Defence organisations are under growing pressure to invest innovation budgets in ways that are timely, strategic, and evidence-based. Yet deciding where those resources should go is far from straightforward. 

Emerging technologies evolve quickly, relevant research is dispersed across institutions, and the wider defence landscape can be difficult to navigate. With current geopolitical developments adding further urgency, gaining clear visibility on relevant technologies, stakeholders, and capabilities is becoming increasingly important.

While ScoutinScience already supports governments and corporate stakeholders in making data-driven innovation decisions, we want to further strengthen our understanding of defence innovation ecosystems in the Netherlands and Belgium. To support this effort, **Claudia Lita** is conducting her thesis on this topic as part of her work with ScoutinScience.

The study looks at how this landscape is organised in practice, how ministries and defence organisations identify relevant external technologies, and where bottlenecks in innovation adoption emerge.
By developing a clearer picture of the relationships, mechanisms, and challenges that shape this environment, the research will help strengthen our understanding of **how defence innovation ecosystems can be better supported** in dealing with issues related to visibility, complexity, and innovation uptake.

We are currently looking to connect with stakeholders active in defence innovation across the Netherlands and Belgium.
If you are open to sharing your perspective through an interview, your contribution would be highly valuable to this research. And if you know someone we should speak to, we would greatly appreciate being connected.


📩 𝐜𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐚@𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞.𝐜𝐨𝐦 

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How can defence organisations make better innovation decisions? ScoutinScience explores defence innovation ecosystems in the Netherlands and Belgium through thesis research on technology visibility and innovation adoption.

Research on Defence Innovation Ecosystems

A new way to separate and understand nanoparticles

A new study published by researchers from **FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, TU Bergakademie Freiberg, and University of Kassel** explores a new way to separate nanoparticles using specially engineered supraparticle powders.

📄 Paper: 𝘚𝘶𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘭𝘦 𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘱𝘩𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘴𝘪𝘻𝘦-𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘤𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘩𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘴

Authors: Umair Sultan | Lukas Hartmann | Céline Kohl | Allison Götz | Anna Krapf | Ralf Ditscherlein | Erik Löwer | Benoit Merle | Urs Alexander Peuker | Erdmann Spiecker | Martin Hartmann | Wolfgang Peukert | Benjamin Apeleo Zubiri | Malte Kaspereit | Nicolas Vogel
## What the research is about
Nanoparticles are incredibly small materials used in areas such as medicine, electronics, and advanced materials. But because they are so tiny, it can be difficult for scientists to separate particles of different sizes and study them properly.
In this study, researchers tested a new type of material called supraparticle powders. These are larger particles built from many smaller nanoparticles that cluster together, creating a structure with tiny pores and channels.
The team used these supraparticles as the material inside a chromatography column, a tool scientists use to separate particles based on their size.
## Why this matters
Accurately separating nanoparticles is essential for research and industrial applications. Many technologies rely on nanoparticles with very precise sizes and properties, but existing separation methods can struggle to distinguish them clearly.
## What they found
Using gold nanoparticles as a test, the researchers showed that supraparticle powders can help separate extremely small particles by size:

- The pore size of the supraparticles strongly influences how nanoparticles move through the column.
- Different nanoparticle sizes exit the column at different times, enabling separation.
- By tuning the structure of the supraparticles, scientists could potentially control how particles are sorted and analyzed.
## What it could mean for the future
This approach could lead to more precise tools for analyzing and sorting nanoparticles. That could benefit research fields ranging from nanomedicine and catalysis to advanced materials and electronics. More reliable separation methods also help scientists better understand how nanoparticles behave, which is key to developing new technologies.
## What's next
The next step is testing whether this method works equally well for other nanomaterials. If successful, this could become a new platform for high-precision nanoparticle characterization.

[Read full study here](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0021979726003188?via%3Dihub)

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Our selected Paper of the Month explores how supraparticle powders can separate nanoparticles by size and improve understanding of particle movement in porous materials.

A new way to separate and understand nanoparticles

Research is great, it creates real knowledge. But knowledge only moves the needle when it lands in front of the people who can do something with it.

Each year, millions of scientific publications introduce new technologies and insights. Yet identifying which company, grant, or strategic partner aligns with a specific research output remains a complex and resource-intensive task.

This is why we built matchmaking prediction into our AI.

Matchmaking prediction allows us to anticipate potential connections between research outputs and relevant external stakeholders, whether companies, grant programmes, or strategic partners. Rather than waiting for collaboration to happen organically, our models analyse technological alignment, market signals, and ecosystem activity to identify where meaningful connections are most likely to emerge.

The result is faster and more accurate matchmaking, increasing the likelihood of collaboration, funding success, and technology uptake.

Because innovation is not only about discovery, but also about connection.


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Our AI-powered matchmaking prediction identifies where research is most likely to align with industry, grant opportunities, and innovation ecosystems. By anticipating these connections early, we enable faster collaboration, improved grant alignment, and increased technology adoption.

Why we built matchmaking prediction into our AI

When we started analyzing academic publications for this year’s 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐮𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭, one conversion gap stood out.

The Netherlands produces ~**40.000** **scientific publications** each year. 
Using prediction models, around **7.800 publications** show meaningful commercial signals, forming part of the upstream pipeline from which patents, products, and deeptech ventures can eventually emerge.

From that pool, roughly 260 patents are filed annually. And yet, this results in only ~**100 new deeptech spin-offs** each year.

What makes this dynamic particularly interesting is that spin-off formation looks strong when viewed over a decade. Creation rates have grown from ~**62** ventures per year to ~**97** annually - a ~**1.6×** increase, with spin-offs now representing ~**9%** of startups.

But year-to-year data tells a more nuanced story, with formation rates moderating in the most recent years after peak output in 2022–2023.
But even with that acceleration, only a limited share of high-potential science ultimately becomes a company. 

Commercialization is also highly concentrated, with most spin-offs emerging from technical universities and health research, where translational infrastructure and venture support are strongest.

And many high-potential discoveries remain at low technology readiness levels, often requiring multiple research breakthroughs, IP consolidation, and founder pathways before venture creation becomes viable.

So the constraint isn’t scientific output. It’s how systematically we identify, mature, and support commercialization opportunities upstream. 

The science base is strong. Improving how we convert discoveries into patents, and patents into ventures, is the next frontier for strengthening the deeptech ecosystem.

Read full report: [State of Dutch Tech Report 2026](https://techleap.nl/reports/state-of-dutch-tech-report-2026)




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We analyzed academic publications for the State of Dutch Tech 2026 report, using prediction models to identify high-potential research and map the conversion gap from scientific discovery to patents and deeptech spin-offs.

Most breakthrough companies are still sitting inside academic papers

Congratulations to **Claudia Lita** on successfully completing her 5-month internship two weeks ago!

Over the past months, Claudia took on an in-depth research project focused on the 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐬𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦. Her work explored how innovation is scouted within universities, how matchmaking with industry is facilitated, and how funding landscapes are structured across Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland. 

She conducted interviews with professionals across the ecosystem, gathering first-hand insights, which allowed her to go beyond desk research and truly understand how collaboration between academia and industry is shaped in the Nordics.
🔗 You can explore the full insights from her research here: [Scandinavian Innnovation Ecosystem](https://dev-website.scoutinscience.com/news/scandinavian-universities-innovation-tech-transfer-ecosystem)

Her work provided ScoutinScience with a valuable overview of the Nordic market, strengthening our understanding of regional innovation dynamics and highlighting opportunities for future collaboration, scouting, and partnership development.

As her supervisor Diana shared:
“𝘊𝘭𝘢𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘧𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮. 𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘺, 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘶𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘴.”

Our CEO also highlighted:
“𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘰𝘯 𝘢 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬𝘭𝘰𝘢𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦, 𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘤 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮. 𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘩𝘰𝘭𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥, 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦, 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘨𝘩 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴, 𝘢𝘭𝘸𝘢𝘺𝘴 𝘱𝘶𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘧 𝘵𝘰 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘦. 𝘈𝘭𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘢 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵 𝘧𝘪𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮”

And while this internship chapter has come to an end, this is far from a goodbye, Claudia will be staying with ScoutinScience to complete her thesis, and we look forward to continuing this journey together.

Thank you 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐚 for your dedication, curiosity, and the positive impact you made during your time with us.

A special thank you to **Diana Botorea** for the continuous guidance and supportive environment that allowed Claudia to learn, grow, and develop her ideas with confidence. Her leadership truly made this internship a meaningful experience. We would also like to thank our CEO **Gilles Meijer**, for fostering a culture where initiative, curiosity, and ownership are encouraged. And a warm thank you to **Marc Pijffers** from **Saxion University of Applied Sciences** for his academic feedback, which strengthened her work and provided valuable insights for her future.

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Congratulations to our intern Claudia Lita on successfully completing her 5-month internship, during which she conducted in-depth research on the Scandinavian innovation ecosystem.

Internship Milestone!


