ERIS VUB TechTransfer

🙌 Congratulations! The ERIS team is happy to announce that Prof. dr. Omar Hegazy, member of MOBI Electromobility Research Centre and the head of EPOWERS Research Group, has been awarded an EU grant (HORIZON-JU-Chips) as part of a new consortium HiPower 5.0- Leading Edge Semiconductor, Integration, and Control System Technologies for Highly Compact and Smart eDrive Components Towards More Sustainable Power Electronics 5.0.  Prof. Hegazy is also the project's national coordinator. HiPower 5.0 is driven by the challenges and ambitions addressed in the Green Deal and in the Chips Act, to develop new power electronics solutions to ensure Green Deal targets and to foster a resilient and leading edge all-European Value Chain, for tomorrow’s mobility solutions. Therefore, HiPower 5.0 aims to develop highly integrated eDrive components using leading edge wide bandgap semicon-ductors and power electronics integration technologies, considering a resource-efficient and reliable design for next generation sustainable mobility solutions in the automotive and maritime domain. To achieve the outlined vision and major goal, the following key technical innovations are investigated: 🔸 New GaN base materials and leading-edge semiconductor devices to increase breakdown voltages and to enable highly energy and resource efficient topologies and cost-efficient power electronics designs. 🔸 New interconnection, packaging technologies, advanced ageing models and reliability testing methodologies to increase performance and reliability 🔸 Multi-objective design optimization tools, incl. AI support, to enable environmental impact optimized solutions (incl. Life Cycle Analysis) 🔸 Advanced thermal management and AI supported control strategies to reduce failure rates and increase reliabilities, as well as maximizing power utilization while enabling longer lifetimes.   To address these challenges, the HiPower 5.0 consortium, consisting of 45 partners, is composed along the whole value chain, starting from the GaN wafer and chips development, up to automotive and maritime Tier1/OEMs. This is accompanied by leading European universities and research organizations, guaranteeing a significant economic and scientific impact of the proposed work.   The project started on July 1st, 2025, for a period of 36 months and is awarded a total budget of 58,2M€, where the EU contribution is 16,5M€.   Curious to get more information? Please contact Prof. dr. Omar Hegazy. https://lnkd.in/epApU6QB Https://https://lnkd.in/eTM6-E9T.

These numbers say it all 🤖 AI is changing how EU funding proposals are written, and the increase in submissions for Horizon Europe Cluster 2 (+49%) and EIC Pathfinder (+88%) proves it. At ERIS at VUB TechTransfer, we’re seeing this trend up close: more proposals than ever, but also a clear shift in what really matters. Many proposals look perfect on paper… yet miss the mark on authentic impact and real collaboration. That’s exactly where ERIS adds value 🚀 We guide Vrije Universiteit Brussel researchers in developing strong impact sections and provide hands-on support with administration and budgeting. Our goal: to free up your time so you can focus on the scientific excellence and originality of your proposal. ✨ Because in today’s landscape, it’s not about style or structure anymore. It’s about substance, strategy and purpose. 💡 #HorizonEurope #EICPathfinder #ResearchImpact #Innovation #GrantWriting #EUfunding #AI

🚦 How can peri-urban areas become the beating heart of Europe’s green and connected cities? From congested outskirts to fragmented transport systems, peri-urban regions are often the missing link in Europe’s mobility transition. BIO-INTEL-MOB (Integrating Sustainable Mobility and Logistics with Citizen-Centric Intelligent Solutions for Safe, Smart, Green, Resilient, and Inclusive Cities) is changing that. 🚀 This Horizon Europe project reimagines peri-urban mobility and logistics through AI-driven, citizen-centric, and climate-neutral innovations — making mobility smarter, cleaner, and more inclusive. BIO-INTEL-MOB aims to: 🔸 Integrate real-time AI and IoT data (from sensors, cameras, and satellites) to predict and manage traffic, emissions, and mobility flows. 🔸 Develop Peri-Urban Mobility Hubs (PUMHs) and a Green-Safe Routing Algorithm (GSRA) to improve multimodal transport and ensure safety for all road users. 🔸 Introduce bio-based logistics packaging units (bioPLUs) and solar-powered micro-hubs for greener, smarter last-mile delivery. 🔸 Use Digital Twins and VR/AR participatory tools to co-design city policies with citizens. 🔸 Achieve tangible impacts: 30% less congestion, 25% fewer logistics emissions, 35% fewer vulnerable road user (VRU) accidents, and 40% stronger citizen participation in mobility planning. 💡 At Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Dr. Evy Rombaut leads the impact assessment work package, ensuring BIO-INTEL-MOB’s innovations deliver measurable environmental, social, and economic benefits. VUB’s team applies a 3-Index Impact Analysis and Digital Twin validation to guarantee scalable, policy-aligned, and sustainable outcomes across Europe. 🤝 BIO-INTEL-MOB brings together a wide European network, including: 🔸 Università degli Studi di Roma UnitelmaSapienza (Coordinator) 🔸 Centre for Research & Technology Hellas (CERTH) 🔸 Transport and Telecommunication Institute (TSI) 🔸 Universität Kassel 🔸 B. Braun Melsungen Aktiengesellschaft 🔸 University of Twente 🔸 Municipality of Rhodes … and many more! 👉 Curious how BIO-INTEL-MOB will make peri-urban mobility climate-neutral, data-driven, and citizen-powered? Read the full interview with Dr. Evy Rombaut here: https://lnkd.in/eW6e-ATa ERIS team: Philippe Westbroek, Cristina García Timermans, Marie Pfeiffer, Mohammad (Mo) Boroun, Alessandra Rossetti, Maxime Smits #HorizonEurope #SmartMobility #ClimateNeutralCities #WeAreVUB #InnovationEcosystem

