NWA-ORC grants for Copernicus Institute and HGSP research

The National Science Agenda programme Research along Routes by Consortia (NWA-ORC) has awarded a grant to the research projects PlatWork-R and WildLifeNL, both involving researchers from the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development which acts as the coordinator for the two projects. A third project involving a researcher from the Copernicus Institute, CURE4LIFE, has also received funding from NWA-ORC. This project is coordinated by Leiden University Medical Centre.

PlatWork-R

Platform workers provide services via online platforms like Uber (taxi), Helping (cleaning) and Deliveroo (food delivery). These platforms provide workers with flexibility, but they lack social and income security. The control these platforms exercise on platform workers is in conflict with the workers’ status as independent contractors, and has led to legal proceedings and even court cases. This project addresses the need for new regulations to govern platform work. In collaboration with Statistics Netherlands, government ministries, and employee and employer organisations, the researchers are developing several evidence-based policy options and implementation guidelines for platform work to uphold public values such as decent work, social security, non-discrimination, privacy and cybersecurity.

Prof Koen Frenken serves as the coordinator on behalf of the consortium. He works in the fields of innovation, economic geography, platform economy and innovation policy, and studies the rise of online platforms in these contexts. Their rise is changing the way we live, work and consume.

Grant award: 1.9 million euros. The other consortium partners are the University of Amsterdam, Maastricht University, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, VU Amsterdam, Statistics Netherlands (CBS), Leiden University, Federation of Dutch Trade Unions (FNV), Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment, Social and Economic Council of the Netherlands (SER), Stibbe N.V., The Federation of Private Employment Agencies (ABU), Forget the Box BV, Helpling Netherlands B.V., City of Amsterdam, Radicand Economics, TNO, Werkspot B.V. and The Netherlands Scientific Council for Government Policy (WRR).

WildlifeNL

Wild animals like boars, European bison and wolves are starting to return to the Netherlands in significant numbers. Unfortunately, their return has led to tension between humans and animals, and requires new wildlife management activities. WildLifeNL is developing new technologies, management formats and communications strategies geared towards influencing the behaviour of wild animals and humans to facilitate their cohabitation. The consortium also works with all of the stakeholders to formulate scenarios for what a nature-inclusive society can look like. Their work includes a ‘serious game’ to try out the scenarios. In the process, WildLifeNL contributes to the search for a nature-inclusive society where people and wild animals can live together over the long term.

Dr. Ine Dorresteijn serves as the coordinator on behalf of the consortium. She is mainly interested in human-environment interactions and sustainability. Her research revolves around subjects at the juncture of society and ecosystems, such as biodiversity and wild animals, ecosystem services, livelihood and human welfare, and the role of governance in designing the dynamics of socio-ecological systems.

Grant award: 5.0 million euro. The other consortium partners are Radboud University Nijmegen, Fontys University of Applied Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, BIJ12, PWN, Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, ARK Nature, Staatsbosbeheer, Dutch Society for Nature Conservation, The Royal Dutch Hunters’ Association (KNJV), Regional Landscape Kempen and Maasland, Smart Parks, Crossbill Guides Foundation and Fantazm.

CURE4LIFE: Development and social impact of stem cell-based genetic medicine

Correcting a genetic defect in a patient’s blood stem cells can offer a life-long cure for several rare genetic diseases. Unfortunately, gene therapies that provide these full cures often don’t reach the patients, but that doesn’t mean the therapies won’t work. The consortium aims to develop a platform infrastructure that can be used for a variety of diseases, instead of always focusing on a single approach that is unique to each disease. They will also address the challenges in the areas of regulations, compensation and public acceptance of these therapies in a knowledge centre for dialogue with society. The researcher participating in the consortium on behalf of the Copernicus Institute is Dr. Jarno Hoekman. His research focuses on the dynamics and management of science in the context of innovation, regulations and social challenges, with special attention to the Life Sciences domain.

Prof Frank Staal from Leiden University Medical Centre serves as the coordinator for this consortium.

Grant award: 5.0 million euro. Consortium partners are Leiden University Medical Center, Erasmus MC, VU Amsterdam, Universiteit Utrecht, Leiden University, Avans University of Applied Sciences, UMC Utrecht, Radboudumc, Radboud University Nijmegen, Batavia Biosciences, ISHEO, Spierziekten Nederland, Prinses Beatrix Spierfonds, Miltenyi, Oscar Nederland, Foundation for Immune Disorders (SAS), VKS, Alexander Foundation, National Health Care Institute and International Patient Organisation for Primary Immunodeficiencies (IPOPI)

Re/Presenting Europe: working towards a diverse and inclusive Europe.

Better knowledge of Europe's many peoples, an image that matches everyday practices and the processing of a colonial past will contribute to the goal of this project: a truly diverse and inclusive continent, Europe. The interdisciplinary consortium "Re/Presenting Europe" will conduct research over the next five years. Participating researcher on behalf of Human Geography and Spatial Planning is Gijs van Campenhout. His research will focus on positive examples of connectedness, such as in popular sports like football.

The consortium is led by cultural historian Rachel Gillett. The allocated amount is 4.9 million euros.

Utrecht University is project leader and will collaborate with a large number of universities: Erasmus University Rotterdam, Radboud University, Leiden University, University of Amsterdam, University of Curaçao, VU Amsterdam; Universities of applied sciences - Hanze University of Applied Sciences en University of Applied Sciences Utrecht; And many social and knowledge organizations - National Centre of Expertise for Cultural Education and Amateur Arts (LKCA), The Mulier Institute, National Museum of World Cultures, the Participatie Federatie, Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision, Cultuur Oost, House of Urban Arts, Sportwereld Foundation, Feyenoord, Erfgoed Brabant, The Keti Koti Table, Future Me, Foundation Amsterdam Hip Hop Academy, Stichting Fundashon Bon Intenshun, the Literary Museum, The Black Archives, Ocan Foundation, Noordstaat, De Rijdende Popschool, Groninger Museum, Nowhere Foundation, ZIMIHC, FunX.

About NWA-ORC

The Research along Routes by Consortia funding instrument facilitates interdisciplinary research and innovation to bring scientific and social breakthroughs within reach. NWO, the most important science funding organisation in the Netherlands, invests almost 1 billion euros per year in curiosity-driven research, research into challenges facing society, and research infrastructure.