Instead of highlighting one Paper of the Month, January delivered several breakthroughs with strong valorisation potential. Here are three we’re excited about:

📄 “𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐑: 𝐚 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝-𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐠𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧-𝐨𝐧-𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦 𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐬”
This study from University of Twente, TNO and AZAR Innovations presents a plug-and-play system that recreates human organs on microchips. Different organ models can be easily connected and tested together in one standardized setup.
𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬
Better human-like testing models can speed up drug development and reduce animal testing, opening doors for pharma partnerships and scalable organ-on-chip platforms.
Authors: Aniruddha Paul | Eric R. Safai | Laura E. de Heus | Anke R. Vollertsen | Kevin Weijgertse | Bjorn de Wagenaar | Hossein E. Amirabadi | Evita van de Steeg | Mathieu Odijk | Andries D. van der Meer | Joshua Loessberg-Zahl
🔗 [Read the full study](https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2026/lc/d5lc00756a)

📄 “𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐳𝐞-𝐃𝐫𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐮𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐂𝐫𝐲𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐚-𝐦𝐑𝐍𝐀–𝐋𝐍𝐏 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐈𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧”
This study from University of Groningen and Ghent University introduces a new way to turn sensitive medicines into stable powders. By freeze-drying the drug in a protective sugar solution and then grinding it at ultra-low temperatures, researchers can create very fine powder formulations without damaging the drug.
𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬
Many advanced medicines are difficult to store or transport in liquid form. Turning them into stable powders could improve shelf life, simplify distribution, and enable new drug delivery formats, creating opportunities across pharma, biologics, and advanced therapeutics.
Authors: E. M. Jansen | M. J. R. Ruigrok | M. S. Suh | P. M. Ruppel | Xiaole Cui | L. Opsomer | N. N. Sanders | H. W. Frijlink | W. L. J. Hinrichs
🔗  [Read the full study](https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4923/18/1/121)

📄 “𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡-𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐩𝐮𝐭, 𝐡𝐢𝐠𝐡-𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬, 𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐭 90 𝐤𝐞𝐕 𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐭 40 𝐤𝐇𝐳”
This study from Eindhoven University of Technology, McGill University and the MAX BORN INSTITUTE for Nonlinear Optics and Short Pulse Spectroscopy introduces a tool that works like an ultra-high-speed camera for atoms and molecules. It fires extremely short electron pulses to capture how materials and chemical reactions change in real time.
𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬
Understanding atomic motion helps researchers design better materials, chemicals, and electronics, creating opportunities for next-generation imaging systems and semiconductor innovation.
Authors: K. Amini | T.C.H. de Raadt | J.G.H. Franssen | B. Siwick | O.J. Luiten | A. Ryabov
🔗 [Read the full study](https://arxiv.org/abs/2601.02597)




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January delivered multiple high-impact breakthroughs, from modular organ-on-chip systems and stabilised mRNA powders to ultrafast electron imaging. Together, these innovations highlight strong valorisation potential across pharma and advanced materials.

Three new TTOs opportunities from January

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Explore how Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland turn university research into real-world innovation, highlighting key models, bottlenecks, and future opportunities.

Scandinavian Innnovation Ecosystem

## 📈 What can we learn from NWO funding patters in 2025?

Looking across all NWO grants awarded in 2025, the distribution over the year reveals some clear and useful patterns.
Starting with Q4 2025, funding is clearly concentrated at institutional level. A limited number of organisations account for a substantial share of awarded funding in this quarter. **Universiteit Twente** stands out as the largest recipient, followed by institutions such as **Rijksuniversiteit Groningen**, **Technische Universiteit Delft**, and T**echnische Universiteit Eindhoven**. National research organisations, including **Koninklijke Nederlandse Akademie van Wetenschappen** and the **NWO-institutenorganisatie**, also play a prominent role.
This institutional distribution suggests that Q4 funding favours organisations with strong coordination capacity, experience in managing complex projects, and established strategic positioning.

![1.png](/uploads/1_d9cd97713d.png)

Looking more closely at individual projects reinforces this picture. The largest Q4 awards are allocated to projects focused on 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐈, 𝐜𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞. These are not short term or exploratory initiatives, but long horizon investments aligned with national research priorities.

![2.png](/uploads/2_053fa34851.png)

The applicant perspective shows a similar pattern. The top funded applicants in Q4 are primarily affiliated with 𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, with repeated representation of the same institutions. This indicates that funding success is shaped not only by individual proposal quality, but also by institutional context.

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When placing Q4 in the context of the full year, additional dynamics become visible. The highest number of funded projects appears in Q3, with 651 unique grants. However, the largest total awarded amount is concentrated earlier in the year. Q1 alone accounts for over €300 millions, despite funding fewer projects than Q3.

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This points to a shift in grant structure over the year. Early quarters tend to support fewer but larger awards, while later quarters distribute funding across a higher number of smaller projects. By Q4, both the number of projects and the total awarded amount decline, yet the strategic focus remains strong.

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Taken together, this data shows that success in NWO calls is not only about proposal quality. Timing, grant size, institutional positioning, and thematic alignment all play a role.
At ScoutinScience, we use funding data like this to benchmark projects, institutions, and proposal strategies. Not just to look back at what was funded, but to understand when certain types of projects are most competitive and how organisations position themselves within the broader funding landscape.

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What actually drove NWO funding in 2025? This article looks at how grants were distributed across the year and why certain institutions, themes and applicants performed better. Timing, strategy and positioning all played a role.

Grants overview of 2025 - The Netherlands

This month, our Paper of the Month is a new study published in the 𝑱𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒐𝒇 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒅 𝑹𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒆 by researchers at the **University of Groningen** and **Shanghai Jiao Tong University**, with contributions from **Zanjan University of Medical Sciences** and **Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences**. The study explores a smart gel-based therapy designed to speed up wound healing by reducing inflammation and supporting tissue repair.

📄 Paper: 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘣𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘔1 𝘮𝘢𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘢𝘨𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘩𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘪𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘢 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘳 𝘷𝘪𝘢 𝘢𝘯 𝘰𝘹𝘺𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘙𝘖𝘚-𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘩𝘺𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘭

Authors: Yuewen Z. | Jiachen Li | Samin Abbaszadeh | Fatemeh Ghorbani-Bidkorpeh | Gésinda Geertsema-Doornbusch | Idaira Pacheco-Fernández | Raquel Bártolo | Marc Stuart | Wenguo Cui | Hélder A. Santos | Mohammad-Ali Shahbazi

## What the research is about
Chronic wounds, such as diabetic foot ulcers, burns, or slow-healing injuries, can take weeks or months to close. A major challenge is that the body becomes “stuck” in inflammation, making it harder for new tissue to form.

The researchers developed a transparent gel that can be applied directly to wounds. The gel does two things at once:
- calms inflammation, and
- adds gentle warmth to support the healing process.
This combination helps the skin repair itself more efficiently.

## Why this matters
Chronic wounds affect millions of patients worldwide and often lead to serious complications, including infection or amputation. Treatment is costly, slow, and frustrating for patients and doctors alike.
A therapy that can both reduce inflammation and stimulate tissue growth could significantly improve outcomes and lower healthcare burden.

## What they found
The smart gel was able to:
- lower harmful inflammatory responses,
- improve oxygen availability in the wound environment,
- guide tissue formation in a more controlled way, and
- speed up the overall healing process.

In experimental models, wounds treated with the gel closed faster and developed healthier, more organized skin tissue.

## What it could mean for the future
This approach could lead to:
- faster healing for chronic wounds,
- improved post-surgery recovery,
- better treatment for diabetic patients,
- less scarring, and
- new materials for regenerative medicine.

## What's next
So far, this method has been tested in controlled laboratory settings.
The next step is to explore clinical applications and determine how this technology could be translated into real treatments for patients.

🔗 [Read the full study](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S016836592501168X?via%3Dihub)


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A new smart gel helps wounds heal faster by reducing inflammation and supporting tissue repair. By improving oxygen levels and creating a better healing environment, it promotes quicker and healthier skin regeneration.

A new way to help wounds heal faster

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The shift from reactive to predictive valorisation offers universities, TTOs, and research organisations a new approach to scouting high-potential innovation earlier.

From Reactive to Predictive: A New Era for Research Valorisation

**Dublin, 27 November 2025 - GreenShift**, an EU-co-funded initiative for Europe’s transport and mobility sector under the Digital Europe Programme, has formally launched following its 
Consortium meeting in Dublin on 9–10 October, hosted by the **National College of Ireland (NCI)**. The project signals a commitment to further bolster Europe’s advanced digital expertise - particularly in **Artificial Intelligence (AI) and High-Performance Computing (HPC)** - with the aim of equipping the workforce and public sector to meet the strategic goals of the EU’s Path to the Digital Decade by 2030.  

### A European effort to build critical digital capacity

The transition to sustainable, low-carbon mobility demands more than new vehicles: it requires robust computational infrastructure and talent capable of designing, simulating and deploying complex transport and energy-efficient systems. Yet across Europe many SMEs, startups and public authorities still lack the AI and HPC proficiency needed to implement data-driven solutions at scale. 