✨ Funding Fridays This week, we spotlight the Horizon Europe draft work programme (2026–2027) for Cluster 6: Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment. 🌱🌍 This cluster addresses some of the most pressing global challenges: 🔸 Ensuring food and nutrition security 🔸 Managing natural resources sustainably 🔸 Reversing biodiversity loss 🔸 Tackling climate change while driving a circular and bio-based economy 📌 Mark your calendars! Before diving into the calls, don’t miss these key opportunities to get informed and build collaborations: 🔹 Brokerage event: 21 January 2026 🔹 European Commission info days: 22–23 January 2026 These events are ideal to learn more about the upcoming calls, meet potential partners, and kick-start competitive proposals. 👉 You can find the draft work programme: https://lnkd.in/ecF56-ej 👉 Info days & brokerage event: https://lnkd.in/dBbd3Vyx 💡The ERIS team at VUB TechTransfer is here to guide you through identifying opportunities, preparing strong proposals, and building impactful collaborations. Contact us 👉 https://lnkd.in/eK6REc4C #HorizonEurope #Cluster6 #SustainableResearch #WeAreVUB #ResearchInnovation #FundingFridays

🔐 How can law enforcement keep pace with the growing security challenges of IoT systems, while respecting privacy and fundamental rights? With billions of connected devices shaping our daily lives, IoT networks are increasingly targeted by sophisticated cyberattacks. Investigating these crimes requires new tools that can detect threats, collect lawful evidence, and ensure a chain of custody, all while complying with strict EU legal and ethical standards. 🚀 This is where SALUS (Strengthening law enforcement with advanced IoT forensic tools and enriched investigation schemes, realised by a Software Defined Network Security-as-a-Service architecture) comes in! SALUS aims to: 🔸 Develop advanced forensic IoT tools for real-time threat detection, lawful evidence interception, and cross-agency collaboration. 🔸 Combine a Digital-Twin infrastructure with a secure SDN-enabled IoT backbone for proactive threat simulation and dynamic policy enforcement. 🔸 Integrate AI-powered forensic capabilities and blockchain-based chain of custody solutions. 🔸 Validate its technologies through five pilot use cases, involving police authorities and critical infrastructure providers (hospitals and nuclear power plants). 🔸 Provide training, hackathons, and policy recommendations to help law enforcement agencies tackle emerging forms of IoT-related crime. 💡 At Vrije Universiteit Brussel, the Cyber and Data Security Lab (CDSL) led by Prof. Vagelis Papakonstantinou focuses on the legal and ethical dimension of IoT forensics. Their work ensures that SALUS solutions respect privacy, confidentiality, fairness, and fundamental rights, while building trust and transparency into future security practices 🤝 The SALUS consortium unites law enforcement agencies, universities, research institutes, and industry partners, including: 🔸 Hellenic Mediterranean University (Coordinator) 🔸 Durham University 🔸 Harokopio University of Athens 🔸 SUNERIS SOLUTION 🔸 Netcompany S.A. 🔸 Ayuntamiento de Madrid 🔸 Landesamt für Zentrale Polizeiliche Dienste NRW 🔸 Ministério da Justiça - XXV Governo 🔸 Ukrainian Nuclear Society … and many more! 👉 Curious how SALUS will strengthen Europe’s ability to fight IoT-related crime while protecting fundamental rights? Read the full interview here: https://lnkd.in/eCpzsG2C ERIS team: Marie Pfeiffer, Cristina García Timermans, Alessandra Rossetti, Mohammad (Mo) Boroun, Philippe Westbroek, Maxime Smits #IoTSecurity #EUFunding #DigitalForensics #HorizonEurope #InnovationEcosystem #WeAreVUB  

