Find your advisor
in three steps
70 committed LIOF colleagues help your company grow with advice, a solid network and financing, to strive for a smarter, more durable and healthy Limburg.
About the program
To stimulate innovation and accelerated development of new technologies for the Einstein Telescope (ET), the ET valorization program is starting.
Regional development company for Limburg LIOF is leading the national effort, also on behalf of the Ministries of EZK and OCW, Nikhef and the Province of Limburg. With three service points at the regional development companies BOM (Brabant), InnovationQuarter (South Holland) and Oost NL (East Netherlands), connections are being sought nationwide with high-tech ecosystems around the technical universities and consortia are being built together with industry and knowledge institutions. The aim of the program is to strengthen the candidacy for the arrival of the Einstein Telescope.
R&D arrangement
One of the first concrete support opportunities from the program is a R&D scheme that will soon be launched for Dutch high-tech companies. For this, €12.085 million is available. The scheme will be open to partnerships (consortia) around five technology domains relevant to the Einstein Telescope. These domains are:
- Vibration-free cooling: development of vibration-free cooling of mirrors to temperature 10 - 20 K.
- Vacuum technology: cost savings of vacuum system and design of production facility and installation scenario.
- Vibration damping: development of optimal combination of passive and active vibration damping.
- Optics: development of large Si mirrors and coating for application at temperature 10 - 20 K.
- Thermal deformations: development of technology to monitor and compensate for thermally induced deformations.
Consortia can include startups and SMEs, large companies and knowledge institutions. By collaborating with these diverse parties, the scheme hopes to promote cooperation between different players in the innovation ecosystem and accelerate the development of breakthrough technologies. This includes looking at applications and uses in other areas and sectors.
Scheme timeline: the 1st opening (call) of the R&D scheme is expected in the fall of 2023. Interested parties are encouraged to keep an eye on the announcements and guidelines for further details. They can also contact a business developer in the following regions:
- South Holland region: Albert van Dorssen
- Brabant region: Karin van Dalen (as of Aug. 21)
- East Netherlands region: contact to be announced soon.
Companies in the regions where there is no business developer (yet) can contact Jorg van der Meij (contact details at the bottom of the page).
In time, other activities will take place from within this program, such as knowledge sessions and networking events and the development of a platform. An advisory board consisting of members from the business community will look at innovation, market opportunities and networking. As soon as more is known we will share this info.
About the Einstein Telescope
The Einstein Telescope will be an advanced underground observatory for gravitational waves. The border region of the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany is an ideal location for this. This is because of its tranquility, stable soil, and strong ecosystem of knowledge institutions and high-tech companies. In 2025 or 2026, the location of this top facility will be announced. Want to stay up to date on everything happening around the Einstein Telescope project? Then sign up for the general newsletter: https://www.einsteintelescope.nl/nieuwsbrief/
About the National Growth Fund
With the National Growth Fund, the government is investing €20 billion between 2021 and 2025 in projects that will ensure long-term economic growth. These are targeted investments in two areas where there are the most opportunities for structural and sustainable economic growth. These are Knowledge Development and Research, Development and Innovation. The underlying idea is that economic growth also generates more income. This allows for continued investment in healthcare, education and the necessary measures to combat climate change. More info on the National Growth Fund and the Einstein Telescope can be found at: https://www.nationaalgroeifonds.nl/projecten-ronde-2/einstein-telescope
LIOF news
Through our newsletter LIOF Nieuws we inform you on actual developments, trends and events. Register here and stay informed!