GreenShift responds to this deficit by mobilising a pan-European network of higher education institutions, supercomputing centres, technology and innovation organisations, and training providers. The project represents a long-standing commitment to harness computational science for sustainable societal impact. 

The Consortium’s mission is to strengthen the EU’s digital skills pipeline by generating experts ready to apply advanced computational methods to climate-relevant transport and mobility challenges. 

This initiative aligns directly with the priorities of the Path to the Digital Decade, which sets clear EU-wide targets for increasing digital skills, expanding adoption of HPC/Cloud and AI in enterprises, and reinforcing digital infrastructure. 

**“Our mission is to convert advanced computation into practical climate action in the transport sector,”** said **Professor Horacio González-Vélez**, Project Coordinator and Head of the Cloud Competency Centre at NCI. “GreenShift is a skills-first initiative that will produce the human capital Europe needs to make data-driven, energy-aware mobility a mainstream capability rather than a niche experiment.” 

GreenShift seeks not only to skill up individuals, but to create a shared digital capacity across institutions, industry and public stakeholders, enabling collaborative development of lowcarbon mobility systems, data-driven urban planning, and HPC-powered simulation for sustainable transport infrastructure

### Institutional strength and broad European collaboration

The Consortium brings together a diverse set of partners: from national supercomputing centres to higher education institutions, innovation hubs and industry organisations. This reflects a panEuropean commitment to bridge the skills gap in computational science, support the digital transformation of businesses, and embed advanced AI and HPC capabilities into the green mobility sector. 

As **Dr Massimiliano Guarrasi (CINECA)** observed, “by developing cutting-edge digital learning tools and industry-recognised certifications, we aim to foster collaboration across sectors and deliver tangible impact in green mobility.”  
**Professor Mauro Castelli (NOVA IMS)** added: “This initiative demonstrates how academic excellence and technological innovation can underpin Europe’s transition toward a climateneutral, resilient and knowledge-based economy.” 

### Policy alignment and strategic relevance

GreenShift exemplifies the kind of multi-stakeholder, cross-border initiative envisioned by the Path to the Digital Decade: large-scale digital cooperation that advances both skills and industrial capacity, while contributing to broader EU goals for sustainable growth, digital sovereignty and regional competitiveness.  
By investing in human capital and computational capacity now, GreenShift helps ensure that Europe will not only meet its 2030 digital targets, but also maintain strategic autonomy in critical technologies, support the twin green-digital transition, and build a resilient knowledge-based economy. 

### Consortium partners

•	National College of Ireland (Ireland) 
•	Universitatea Națională de Știință și Tehnologie POLITEHNICA București (Romania) 
•	Università di Pisa (Italy) 
•	NOVA Information Management School (Portugal) 
•	HLRS Universität Stuttgart (Germany) 
•	CINECA Consorzio Interuniversitario (Italy) 
•	Hrvatski Telekom d.d. / Croatian Telecom Inc. (Croatia) 
•	Digital Technology Skills Limited (Ireland) 
•	Transition Technologies PSC SA (TTPSC) (Poland) 
•	Adecco Italia S.p.A. (Italy) 
•	Fastrack into Information Technology (Ireland) 
•	Matrix Internet Applications Limited (Ireland) 
•	Unicorn Factory Lisboa (Portugal) 

### Associated partners

•	European Business and Innovation Centre Network (Belgium) 
•	SURF (Netherlands) 

Visit the project website:  [www.thegreenshift.eu ](https://www.thegreenshift.eu/)
Media contact: comms@thegreenshift.eu. 



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GreenShift has officially launched to support Europe’s green and digital transition in transport through AI and High-Performance Computing, with the goal of developing a Joint European Master’s Programme to train the next generation of digital and sustainability experts.

GreenShift launches to accelerate European digital skills for green mobility

Our Regional Research Specialisation Report 2025 takes a deep dive into the research landscape across all Dutch provinces, revealing not only what regions are working on, but how these efforts connect to the Nationale Technologiestrategie (NTS).

From emerging tech hubs to regions with strong domain expertise, the report highlights:
- Regional research strengths and leading disciplines
- Growth trends across key technologies
- How closely each province aligns with national innovation priorities
- Where new collaboration and investment opportunities are taking shape

Understanding these patterns helps universities, companies, and policymakers make better strategic decisions, from funding and partnerships to regional development and innovation planning.
If you want to see where momentum is building and where untapped potential lies, this report is for you.

**Interested in collaborating or learning more?** [Contact us](https://scoutinscience.com/contact) or follow us on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/scoutinscience) and [www.scoutinscience.com](http://www.scoutinscience.com/) for updates.

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Explore how innovation is distributed across the Netherlands. Our Regional Research Specialisation Report reveals each region’s research strengths, growth trends, and connection to the Nationale Technologiestrategie, providing valuable insights for organisations shaping the future of Dutch technology.

Research Specialisation by Region  (1).pdf

Regional Research Specialisation Report – The Netherlands 2025

We’re very happy to welcome Ophir as our new Software Engineer!
While completing his Computing Science studies at Radboud University, he worked as a Teaching Assistant and contributed to projects that brought together software, data, and real-world challenges. During this time, he built strong skills in artificial intelligence, data analysis, and creating reliable systems.

He’s passionate about using AI to solve engineering problems, automating processes, and building scalable systems.

Ophir will help ScoutinScience advance the technology that powers our platform for discovering scientific insights and new opportunities for innovation.

𝐅𝐮𝐧 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐭: When Ophir isn’t debugging code, he enjoys playing guitar, music sparks his problem-solving mindset 🎸

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Welcome to our new Software Engineer Ophir!

New talent in the office!

On November 20, we honoured innovation and entrepreneurship at the Twentse Zakenverkiezing final, and it was a fantastic evening! 

The Almelounge had a welcoming, dynamic environment and the entire program had a great flow from start to finish, offering the ideal blend of inspiration, connection, and celebration throughout the evening. We walked away with exciting new opportunities and an even stronger connection to Twente’s entrepreneurial community.

Standing there as a finalist was something we’re proud of, and being part of the event made that recognition even more meaningful. 

Congratulations to all of the winners; it was amazing to see so many outstanding businesses recognised on stage.

Thank you TOM - Twents Ondernemers Magazine for putting together such a smooth and well-curated evening, as well as everyone we spoke with. We appreciate every insight, idea, and word of support.

To our amazing team: you are the reason we’re here. Your passion and dedication make ScoutinScience what it is today. Thank you. 💙

Onwards!


**Interested in collaborating or learning more?** [Contact us](https://scoutinscience.com/contact) or follow us on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/scoutinscience) and [www.scoutinscience.com](http://www.scoutinscience.com/) for updates.

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We are honoured to be a finalist and interact with Twente's thriving business community. The Twentse Zakenverkiezing final was an incredible evening!

Thank You, Twente! A Night to Remember at TOM’s Business Event

ScoutinScience is proud to announce that we have been selected as one of the three finalists for the **Digital SME Summit Award** in the **Society** category. This nomination highlights our ongoing commitment to transforming academic research into real-world solutions that create meaningful societal value.

The Digital SME Summit is recognized as one of Europe’s leading gatherings for tech-driven small and medium-sized enterprises. Each year, the event brings together innovators, policymakers, and industry leaders to exchange ideas, explore strategic partnerships, and discuss the future of digital transformation across the continent.

This year’s Summit will take place on **4 December** in **Brussels**, featuring a dynamic program of panels, expert discussions, and networking sessions, culminating in an awards ceremony that celebrates impactful and forward-thinking digital initiatives. 

Being named a finalist is an important acknowledgment of our team’s dedication, vision, and drive to bridge the gap between research and societal impact. It reinforces our mission to ensure that groundbreaking academic discoveries do not remain on the shelf, but instead reach the people and communities who can benefit from them most.

We look forward to joining fellow innovators in Brussels!

Find out more and [register here!](https://www.digitalsme.eu/events/digital-sme-summit-2025/)

**Interested in collaborating or learning more?** [Contact us](https://scoutinscience.com/contact) or follow us on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/scoutinscience) and [www.scoutinscience.com](http://www.scoutinscience.com/) for updates.

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ScoutinScience has been selected as a finalist for the Digital SME Summit Award in the Society category, a recognition that highlights our team’s commitment to transforming research into solutions that benefit people and communities.

We Are Among the Finalists for the Digital SME Summit Award 2026!

**NanoLabNL** is the national infrastructure for nanotechnology research in the Netherlands. It supports scientists working at the smallest scales, enabling breakthroughs in electronics, materials science, energy, and healthcare. By providing access to advanced labs, specialized equipment, and expert technical support, NanoLabNL plays a vital role in turning scientific ideas into real-world innovations.

Its facilities are spread across multiple locations in the country, forming a collaborative network that serves both academic and industrial research. 