✨ Funding Fridays This week, we spotlight the Horizon Europe draft work programme (2026–2027) for Cluster 2: Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society, and more specifically the single-stage call under destination “Innovative Research on Democracy and Governance.” 🗳️🌍 Key topics opening in 2026 include: 🔹 HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-DEMOCRACY-01 – Tackling gender-based violence against politically active women and LGBTIQ people 🔹 HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-DEMOCRACY-02 – Understanding the forms of local democracy in low-income and low-middle income countries 🔹 HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-DEMOCRACY-03 – Government in transition: how governments change the way they work and prepare the civil service for the future. …and there are many more topics across democracy, cultural heritage, and social transformation in this call. 📅 Opening: 12 May 2026 | Deadline: 16 September 2026 👉 Download the draft work programme here: https://lnkd.in/ecF56-ej 💡 Have questions about aligning your research with these calls? The ERIS team at VUB TechTransfer is here to guide you through identifying opportunities, preparing strong proposals, and building impactful collaborations. Connect with us 👉 https://lnkd.in/eK6REc4C. 📣 NCP Brussels #HorizonEurope #Cluster2 #DemocracyResearch #WeAreVUB #ResearchInnovation #FundingFridays

🌱♻️ Can agriculture reduce plastic waste while also tackling water scarcity in the face of climate change? Mulch films, used to control weeds, retain moisture, and regulate soil temperature, account for a large share of Europe’s plastic films in farming. Most are made of polyethylene (PE), producing up to 3.2 kg of CO₂-equivalent emissions per kg of plastic, and nearly a third are never recovered, polluting soils with microplastics. 🚀 This is where CELLAGRI (Cellulose-based mulch films with nature-inspired water-management structures for agricultural applications) comes in! Funded under the EIC Pathfinder Challenge, this EU-funded project aims to: 🔸 Develop sustainable, biodegradable films made from cellulose-based materials. 🔸 Integrate nature-inspired microfluidic structures (think Namib Desert beetle, spider silk, cacti, pitcher plants) to collect and channel water. 🔸 Enhance drought resilience and water efficiency in farming systems. 🔸 Build a toolbox of technologies (coating, imprinting, plasma treatment) that can scale to cost-effective roll-to-roll manufacturing. 💡 At Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Prof. Wim De Malsche, Dr. ilyesse BIHI, and Filip Legein from the µFlow group bring in cutting-edge microfluidics expertise. They will design, model, and test microfluidic water-collecting structures using the new VUB's Microlab Core facility, proving how enabling technologies can deliver unexpected solutions, even for agriculture. 🤝 CELLAGRI brings together a multidisciplinary team, including: 🔸 Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft (Coordinator) 🔸 Akira Science 🔸 Centre Technique du Papier 🔸 Univerza v Mariboru 🔸 Coating Plasma Innovation 🔸 ITA · Instituto Tecnológico de Aragón 🔸 Inagro vzw 👉 Curious how CELLAGRI will replace plastic mulch films with biodegradable, water-smart alternatives? Read the full interview here: https://lnkd.in/esqJQeEV ERIS team: Marie Pfeiffer, Cristina García Timermans, Alessandra Rossetti, Mohammad (Mo) Boroun, Philippe Westbroek, Maxime Smits #HorizonEurope #Sustainability #WeAreVUB #InnovationEcosystem #ClimateResilience

✨ Funding Fridays This week we spotlight the Horizon Europe draft work programme (2026–2027) for Cluster 1 – Health, and more specifically, the single-stage call under Destination “Living and working in a health-promoting environment.” 🌍💚 This destination aims to ensure that our living and working environments actively promote health and sustainability by understanding the environmental, occupational, social, gender-related, and economic factors that influence health. Key topics include: 🔹 HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-ENVHLTH-01 – Understanding and anticipating the impacts of climate change on health 🔹 HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-ENVHLTH-04 – Building climate-resilient, prepared, and carbon-neutral populations and healthcare systems 🔹 HORIZON-HLTH-2026-01-ENVHLTH-05 – Supporting multilateral initiatives on climate change and health research 📅 Opening: 10 February 2026 | Deadline: 16 April 2026 👉 Download the draft work programme here: https://lnkd.in/ecF56-ej 💡 Have questions about aligning your research with these calls? The ERIS team at VUB TechTransfer is here to guide you through identifying opportunities, preparing strong proposals, and building impactful collaborations. Connect with us 👉 https://lnkd.in/eK6REc4C 📣 NCP Brussels #FundingFridays #HorizonEurope #HealthResearch #ClimateAndHealth #WeAreVUB #ResearchInnovation

