Topics
Knowledge partners and companies work together to realise our ambitions. Scientific knowledge provides the basis for the development of a wide range of new applications that are both tangible and practical for industry.
Autonomous systems
Autonomous systems are robots or computer programs that are designed to operate independently of human instructions. They employ a combination of sensors, software and artificial intelligence to interact with their surroundings, identify potential obstacles and perform tasks without direct human intervention. Autonomous systems have applications in many industries, from transportation and construction to healthcare and agriculture. Through the use of artificial intelligence and automation, autonomous systems have the potential to increase productivity, reduce costs and improve safety.
High performance computing
High performance computing provides faster processing speeds and increased efficiency for handling complex tasks. It is used for simulations in science, engineering, weather analysis, financial modelling and other data-intensive applications. Leveraging advanced technologies, HPC gives organisations a head start by increasing the speed of their operations. It is a powerful tool for improving productivity and decision-making.
Chemical recycling
Chemical recycling is an innovative process that allows us to break down plastic waste into its chemical components. This results in a range of valuable raw materials, decreases the amount of waste in landfills and opens up possibilities for new products. Now the technology is becoming more common, this is one of the most sustainable and economically viable options for managing plastic waste.
Conversion technology
Conversion technology provides companies with the tools to streamline their processes and maximise efficiency. In energy conversion, for example, residual heat or heat from a renewable source – such as solar power, biomass or geothermal energy – is converted into a different form of energy, such as electricity, heat at a different temperature level or cold.
Advanced materials
Advanced materials are materials designed to have specific properties for certain applications. Because of these unique properties, they facilitate the development of technologies that are fundamentally different from those that existed previously. Advanced materials often combine complex material architectures that are, for example, either space-saving (nano) or faster or more energy-efficient or combine seemingly incompatible components. Advanced materials encompass a diverse landscape of materials, including electronics materials (semiconductors, multiferroics), energy materials (solar cells, batteries), quantum materials and devices (2D materials, spintronics), bio-inspired and biofunctional materials (new medical adhesives, self-assembling materials), cognitive systems and devices (memristors), and polymers and composite materials (green polymer synthesis, recycling). An appealing example of an advanced material is piezoelectric material that is used in pavements and generates energy when walked on.
Energy management
Making energy more sustainable means a more complex organisation of the generation, storage, transport and use of renewable energy, including the energy markets. Energy management is about technology (e.g. transport and storage of green hydrogen) but also about legal, economic and policy aspects and human behaviour.