To bring more visibility to the scientific impact of Dutch nanotechnology infrastructure, we’ve partnered with NanoLabNL on a joint project. 
The goal is to build a **centralized and comprehensive overview of all scientific publications that have used NanoLabNL facilities since 2019.**

  The current scope includes five NanoLabNL locations:
- **Enschede** (MESA+)
- **Delft** (Kavli Institute, Else Kooi Lab, TNO)
- **Eindhoven** (Eindhoven University of Technology)
- **Groningen** (Zernike Institute)
- **Amsterdam** (AMOLF)

### Why this matters
NanoLabNL’s infrastructure often goes unrecognized in scientific publications. Without consistent acknowledgments or centralized tracking, it’s difficult to measure the full extent of its contribution to Dutch research and innovation.
This project aims to change that by:
- Making NanoLabNL’s role in research more visible
- Strengthening accountability and recognition
- Supporting impact reporting for funders and policymakers
- Creating a foundation for future monitoring and compliance

The work involves identifying relevant publications, linking them to the correct lab and research group, and verifying acknowledgments. Each site contributes researcher lists and local insights, while the project team builds a unified national overview.
It’s a detailed process, but one that reflects a broader goal: ensuring that shared infrastructure 
Once completed, the dataset will offer a reliable snapshot of nanolab-supported research since 2019 and provide a model for ongoing updates. Clear documentation will make it easier to track future publications and maintain transparency.

**Interested in collaborating or learning more?** [Contact us](https://scoutinscience.com/contact) or follow us on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/scoutinscience) and [www.scoutinscience.com](http://www.scoutinscience.com/) for updates.


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Partnering with NanoLabNL to uncover its hidden impact by mapping research publications and strengthening recognition in Dutch nanotechnology.

Revealing the Hidden Impact of NanoLabNL

We’re excited to share that **ScoutinScience** has been nominated as a finalist for **Twente Start-up of the Year 2025**.

This nomination is part of the **Twentse Zakenverkiezing**, an annual initiative by **TOM | Twents Ondernemers Magazine** that celebrates entrepreneurship, innovation, and business excellence in the region. It highlights companies that are making a meaningful impact, whether through technology, sustainability, or social value.

It’s a special moment for us, a recognition of the work we’ve been doing to help research reach society faster through our AI and impact-driven metrics.

For our team, this nomination is a reminder that the challenge we’re tackling really matters.
Over the past few years, we’ve worked closely with universities, researchers, and companies that all share the same goal: turning knowledge into real-world impact. Seeing that effort acknowledged means a lot.
Whether we win or not, we’re already celebrating. This nomination is a tribute to our team, our partners, investors,  and everyone who’s believed in our mission.

We’ll be joining the other finalists on **November 20th** at **TOM’s Business Event** in the **Almelounge of Erve Asito**, and we’re looking forward to celebrating the innovative spirit in Twente.

Want to be there with us?
[Tickets available here](https://bit.ly/4hPVxwk) 

**Interested in collaborating or learning more?** [Contact us](https://scoutinscience.com/contact) or follow us on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/scoutinscience) and [www.scoutinscience.com](http://www.scoutinscience.com/) for updates.

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ScoutinScience is a finalist for Twente Start-up of the Year 2025, recognized for driving research impact through AI and Big Data.

ScoutinScience Named Finalist for Twente Start-up of the Year 2025

### ScoutinScience Raises Nearly €1 Million to Accelerate Research Impact Across Europe

We’re excited to share that ScoutinScience has raised close to **€1 million** in growth funding. This milestone marks a new chapter in our mission to turn research into real-world results.

The new investment will fuel our expansion across European universities and knowledge institutions, and accelerate the development of our societal impact metrics, helping us offer even more strategic, data-driven support to our clients.

This round includes follow-on support from **819 Capital**, our initial investor, alongside several new angel investors with deep expertise in **AI, academic research, and corporate R&D**.

> _“This round reflects the increasing demand from universities and public research institutions to unlock the value of their scientific output in a strategic, data-driven way,”_ said Gilles Meijer, CEO of ScoutinScience. _“We’re excited to scale our reach and deepen the insights we provide around real-world impact.”_
> 

Since 2020, we’ve supported **TTOs, universities, governments, and corporations** through AI-powered scouting, ecosystem insights, and innovation strategy. Our work has been twice recognized by the **European Commission as a best practice in research valorisation**.
 
With clients in **Germany, Austria, Ireland, and the Netherlands**, and partnerships in over 10 countries, we’re proud to be shaping the future of innovation in Europe.

This funding will support:

- Growth into new European markets
- Expansion of our proprietary metrics (Business Potential Score, SRL, SDG alignment)
- Broader services in scouting, matchmaking, and strategic reporting

A big thank you to our investors, clients, teams, co-founders and partners who believe in our mission to **double global technology transfer by 2050**.

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**Interested in collaborating or learning more?** [Contact us](https://scoutinscience.com/contact) or follow us on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/scoutinscience) and [www.scoutinscience.com](http://www.scoutinscience.com/) for updates.

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ScoutinScience has raised €1M in growth funding to scale its services and further develop societal impact metrics. The investment supports our mission to turn high-potential research into real-world innovation and boost global tech transfer.

ScoutinScience Raises Nearly €1 Million to Accelerate Research Impact Across Europe

### Introduction

In this article, we are proud to share the story behind our collaborarion with Techleap, which is a non-profit organisation, funded by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, with a mission to quantify and accelerate the tech ecosystem of the Netherlands. Formerly known as StartupDelta, Techleap has evolved into a data-driven, founder-centric initiative that bridges the gap between entrepreneurs, investors, corporates, and policymakers. By gathering and analysing ecosystem data, Techleap provides strategic insights that help identify growth barriers and opportunities for tech companies. This information is used not only to guide its programming but also to inform national policy aimed at enhancing the Dutch innovation climate. Through carefully designed scale-up programmes and partnerships, Techleap fosters an environment where ambitious companies can flourish, reducing obstacles such as access to capital, talent, and international markets. Its overarching mission is to create the optimal conditions under which the Netherlands can become one of the leading tech nations in the world. 

### The mission behind the project

The mission of the project between ScoutinScience and Techleap was to build a national, data-driven framework for identifying and unlocking the innovation potential within the Dutch academic research ecosystem. The project aimed to integrate and structure diverse data streams, ranging from scientific publications, patents, and subsidy records to academic spin-offs, into a unified system capable of generating actionable insights.

The ultimate purpose was twofold: first, to help policymakers and ecosystem builders like Techleap understand which institutions and research areas are producing the most commercially and societally impactful outputs; and second, to connect this knowledge with Techleap’s startup and founder data in order to strengthen tech transfer and entrepreneurial outcomes across the Netherlands. By doing so, the project not only provided a clear view of current innovation activity but also revealed untapped potential, especially within patent portfolios, that could be leveraged to accelerate the growth of the Dutch tech ecosystem in a smart, efficient, and scalable way.

### ScoutinScience’s contribution

ScoutinScience played a foundational role in delivering the analytical and technological backbone of this project. Leveraging its expertise in AI and big data, the team systematically collected publication and patent data from nearly all Dutch research institutions. These data sources included OpenAlex, the European Patent Database, and national and EU subsidy and spin-off registries. Once gathered, the data underwent intensive cleaning, de-duplication, and integration to form a unified database.

Our existing AI models, such as domain prediction and business potential scoring, were applied across the dataset, while new models were developed specifically for this project. These included classifiers aligned to Techleap’s proprietary taxonomy, a TRL (Technology Readiness Level, for more explanation, check: https://bit.ly/3Tj41R4 ) predictor, and a technology classifier to categorise and benchmark research content. We also added regional benchmarking capabilities and performed comparative analysis of institutional innovation output, distinguishing between general universities, technical institutions, and medical centers.

### What has been achieved

The collaboration resulted in a set of impactful, data-driven outcomes that significantly advanced the understanding of innovation potential within Dutch research institutions. The project established a scalable and repeatable model for innovation monitoring that integrates both scientific publications and patent activity.

Over the course of two years and two major analytical efforts, data from 22 Dutch research institutions, ranging from medical centers to technical universities, was assessed. This included the review of approximately 30.000 to 40.000 tech-related research publications per year and a deep dive into 5.500 unique patent families spanning two decades. The project enabled a cross-institutional comparison of technology readiness and business potential, shedding light on key differences in output type and commercialisation opportunity.

Crucially, these insights were featured in the *State of Dutch Tech 2024* report, contributing to the national narrative on research valorisation and innovation strategy. To maximise the utility of the findings, ScoutinScience also developed custom classifiers aligned with Techleap’s taxonomy, ensuring coherent integration into their frameworks. The project ultimately empowered more informed, data-backed decision-making in Dutch tech policy and ecosystem development.

### Why this project matters

What makes this project truly significant is its groundbreaking, integrative approach to research evaluation and innovation strategy. Far beyond a simple data collection or reporting task, it represented a strategic shift in how academic research can be translated into actionable insights for the public sector. For the first time, ScoutinScience collaborated with a governmental body, laying the foundation for a repeatable and scalable model of national innovation foresight.

