ERIS@VUB-TechTransfer

⏰ Today is ‘Fight Procrastination Day’, the day when we can all admit to putting things off. 👊 Except when it comes to EU funding and opportunities for applied research! The ERIS team is an expert in turning ‘I’ll do it later’ into ‘done and dusted’. Whether you're on the verge of missing a deadline or just getting started, ERIS is there every step of the way, ensuring that no EU funding opportunity slips through the cracks. Don’t postpone it! Reach out to the ERIS team today and see what we can do for you! ERIS team: Philippe Westbroek Alessandra Rossetti Mohammad Boroun Marie Pfeiffer Cristina García Timermans Maxime Smits #ProcrastinationDay #ERISteam #EUInnovation 

The European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) (EIC) has released its 2025 Work Programme, boosting funding for deep tech research and high-potential startups with a €1.4 billion budget—nearly €200 million more than 2024! Key highlights include: ⚡ STEP Scale Up Scheme: €300 million in 2025, dedicated to large-scale investments in strategic technologies that support Europe's technological sovereignty. ⚡ Grants & blended finance: Now up to €1.1 million available for early-stage tech projects, from R&D and validation to commercialization and scaling. ⚡ Business Acceleration Services (BAS): Enhanced support for emerging companies, including a new pre-accelerator scheme to empower growth. Learn more here 👉 https://lnkd.in/ekERzeFW These initiatives are set to bridge Europe’s deep tech funding gap, positioning Europe as a global leader in innovation and competitiveness. Let’s shape the future of European innovation! 🌟 ERIS team: Philippe Westbroek, Alessandra Rossetti, Cristina García Timermans, Marie Pfeiffer, Mohammad Boroun, Maxime Smits #Europe #EIC #Funding #Innovation #WeAreVUB

👏 We're honoured to have been part of Anne Sherriff's first official engagement as British Ambassador to Belgium!

🚀 Driving Innovation: EUTOPIA Network Studio Explores the Future of Urban Mobility 🚗💡 We had a fantastic two days at the EUTOPIA Network Studio event hosted by Vrije Universiteit Brussel (ERIS@VUB-TechTransfer / VUB Onderzoek), bringing together senior researchers from Technische Universität Dresden, University of Warwick, and VUB to delve into the future of Urban Mobility. The event featured dynamic pitch sessions, insightful lab visits to VUB’s cutting-edge MOBI Electromobility Research Centre and ALGC Labs, and a dedicated workshop on funding opportunities led by grant officers from the three universities. The discussions were not only research-focused but also sparked valuable networking, setting the stage for future cross-border collaborations.   Thanks to our partners and supporters: Technische Universität Dresden, University of Warwick, UK Research and Innovation, British Embassy Brussels, Innoviris, and VLAIO.   Looking forward to the next edition, where we’ll tackle another impactful theme for research and innovation! ERIS team: Philippe Westbroek, Alessandra Rossetti, Mohammad Boroun, Marie Pfeiffer, Cristina García Timermans, Maxime Smits   #UrbanMobility #ResearchCollaboration #TechTransfer #EUTOPIA #VUB #Innovation #WeAreVUB

👏 We are excited to announce that Professor Jill Surmont, from the Multidisciplinary Institute for Teacher Education (MILO) at Vrije Universiteit Brussel, has been awarded an EU grant to coordinate the PLURIDENTITIES project! PLURIDENTITIES aims to safeguard and promote Europe’s rich linguistic diversity. The project focuses on three main goals: 1. Develop inclusive policies that foster multilingualism and language identities in classrooms. 2. Exploring how multilingual education influences attitudes and perceptions towards different languages. 3. Identify how emerging technologies impact language learning and motivation. 🌍 In today's world, the EU’s linguistic diversity faces growing challenges. English as a global lingua franca often sidelines other languages, heritage languages are sometimes overlooked in schools, and new technologies like ChatGPT are reshaping the way languages are learned. To address these pressing issues, PLURIDENTITIES unites a multidisciplinary team of linguists, teacher educators, and policy experts from across Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Aruba. Together, they bring a wealth of expertise in language acquisition, educational technology, and policies that shape language identities in diverse settings. PLURIDENTITIES will start on November 1st, 2024 and run for 4 years with a total budget of €2.7 million. Curious to learn more? https://lnkd.in/ev8rT9X6 ERIS team: Philippe Westbroek, Alessandra Rossetti, Marie Pfeiffer, Mohammad Boroun, Cristina García Timermans, Maxime Smits #WeAreVUB #EUgrant #HorizonEurope #VUB #Innovation #Multilingualism #Education

