round three of the Booster Fund. This took place during the roadshow ‘The influence of AI on the labour market’ at NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences. With the Booster Fund, the University of the North wants to reward and stimulate initiatives that contribute to the realization of the (RIS-3) objectives from its own Knowledge Agenda. For this purpose, a sum of €300,000 per year has been made available by the University of the North.

The projects received the cheques from Erica Schaper, Chair of the Executive Board of NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences and also Chair of the University of the North Steering Group. She praised the degree of innovation displayed in the projects and the willingness of the submitters to collaborate with other educational and knowledge institutions, as well as public and private partners on social transitions such as the transition from healthcare to positive health, sustainable energy, circularity, and digitization.

Awarded projects in round three

The following projects won the cheques:

• Continuous PHA production & internship places (ConPHAs); the project contributes to setting up a production unit for PHAs in Groningen and research in Emmen into high-value applications of these unique polymers (Hanze University of Applied Sciences, University of Groningen, NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences, Noorderpoort, and Drenthe College)

• Interdisciplinary human-robot teams for a future-proof Northern Netherlands healthcare system; the project focuses on the acceptance and integration of healthcare robots within the Northern Netherlands healthcare system by forming effective human-robot teams (Noorderpoort, University of Groningen, Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Alfa College, Technology & Care Academy (TZA) Drenthe-Groningen, Health Hub Roden, Welcome Robots On Your Team (WELBO))

• Lifestyle professional of the future: the project focuses on linking and optimizing curricula for lifestyle coach levels 4, 5, 6, and 7 for use in the chain approach to obesity (Alfa College, University of Groningen, Hanze University of Applied Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), Care Group Regional Organization for Primary Paramedics Northern Netherlands (ROEPNN), Menzis, VitaalNed, and the Municipality of Groningen)
• Anti-inflammatory properties of sprouted wheat and rye; the project investigates whether sprouted wheat and rye can contribute to an improved immune response and a healthier nutritional composition and whether it can be sustainably produced and applied in appealing recipes/products (University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Van Hall Larenstein University, Noorderpoort, and Royal Koopmans BV)

The impact of AI on the labour market

The cheques were presented at the end of the roadshow. The speakers included Klaas Dijkstra from the Computer Vision and Data Science lectorate and the I'M AI Experience Center of NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences, Bart Beima from the AI hub the Northern Netherlands, and Gielis Dijk from Omrin discussed the influence of AI on the labour market. A new feature was the panel, led by programme manager Nancy Huttenga, that engaged in a discussion with the audience on the role of AI in reducing labour market shortages, responsible implementation of AI, and the role of educational and knowledge institutions in this. Femke Cnossen, assistant professor of Labour Economy at the University of Groningen, Albert Holthoorn, programme manager of the Leeuwarder Digitale Agenda of the Municipality of Leeuwarden, and Eduard van Pagée of data innovation agency Researchable participated in this panel.

Follow-up

Currently, the first three rounds of the Booster Fund are being evaluated. A decision on the follow-up will be made before the end of the year. Keep an eye on the Booster Fund web page for more information.

For more information on the University of the North’s Booster Fund, please contact Njisk de Groot, coordinator of the Booster Fund at the University of the North via njisk.de.groot@nhlstenden.com