This collaboration didn't just surface numbers; it created context. By connecting research outputs, technology trends, and commercialisation potential, the project gave the public sector a level of insight it had never had before. It allowed Techleap to see how research directly fuels the startup ecosystem, offering them a holistic, evidence-based view of where and how to intervene to accelerate innovation. For ScoutinScience, it validated the effectiveness of their platform in building a national infrastructure for tracking and forecasting innovation. Ultimately, this project became a key milestone toward a more integrated, strategic, and foresight-driven approach to technology transfer and research valorisation in the Netherlands.
 
### What’s next?
The project was only the beginning. A solid groundwork has been established to enable stronger collaboration, enhanced use of data, and more forward-thinking approaches to tech transfer. Emerging partnerships are taking shape, and fresh research directions are being investigated.

If your university, TTO, or region is looking to unlock the hidden potential in your research output, we’re ready to help!

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**Interested in collaborating or learning more?** [Contact us](https://scoutinscience.com/contact) or follow us on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/scoutinscience) and [www.scoutinscience.com](http://www.scoutinscience.com/) for updates.

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In this project, data from various sources, like scientific publications and patents, was used to uncover innovation potential within Dutch academic research. By combining ScoutinScience's AI with Techleap’s ecosystem expertise, it aims to remove barriers, accelerating the Dutch tech industry's growth.

Mapping Research & Tech Transfer Potential Across the Netherlands

### Mapping Innovation Potential Across the Northern Region
In an era where innovation ecosystems are more vital than ever, unlocking the valorisation potential of academic research isn’t a new priority - it’s a long-standing necessity. For as long as knowledge has advanced, its true impact has depended on our ability to translate it into real-world solutions. That’s why ScoutinScience is proud to collaborate with **Founded**, a regional leader in entrepreneurship and innovation, on a strategic project aimed at transforming the research landscape of the Northern Netherlands.
Titled _“Mapping Innovation Potential Across the Northern Region,”_ this long-term project is designed to identify, monitor, and ultimately activate technology transfer opportunities from four of the region’s most influential research institutions: **Rijksuniversiteit Groningen (RUG), UMCG, Wetsus, and ASTRON**. The project began in August 2024 and remains ongoing, with ScoutinScience providing key data, insights, and strategic intelligence to power the work.

### Background information
#### About Founded
Founded is a non-profit initiative based in Groningen, committed to supporting entrepreneurship and startup growth throughout the Northern Netherlands. With a focus on the provinces of Groningen, Friesland, and Drenthe, Founded works to create a vibrant innovation ecosystem by connecting researchers, founders, investors, and public partners. Its mission is to turn ambition into action, offering startup readiness programs, access to funding, networking opportunities, and a platform for scaling ventures with global relevance.
Founded acts as a unifying force in a region that is rich in research and potential but historically fragmented in its innovation efforts. By leading this project, Founded is not only strengthening local tech transfer, it is establishing the North of the Netherlands as a credible player in the national and European innovation landscape.

##### The Institutions Behind the Research
The project brings together four institutions whose contributions to science, technology, and innovation are both nationally and internationally recognized.

##### Rijksuniversiteit Groningen (RUG)
The University of Groningen is a cornerstone of academic excellence in the Netherlands and one of the oldest universities in Europe, founded in 1614. RUG is internationally recognized for the breadth and quality of its research and teaching, ranking consistently among the top 100 universities worldwide. With over 30.000 students and a strong international orientation, RUG covers a wide range of fields: from natural sciences and engineering to law, economics, and the humanities.
The university plays a key role in driving regional innovation. Its Faculty of Science and Engineering, for example, leads in materials science, artificial intelligence, and nanotechnology, while the Faculty of Medical Sciences contributes critical advances in health and life sciences. Through its innovation hubs, entrepreneurship programs, and partnerships with industry, RUG is a central player in bridging academic research with economic and societal value.
RUG is also part of the **University of the North**, a regional alliance that promotes knowledge transfer and regional development, making it a vital actor in any discussion of innovation in the North.

##### UMCG - University Medical Center Groningen
UMCG is one of the most prominent academic hospitals in the Netherlands and a European leader in biomedical innovation. As both a care provider and a research institute, UMCG focuses its work around the central theme of “**Healthy Ageing**,” aiming to extend the quality and length of life through innovation in diagnostics, treatment, and prevention.
UMCG combines top-level medical care with groundbreaking research in areas like genetics, regenerative medicine, oncology, and public health. Its large-scale biobank infrastructure and translational research capacity make it an attractive partner for biotech companies and medical device innovators. With over 12.000 employees and deep integration into the university ecosystem, UMCG has the critical mass to take discoveries from the lab bench to the bedside and eventually to the market.
In the context of this project, UMCG’s contribution is especially valuable due to its dual role in research and care delivery, allowing it to rapidly test and validate new technologies in clinical settings.

##### Wetsus - European Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Water Technology
Wetsus is a leading research institute dedicated to water technology innovation. Based in Leeuwarden, Wetsus has established itself as a key player in Europe’s clean tech sector, known for its interdisciplinary and industry-driven approach. What makes Wetsus unique is its ability to connect fundamental academic research with practical, scalable solutions for water treatment, reuse, and resource recovery.
The institute operates through a network of over 100 industrial and academic partners. Its research areas include membrane technology, microbiological water purification, phosphate recovery, energy-efficient desalination, and the circular use of industrial wastewater. Many of its projects contribute directly to pressing global challenges such as climate change, urban water stress, and sustainable agriculture.
Wetsus has proven to be a fertile ground for spin-offs and patents, making it a key asset in the innovation landscape of the Northern Netherlands. Its practical orientation and strong connection to market demands align well with the goals of this project.

##### ASTRON - Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy
ASTRON is the national research institute for radio astronomy in the Netherlands and part of the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO). Located in Dwingeloo, ASTRON is home to world-class facilities such as the **LOFAR (Low-Frequency Array)** radio telescope and plays a major role in the development of the **Square Kilometre Array (SKA)** - the largest radio telescope project ever attempted.
While its core mission is fundamental astronomy, ASTRON is also a source of innovation in areas like **signal processing, high-performance computing, AI, and sensor technology.** The hardware and software tools developed for astrophysics often have applications far beyond science, including defense, space tech, telecommunications, and big data analytics.
ASTRON’s participation in this project underscores the importance of recognizing and supporting **deep-tech valorisation**, where high-end science meets complex technical challenges with global relevance.

#### Defining the Mission
This project isn’t just about counting research, it was is uncovering its potential.. From its outset, the mission has been clear: understand the innovation potential of the North, benchmark it with peer regions, and implement data-driven actions to increase technology transfer.
In its first phase, the project delivered a baseline report covering the full 2023-2024 academic year. This provided a detailed assessment of research activity and revealed untapped areas where valorization could be enhanced. As a result of this work, stakeholders gained a shared understanding of their current position and the next steps needed to close the gap between research excellence and commercial or societal impact.
Following the baseline phase, the project entered a monthly monitoring cycle. This ongoing analysis enables early identification of promising developments and supports agile decision-making in areas like investment, partnership development, and institutional strategy.
#### What Is Category A Research?
As part of our analysis, ScoutinScience classifies research publications into four categories based on their** Business Potential Score (BPS)** - a proprietary metric ranging from 0 to 100. This score estimates the likelihood that a piece of research can lead to successful technology transfer or commercial application.
**Category A (BPS 90–100)** papers are considered to have high business potential. These are strong candidates for patenting, licensing, or spin-off creation.
For this project, in the 2023–2024 dataset, we identified more than **750 Category A** papers, each a high-potential foundation for new innovation. This classification enabled stakeholders to focus their energy and resources on the most promising research opportunities.
#### ScoutinScience’s Contribution
Throughout the project, we have provided the core analytics infrastructure needed to bring clarity and structure to the region’s research data. Our contributions included:
- **Using our dashboard** to track and visualize output from all four institutions
- Collecting and analyzing over **12.000 publications,** classifying them by field, institution, and BPS category
- Mapping **22 unique patent families** filed in 2024 alone
- Integrating data on **NWO grants**, known spin-offs, and institutional funding streams
- Benchmarking results against peer institutions to identify strategic gaps and strengths
By combining academic research data with commercial relevance analysis, we were able to help the region move from “outputs” to “opportunities.”
### What Has Been Achieved
The initial results of the project have been strong. The comprehensive data collected has not only illuminated the current state of regional research, but has also provided a roadmap for future investment in innovation capacity.
The stakeholders, academic leaders, policy makers, and regional development agencies now have access to dynamic, real-time data that informs decisions and sparks collaboration. Importantly, this project has fostered a shift toward a **shared regional innovation strategy**, one where institutions coordinate rather than compete, and where impact is measured not just by papers, but by real-world outcomes.
### Why This Project Is Different
This initiative stands out for its **region-wide coordination.** It is a powerful demonstration of what is possible when four major research institutions align their valorization strategies so closely. That level of trust, alignment, and ambition is what makes this project unique.
Founded’s leadership in convening this consortium has been instrumental. Rather than treating innovation as the responsibility of a single university or TTO, this project reflects a** regional mindset**, focused on long-term growth, shared infrastructure, and collective impact.
### What’s Next?
The project is far from over. The foundation has been laid for deeper collaboration, expanded data capabilities, and more proactive tech transfer strategies. New partnerships are forming, and new questions are being explored.
The momentum is real, and **exciting developments are on the horizon.**
Stay tuned - there’s more to come! 
### Join the Innovation Movement 
At ScoutinScience, we believe that the future of innovation lies in smart, strategic partnerships, powered by data and built on trust. This project with Founded and the Northern Netherlands’ leading institutions is proof of what’s possible.
If your university, TTO, or region is looking to unlock the hidden potential in your research output, we’re ready to help!