🌽 How can Europe and Africa build food systems that are fair, healthy, and sustainable, while also creating opportunities for the next generation? 🚨 With Africa’s growing youth population facing high unemployment and precarious informal jobs, the challenge is urgent. But what if research, innovation, and entrepreneurship could come together to reshape trade, farming, and food systems across continents? Meet STREAMING EU AFRICA (Sustainable Trade Regimes with Europe and Africa through Mapping Innovation, New-technology and Growth-mindset)! This EU-funded project aims to: 🔸 Develop strategies for sustainable, climate-resilient food trade systems. 🔸 Foster innovation hubs and AI-based platforms connecting researchers, startups, and farmers. 🔸 Support women entrepreneurs and empower farmers through hybrid training. 🔸 Reduce post-harvest losses and promote plant-based diets & alternative proteins. 🔸 Remove non-tariff trade barriers and strengthen EU–Africa collaboration. At Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Prof. Frits Heinrich and the FOST - Interdisciplinary Historical Food Studies team contribute by bringing in “innovation through tradition”. By studying historical food practices, forgotten crops, and traditional circular approaches, FOST helps design low-cost, high-impact solutions for today’s challenges. Additionally, FOST will actively contribute these outputs to the platform and hubs, to the start-ups supported through STREAMING, and to the training and coaching programs. STREAMING unites leading partners across Europe and Africa, including: 🔸 Hochschule Weihenstephan-Triesdorf 🔸 Wageningen University & Research 🔸 University Of Agriculture in Krakow 🔸 University of Gabes 🔸 UNIVERSITE DU SINE SALOUM EL-HÂDJ IBRAHIMA NIASS 🔸 Université de Kara 🔸 JARAMOGI OGINGA ODINGA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (JOOUST) 🔸 ARSI UNIVERSITY 🔸 University of the Free State 🔸 Western Balkans Institute 🔸 Bavarian Research Alliance (BayFOR) GmbH 🔸 Bundesverband IT-Mittelstand e.V. (BITMi) 🔸 Rwanda ICT Chamber 🔸 GS1 Germany GmbH Curious how STREAMING will reshape African–European food systems and policies? Read the full interview here: https://lnkd.in/etRGNVtX Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/ebd9utfC ERIS team: Marie Pfeiffer, Cristina García Timermans, Alessandra Rossetti, Mohammad (Mo) Boroun, Philippe Westbroek, Maxime Smits #FoodSystems #EUFunding #WeAreVUB #Sustainability #InnovationEcosystem #STREAMING

🔐 October marks European Cybersecurity Month. A reminder that safeguarding our digital future is a shared responsibility. At Vrije Universiteit Brussel, researchers are playing an important role in shaping Europe’s cybersecurity landscape through EU-funded projects that address critical challenges: 🧑⚕️ CYMEDSEC Horizon Europe – Cluster 1 Enhanced cybersecurity for networked medical devices, with VUB’s Health & Ageing Law Lab (HALL) at the core. 🛡️ cPAID Project Horizon Europe – Cluster 3 Developing a cloud-based, platform-independent defence framework to ensure holistic protection of AI applications together with VUB Cyber and Data Security Lab. 🤖 aSIEMmetry Digital Europe Harnessing AI to detect cyber threats, with the expertise of the Artificial Intelligence Lab Brussels. 🔍 Ganndalf Horizon Europe – Cluster 3 Fighting online disinformation through advanced cybersecurity tools. 💻 CRACY - CRA made Easy Digital Europe lowers barriers for engineering companies to facilitate compliance with the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA), with the help of VUB Software Languages Lab. 🚀 These projects show how VUB researchers, together with European partners, are making our societies more resilient, from healthcare to AI, privacy, and secure software. 👉 To all VUB researchers: if you have an idea with European impact, ERIS at VUB TechTransfer is here to support you in turning it into the next EU-funded success story. Contact us today: https://lnkd.in/eK6REc4C #CyberSecMonth #HorizonEurope #DigitalEurope #ResearchImpact #WeAreVUB