"A shared vision for a better future." With these words, Vrije Universiteit Brussel vice-Rector for Innovation & Industry Relations, Peter Schelkens, opened the Network Studio on Urban Mobility. 🌍 🚲 Vrije Universiteit Brussel (ERIS@VUB-TechTransfer/ VUB Onderzoek) was pleased to host the second edition of the EUTOPIA Network Studio at the British Embassy Brussels, in collaboration with our EUTOPIA alliance partners, the Technische Universität Dresden (TUD) and the University of Warwick. This engaging networking event brought together over 20 leading researchers to explore the future of urban mobility through cutting-edge research. This afternoon was filled with pitch sessions on a wide range of topics, from mathematical models for sustainable solutions to smart charging infrastructure, and innovations in electric and heating batteries. Tomorrow, participants will have the chance to visit VUB’s MOBI Electromobility Research Centre Lab and the ALGC Lab, gaining deeper insights into the pioneering work being done in sustainable transport and urban chemistry. The aim of the Network Studio on Urban Mobility? To shape new research directions and encourage European collaborations within the EUTOPIA alliance. The support from research innovation offices, including our own ERIS team at VUB TechTransfer , is essential, with colleagues Mohammad Boroun and Philippe Westbroek sharing insights on practical support and European funding opportunities for Urban Mobility. 🚗 Together, we are working to drive meaningful change. ERIS team: Philippe Westbroek, Alessandra Rossetti, Marie Pfeiffer, Mohammad Boroun, Cristina García Timermans, Maxime Smits #EUTOPIA #UrbanMobility #ResearchCollaboration #VUBTechTransfer #Innovation #WeAreVUB

👌 We can look back on a successful first IMPACT training week!

⏰ Don't miss the European Innovation Council (EIC) Work Programme 2025 online info day on November 5th! On Tuesday, November 6th, you can tune in for a half-day online session dedicated to the EIC Accelerator Challenges under the EIC Work Programme 2025. 

🎉 Congratulations to Professor Vagelis Papakonstantinou of Vrije Universiteit Brussel on securing EU funding for the cPAID consortium! 🔍 The challenge: As AI is omnipresent in our daily lives, from smart cities to autonomous ships and medical devices, it faces increasing cybersecurity threats. 61% of people are cautious in trusting AI systems, thus addressing these vulnerabilities is crucial for widespread adoption and trust in AI systems. 💡 The solution: cPAID (Cloud-based Platform-agnostic Adversarial aI Defence framework) aims to develop a cutting-edge defense system that protects AI applications from malicious actions and attacks. This consortium brings together 17 members from 12 EU countries to ensure AI systems are secure, resilient, and ethically sound from the design phase on. 🌟 VUB's role: As the project's ethics manager, VUB will ensure that all solutions comply with EU regulations, including GDPR and the AI Act. Prof. Vagelis Papakonstantinou and his team from the Cyber and Data Security Lab lab will play a pivotal role in addressing ethical concerns and protecting individuals' privacy and rights. Curious to know more about cPAID? https://lnkd.in/eB-A3CEn ERIS team: Philippe Westbroek, Alessandra Rossetti, Marie Pfeiffer, Mohammad Boroun, Cristina García Timermans, Maxime Smits #AISecurityResearch #EUFunding #VUBInnovation #cPAID #CybersecurityInAI #WeAreVUB 

👏 Another insightful day of the IMPACT training week today! Today was all about Intellectual Property (IP) and academic business development.