---

**Interested in collaborating or learning more?** [Contact us](https://scoutinscience.com/contact) or follow us on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/scoutinscience) and [www.scoutinscience.com](http://www.scoutinscience.com/) for updates.

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ScoutinScience and Founded partnered to analyze 12.000+ research outputs from RUG, UMCG, Wetsus, and ASTRON, using Business Potential Score insights to identify innovations with strong societal impact and commercialization potential.

Mapping Innovation Potential Across the Northern Region

### Introduction

In the face of climate change, global urbanization, and the pressing need for sustainable innovation, the GreenShift project emerges as a strategic response to Europe’s green and digital transition. Launched under the EU's DIGITAL Europe Programme, GreenShift aims to reshape the landscape of transport innovation through advanced education in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and High-Performance Computing (HPC). ScoutinScience is proud to be a key partner in this transformative project.

This blog post explores the goals of the GreenShift project, its innovative educational approach, and ScoutinScience’s role in unlocking the potential of research and equipping future professionals with the tools they need to lead the green mobility revolution.

### What is the GreenShift Project?

GreenShift is an ambitious initiative designed to create a Joint European Master’s Programme in AI and HPC with a unique focus on green and digital transitions in the transport sector. Coordinated by the National College of Ireland (NCI), the project brings together 18 partners from 9 European countries, including top universities, research institutions, industry leaders, and policy experts.

The overarching goal of GreenShift is to develop a highly skilled workforce capable of addressing the digital and environmental challenges of modern transport. The project aims to train more than 1.500 professionals, including students, SMEs, and public sector staff, through formal degree programmes and flexible short-term training courses.

### Why AI and HPC for Green Transport?

The transport sector is responsible for a significant portion of greenhouse gas emissions in the EU. Digital technologies such as AI and HPC hold immense potential for transforming how we plan, design, and manage transport systems. From optimizing logistics and traffic flows to enabling autonomous and electric vehicles, AI and HPC can unlock efficiencies and innovations that are crucial for achieving climate targets.

However, a major gap exists in the availability of talent with combined expertise in AI, HPC, and transport applications. GreenShift addresses this gap by creating a collaborative educational ecosystem that connects academic knowledge with real-world industry challenges.

### A Multi-Faceted Educational Model

**GreenShift will deliver:**

- A Joint European Master’s Degree in AI and HPC for the transport sector
- Online and hybrid short courses for SMEs and professionals
- Training modules tailored for public sector institutions
- Industry placements and mobility opportunities for students
- Innovation projects that bring together learners, researchers, and businesses

The curriculum will be co-designed with industry partners to ensure relevance, adaptability, and impact. It will incorporate use cases from different transport sub-sectors such as urban mobility, freight logistics, maritime transport, and smart infrastructure.

### ScoutinScience’s Role in GreenShift

At ScoutinScience, we specialize in using AI and data analytics to unlock the value of academic research and accelerate tech transfer. In GreenShift, we bring this expertise to the forefront by supporting both the design and implementation of educational programmes that align with Europe’s green and digital ambitions.

Our team contributes to identifying digital skill gaps across the transport sector, ensuring the curriculum responds to real industry needs. By analyzing emerging trends and talent shortages, we help shape educational content that’s not only forward-looking but also grounded in data-driven insights.

We take an active role in driving innovation-focused learning experiences. This includes coordinating hands-on activities like hackathons and industry challenges that connect students with real-world mobility problems. These practical experiences are designed to strengthen the bridge between academia and market application, a core focus of our mission.

Throughout the rollout of the programme, we support recruitment, help guide online learning content, and contribute to mentoring initiatives. Our involvement ensures that participants benefit from both technical education and exposure to real-world innovation practices.

In addition, we collaborate on promotional efforts to help raise awareness of the programme across Europe. We are also responsible for leading the development of long-term sustainability strategies, including market research and ecosystem-building, to ensure that GreenShift delivers lasting impact beyond its funded timeline.

### Building a Collaborative Ecosystem

GreenShift is a European collaboration that brings together universities, research institutes, industry partners, and innovation experts committed to advancing sustainable and digital innovation in transport:

- **Universities and Research Institutes**: National College of Ireland, University of Pisa, NOVA IMS, Polytechnic University of Bucharest, Eindhoven University of Technology, Stuttgart University, and CINECA.
- **Industry and Training Partners**: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Adecco, FIT (Ireland), DTSL, HT Group, TTPSC, and Matrix Internet.
- **Innovation and Policy Experts**: EBN, SURF, and Schuman Associates.

Together, these organizations cover the full spectrum of expertise required for designing, delivering, and sustaining an impactful educational initiative.

### Long-Term Impact and Vision

GreenShift will:

- Support the EU’s Green Deal and Digital Strategy goals
- Reduce skill mismatches in the transport and mobility sectors
- Accelerate the adoption of AI and HPC technologies
- Promote cross-border collaboration and knowledge transfer
- Strengthen the competitiveness of European SMEs and startups

By investing in education and innovation, GreenShift aims to create ripple effects across multiple sectors, enhancing Europe’s resilience, sustainability, and technological sovereignty.

## Conclusion

The GreenShift project represents a bold and necessary step towards a greener and smarter Europe. By integrating cutting-edge digital education with real-world transport challenges, the project is laying the foundation for systemic change.

ScoutinScience is proud to be part of this initiative, contributing our expertise in data-driven research, innovation-driven learning, and long-term sustainability planning. Through our involvement, we aim to help build a lasting educational ecosystem that connects academic excellence with real-world impact.
 
As GreenShift progresses, we look forward to supporting its vision and seeing the ripple effects it creates across research, industry, and society.

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**Interested in collaborating or learning more?** [Contact us](https://scoutinscience.com/contact) or follow us on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/scoutinscience) and [www.scoutinscience.com](http://www.scoutinscience.com/) for updates.

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GreenShift is an EU-backed initiative creating a Joint European Master’s in AI & HPC to train future transport innovators. With 18 partners across 9 countries, it connects education, industry, and sustainability for Europe’s green and digital transition.

GreenShift: Empowering Europe’s Green Digital Transition in Transport

### Introduction
In the world of technology, defining the scope of research and development is crucial for aligning stakeholders, securing investments, and fostering innovation. However, achieving a shared understanding of terms such as " optical systems " or "innovation" can be surprisingly complex. At ScoutinScience, we frequently encounter this challenge when working on projects with governmental institutions & national growth programs, where clarity is essential for policy decisions, funding allocations, and analysis. 

This article presents a practical framework for defining technological topics in a way that meets diverse needs: from public-private partnerships to government agencies. Rather than providing static definitions, our goal is to spark discussion and offer a flexible methodology for approaching these definitions based on project and organizational needs. 
 
### The Importance of Common Definitions
When interpreting technological advancements, using a common language is essential. Imagine a scenario where a group of experts discusses "optical systems" Are they all envisioning the same scope? Perhaps some think of fiber optics, others of integrated photonics, and still others of laser systems. Misaligned definitions lead to confusion, delays, and inefficiencies- particularly in large-scale projects involving multiple stakeholders.
 
### National Approach
When working with governmental institutions, aligning with national strategies is often a critical step. For example, the Dutch National Strategy outlines how definitions of technological domains like Optical Systems influence broader discussions around national innovation priorities. These strategies provide a blueprint for defining and categorizing technologies, emphasizing the importance of standardization across organizations. 
 
A notable example is the "Optical Systems and Integrated Photonics" domain. The Netherlands has prioritized this domain within its National Technology Strategy due to its critical role in the country’s innovation agenda. By defining it as a key area, the Netherlands aims to leverage its strong position in photonics research and industrial capacity. This clarity facilitates targeted investments, partnerships, and policy-making, aligning the efforts of academia, industry, and government to address societal challenges and maintain technological leadership. 
 
![Screenshot 2025-01-21 at 11.07.56.png](/uploads/Screenshot_2025_01_21_at_11_07_56_e10ce8e696.png) 
Source: [Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, 2024](https://www.kia-st.nl/_asset/_public/__site_4/257-034_Nationale_Technologie_Strategie-EN_met_agenda.pdf) 

However, regional approaches are not uniform. For instance, strategies in other countries may prioritize different aspects of the same technology, such as emphasizing energy efficiency or cost-effectiveness. This variability highlights the need to adapt definitions to specific regional or national priorities while maintaining a core framework that allows for broader applicability. 
 
### ASJC Approach - Journal Classification
Not all projects are bound to clear government definitions, and for such cases, alternative approaches can be effective. The All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) system is one such method. Widely used in Scopus, ASJC classifies journals and conference proceedings under four broad subject areas—life sciences, physical sciences, health sciences, and social sciences and humanities—further divided into minor fields. 
 
This approach provides a granular view of research domains, enabling stakeholders to: 

- Identify emerging trends in specific fields. 
- Evaluate the relevance and impact of research outputs. 
- Align academic and industrial priorities. 

For instance, in projects related to Optical Systems and Integrated Photonics, leveraging ASJC classifications can help redefine and isolate niche areas of focus, such as plasmonic nanoparticles, laser-plasma interactions, or attosecond physics. These classifications provide a structured way to connect academic insights with applied technologies, demonstrating how the same concepts can be approached differently depending on the framework. This allows stakeholders to craft targeted strategies within specialized fields, even in the absence of formal governmental definitions.

![Technology Topics.png](/uploads/image_2_329686e15c.png)
_Figure 1 Framework Example for Technological Alignment_

At ScoutinScience, we consider ASJC data particularly relevant because it is a journal classification system widely used in publications, which aligns with our focus on working with research outputs and academic publications. 

### The TRL Impact
Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) offer a structured way to evaluate the maturity of a technology. Here’s a breakdown: 
- TRL 1: Basic principles observed and reported. This stage represents foundational research. 
- TRL 2-5: Early-stage development, where technologies transition from theoretical to experimental. These stages are critical for identifying potential applications and valorization opportunities. 
- TRL 6-9: Technologies nearing commercialization, focusing on refinement, scalability, and market readiness. 

TRLs between 2 and 5 are especially significant for innovation projects. These stages often involve collaboration between academia and industry to bridge gaps in technical knowledge and practical implementation. 
 ![TRL lEVELS.webp](/uploads/TRL_l_EVELS_8b34414db3.webp)
[Source: Wind Harvest, 2021](https://windharvest.com/blog/faq-items/what-are-technology-readiness-levels-and-where-is-wind-harvest-in-the-process/)

### Framework for Defining Technological Relevance
Based on our project and talking with diverse industry experts, here are the key factors to consider when defining a technology’s scope and relevance: 
**Purpose-Driven Definitions**
- Industrial Motivation: If the primary goal is commercialization, definitions must focus on market applicability and readiness levels. 
- Academic Motivation: When pursuing pure innovation, definitions can afford to remain fluid, focusing on potential rather than immediate application. 

#### Application vs. Innovation
- **Application**: Technology X is used to develop or enhance Technology Y. For example, advanced imaging algorithms applied in medical devices. 
- **Innovation**: A breakthrough that fundamentally changes how Technology Y operates or creates a completely new technology. 
- It could be significant to investigate the way some technology is advanced. Whether that is by applying it to something new (a new environment/context) or purely innovating its capabilities. There is a fine line between the two, where it is not clear where exactly application to a different environment does not itself consist of innovation in the field. For instance, when there is more work required to apply some technology X to a different context (using MRI to scan different body-parts vs using principles of MRI to develop fMRI), that would be considered an innovation in and of itself. Therefore, something that could be useful as an additional metric would be technological complexity, implying the amount of work necessary and/or the number of additional technologies needed to procure such advancements. 

#### Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) vs. Societal Readiness Levels (SRL)
- TRL focuses on technical maturity, while SRL assesses societal impact. 
- For instance, a TRL 4 technology might have a low SRL if its societal benefits are unclear or untested. Combining these perspectives ensures a comprehensive evaluation. 

#### Flexibility vs. Formality
- Broad, relevance-based definitions are suitable for exploratory projects and early-stage research. 
- Formal definitions are crucial for policymaking, funding applications, and high-stakes investments. 
 
### Lessons from Government and Industry Collaboration
Following discussions with experts, we’ve identified key insights: 
- Stakeholder Perspectives: Public-private partnerships often value broad definitions to encourage inclusivity, while ministries prefer strict categorizations for accountability and metrics. 
- Linking TRL and SRL: Aligning technical maturity with societal readiness provides a nuanced understanding of a technology’s impact. 
- Mission-Driven Focus: Incorporating societal and economic impacts helps bridge academic research and industrial applications. 
 
### Practical Steps for Organizations
To define technological topics effectively, organizations can adopt the following methodology: 
- **Engage Stakeholders** Early: Ensure all parties contribute to defining terms and setting the scope. 
- **Use Established Frameworks**: Adopt existing categorizations, such as the TRL system, and adapt them to your context. 
- **Balance Flexibility and Rigor**: Allow for iterative refinement of definitions while adhering to necessary formalities. 
- **Incorporate Metrics**: Define metrics for assessing relevance, such as potential market size, societal impact, and technological maturity. 
 
## Conclusion
Defining technological topics is as much an art as it is a science. It requires balancing diverse stakeholder perspectives, adapting to project goals, and remaining flexible to accommodate evolving priorities. By using a structured framework, organizations can reduce ambiguity, foster collaboration, and drive meaningful progress—whether pursuing academic innovation or industrial application. 
 
At the beginning of each project, we take the time to clarify the scope, define key terms, and align with our clients' exact needs. This step is essential in ensuring that all stakeholders are on the same page, paving the way for successful outcomes. 

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**Interested in collaborating or learning more?** [Contact us](https://scoutinscience.com/contact) or follow us on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/scoutinscience) and [www.scoutinscience.com](http://www.scoutinscience.com/) for updates.
 

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Explore how to define technological topics effectively with frameworks that align stakeholders, foster collaboration, and drive innovation. Learn how approaches like TRL, SRL, and ASJC classifications help bridge academic research and industry needs for impactful outcomes

Aligning Perspectives: Frameworks for Unified Technological Definitions

### New Partnership Announcement: ScoutinScience and TU Darmstadt Join Forces

At the beginning of December, ScoutinScience embarked on an exciting new collaboration with Technische Universität Darmstadt, a university renowned for its dedication to innovation and technology transfer. This partnership represents a meaningful step forward in our mission to bridge the gap between academic research and industry.

### What This Partnership Entails

This collaboration focuses on two key areas:
- Leveraging AI for Research Commercialization: ScoutinScience’s AI-powered platform will be used to identify academic research with high commercial potential. By analyzing and scoring research outputs, we aim to help TU Darmstadt uncover opportunities that might otherwise remain hidden.
- Supporting Technology Transfer: Together, we’re working to bridge the gap between academia and industry. This includes creating new pathways for successful technology transfer, ensuring that academic discoveries can translate into impactful real-world applications.

Through these efforts, the partnership seeks to make academic research more accessible, turning innovative ideas into practical solutions that benefit society.

### Special Thanks

We extend our gratitude to Susanne Gürich and Harald Holzer from HIGHEST – Innovations- und Gründungszentrum | Technische Universität Darmstadt for their invaluable support in establishing this partnership. Their dedication and vision have been instrumental in bringing this collaboration to life.

### A Shared Vision

Both **ScoutinScience** and **TU Darmstadt** share a commitment to advancing technology transfer. By combining our expertise, we aim to drive innovation and create a greater impact, not just within the academic community but in society as a whole.

We look forward to seeing the positive outcomes of this collaboration and the advancements it will bring to the field of technology transfer.

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**Interested in collaborating or learning more?** [Contact us](https://scoutinscience.com/contact) or follow us on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/scoutinscience) and [www.scoutinscience.com](http://www.scoutinscience.com/) for updates.

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Discover how ScoutinScience and TU Darmstadt are collaborating to advance technology transfer, leveraging AI-powered tools to bridge the gap between academic research and industry for real-world impact.

New Partnership Announcement: ScoutinScience and TU Darmstadt Join Forces

### Breaking Barriers in Tech Transfer: Highlights from TTT Team Up Day
Tech transfer—bridging the gap between academic research and market impact—is a field filled with challenges and opportunities. While some researchers naturally spin out their innovations into startups, many groundbreaking ideas remain locked within university walls. How do we bring these ideas to life and ensure they contribute to solving societal problems?

This was the focus of a recent episode of the Dutch 4TU.Startups Podcast, recorded during the TTT Team Up Day, where our CEO, Gilles Meijer, shared ScoutinScience’s approach to tackling these challenges head-on.

### The Challenges of Tech Transfer
Tech transfer offices (TTOs) are often reactive, waiting for researchers to approach them with potential innovations. But what if the process were reversed? Gilles described how ScoutinScience takes a proactive approach by analyzing scientific publications for commercial potential. Using open-source tools like OpenAlex and advanced AI models, ScoutinScience identifies technologies that could make a real-world impact.

One of the key challenges highlighted in the podcast is the cultural mindset within academia. As Gilles explained:
_“Researchers are often focused on publishing and teaching, with commercialization seen as a secondary priority. However, this doesn’t mean they aren’t interested in impact—it’s about providing the right support and guidance to help them take that step.”_
This cultural shift is crucial to unlocking the full potential of academic research.

### The Role of AI and Big Data in Tech Transfer
In the podcast, Gilles detailed how ScoutinScience leverages AI and big data to improve the tech transfer process. By analyzing thousands of papers, the platform identifies innovations with high commercialization potential, focusing on parameters like:

- Novelty: How unique is the research compared to existing technologies?
- Domain Relevance: Is the field trending or aligned with societal needs?
- Language Indicators: Does the paper suggest state-of-the-art advancements?

This data-driven approach enables universities and tech transfer offices to work smarter, not harder. Instead of relying on traditional methods, they can proactively identify opportunities and connect researchers with the right resources.

### A Collaborative Effort
Another recurring theme was the importance of collaboration. Gilles emphasized the need to build the right teams, pairing researchers with industry experts and business professionals to help bring their ideas to market.
_“If you’re a researcher, you don’t need to give up your academic career to make an impact. Find the right partners, team up, and take small steps toward commercialization.”_
This approach was reflected in the TTT Team Up Day itself, where stakeholders from across the tech transfer ecosystem came together to exchange ideas and solutions.

### Key Takeaways
The podcast episode offered several actionable insights for researchers, universities, and tech transfer offices:

- Be Proactive: Use tools like AI and big data to identify promising research early.
- Encourage Cultural Change: Help researchers see commercialization as part of their academic journey.
- Collaborate: Build teams that combine technical expertise with business acumen.
- Measure Impact Differently: Focus on societal impact, not just patents or spin-offs.

### Looking Ahead
At ScoutinScience, we believe that technology holds the key to solving many of the world’s most pressing challenges. By bringing innovations out of the lab and into the real world, we can create meaningful change.

We’re grateful to Vera Boertien and the 4TU.Startups team for organizing this insightful discussion during TTT Team Up Day. These conversations are crucial in driving the future of tech transfer forward.

###  Listen to the Podcast
Want to learn more about the challenges and opportunities in tech transfer? Listen to the full episode of the [Dutch 4TU.Startups Podcast here.](https://bit.ly/3OR8bh3)

Together, we can unlock the true potential of academic research and drive innovation forward.

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**Interested in collaborating or learning more?** [Contact us](https://scoutinscience.com/contact) or follow us on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/scoutinscience) and [www.scoutinscience.com](http://www.scoutinscience.com/) for updates.

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Leveraging AI and big data to bridge the gap between academic research and real-world impact. Insights from the Dutch 4TU.Startups Podcast and TTT Team Up Day highlight the importance of collaboration, cultural shifts, and proactive scouting in driving innovation forward.

The challenges of tech transfer | 4TU Podcast with ScoutinScience

### How do cutting-edge research and technology transfer intersect?
This month’s featured study, “**Cancer Treatment Monitoring Using Cell-Free DNA Fragmentomes**”, is an excellent example of research with significant real-world impact. By introducing DELFI-TF, a non-invasive and scalable diagnostic method, this study opens doors for innovative applications in oncology diagnostics and beyond.

### The Technology: What is DELFI-TF?
DELFI-TF (DNA Evaluation of Fragments for Early Interception – Tumor Fraction) is a revolutionary approach that uses low-coverage whole-genome sequencing of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) to monitor cancer progression. Developed by researchers from institutions like Amsterdam UMC, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, DELFI Diagnostics, and Johns Hopkins University, this method is:
- Mutation-Independent: It eliminates the need for prior knowledge of tumor-specific mutations, allowing broader application across cancer types.
- Accurate and Predictive: DELFI-TF correlates strongly with ctDNA levels, predicting treatment responses and patient outcomes more reliably than traditional imaging techniques.
- Non-Invasive: By analyzing cfDNA from blood samples, this method reduces the need for invasive biopsies.

### Why This Paper Matters
- High Transferability: DELFI-TF’s non-invasive, scalable technology aligns well with the needs of healthcare providers and diagnostics companies looking for transformative solutions.
- Broad Market Potential: The ability to monitor cancer without requiring mutation-specific data makes this approach relevant across diverse patient populations and cancer types.
- Altmetric Success: Beyond achieving a high Altmetric score, this research showcases clear potential for licensing, collaboration, and further development into commercial products.
By highlighting papers like this, we aim to connect impactful research with stakeholders who can drive its real-world adoption.

### Unlocking Technology Transfer Opportunities
Papers like this are ideal for technology transfer because they demonstrate a strong potential for:

- Licensing Agreements: The scalability and universal applicability of DELFI-TF make it a promising candidate for licensing in the diagnostics industry.
- Clinical Adoption: With its predictive accuracy, DELFI-TF can address key challenges in oncology, driving demand for implementation in healthcare settings.
- Collaboration: This research provides opportunities for collaboration between academic researchers, biotech firms, and healthcare providers.
These factors make DELFI-TF a prime example of how technology transfer bridges the gap between research and practical application.

### The Paper at a Glance
📜 Title: _Cancer Treatment Monitoring Using Cell-Free DNA Fragmentomes_
🧬 Authors: Iris van 't Erve | Bahar Alipanahi | Keith Lumbard | Zachary Skidmore | Lorenzo Rinaldi PhD | and a multi-disciplinary team from leading global institutions.
🔗[ Read the full paper](https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-53017-7)


### How We Help Innovators
At ScoutinScience, we specialize in identifying high-potential research and facilitating its journey into the market. Our platform not only highlights impactful studies but also connects researchers and organizations to drive meaningful collaborations.
🔗 [Discover Our Platform](https://bit.ly/3V8hmxe)

### Academia Industry Collaboration
DELFI-TF demonstrates how research can be both innovative and applicable, showcasing the power of collaboration between academic and commercial stakeholders. Stay tuned for more insights as we continue to spotlight research that bridges the gap between discovery and impact.

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**Interested in collaborating or learning more?** [Contact us](https://scoutinscience.com/contact) or follow us on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/scoutinscience) and [www.scoutinscience.com](http://www.scoutinscience.com/) for updates.

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DELFI-TF is a groundbreaking, non-invasive cancer diagnostic method using cell-free DNA. Highlighting its tech transfer potential, scalability, and broad clinical applications, this study bridges cutting-edge research and real-world oncology solutions.

November Spotlight: Breakthrough in Cancer Treatment Monitoring

We are thrilled to announce that ScoutinScience has been selected as a Best Practice by the European Commission for the second consecutive year! This recognition is a testament to our commitment to enhancing the valorisation of scientific knowledge through innovation.

### Join Us for an Exclusive Workshop
We invite you to join our upcoming workshop, part of the European Commission's "AI and other digital techs: a revolution in knowledge valorisation?" series. This event will explore how artificial intelligence (AI) and other digital technologies are revolutionizing the way we valorise scientific knowledge. Our CEO, Gilles Meijer, will be presenting insights on our solution: the Science Monitor.

#### Event Details:
Date: Thursday, 27 June 2024
Time: 13:00 - 13:40 (CEST)
Live Streaming: Online - [Available here](https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/events/upcoming-events/ai-and-other-digital-techs-revolution-knowledge-valorisation-2024-06-27_en)


### About Science Monitor
At ScoutinScience, our vision is to increase the scientific impact by leveraging big data and AI. The Science Monitor solution harnesses diverse data sources and cutting-edge APIs to forecast scientific impacts, visualize growth areas, and provide actionable insights for policymakers and stakeholders. By integrating data from research publications, patents, and spin-offs, we aim to enhance tech transfer across Europe efficiently.

### Key Features of Science Monitor
- **Data Access**: We utilize public data sources such as OpenAlex, national and EU subsidy databases, European patent databases, and spin-off databases. This comprehensive approach ensures we cover all relevant data points.
- **Data Cleaning and Preparation**: Our processes include removing duplicates, handling missing values, and using Natural Language Processing (NLP) to standardize domain and Technology Readiness Level (TRL) predictions across all stages of the funnel.
- **Data Integration**: We merge data from various sources into a single, coherent database using common identifiers, creating a unified dataset that provides a holistic view of the scientific landscape.
- **Data Analysis**: Our AI tools predict the tech transfer potential of scientific publications, providing early-stage insights that can guide strategic decisions.
- **Data Visualization**: We present the data through intuitive dashboards and reports, making complex insights easily accessible to policymakers and other stakeholders.

### Join the Conversation

Don't miss this opportunity to learn about the latest trends and developments in AI and digital technologies for knowledge valorisation. Register to receive reminders and updates about this and future talks, and be part of the discussion on the responsible and sustainable application of these tools in science.

[We look forward to seeing you online!](https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/events/upcoming-events/ai-and-other-digital-techs-revolution-knowledge-valorisation-2024-06-27_en)

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**Interested in collaborating or learning more?** [Contact us](https://scoutinscience.com/contact) or follow us on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/scoutinscience) and [www.scoutinscience.com](http://www.scoutinscience.com/) for updates.

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The Science Monitor platform forecasts scientific impacts, visualise growth areas, and provides actionable insights for policymakers and stakeholders. By integrating data from research publications, patents, and spin-offs, we aim to enhance tech transfer across Europe efficiently. 

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