Large-scale research infrastructure
Results of the first call for large-scale research infrastructure (2007-2008)
The Hercules Foundation published the first call for large-scale research infrastructure on February 1, 2008, and the applications had to be submitted to the Hercules Foundation on May 23, 2008. Just as with the first call for medium-scale research infrastructure, for this call, the funds for 2007 and 2008 were combined, with the result that an amount of EUR 10,000,000 was available.
Ten applications were submitted, for which EUR 29,800,000 of subsidies were requested. All applications were submitted by a consortium or a partnership with third parties. Six applications came into being with companies and one application with an international organisation.
Assessment procedure
For each application, a written assessment was requested from researchers not working in Belgium and who have international recognition in the research field(s) concerned.
For the ten applications together, 61 assessment reports were available.
The applicants were given the opportunity to respond in writing to the assessment reports, which had been rendered anonymously.
On September 5, 2008, the Hercules-Science Committee discussed the ten applications for the first time and deliberated their scientific quality. The promoters of a number of applications were invited to an interview.
On September 25 and 26, 2008, the Committee met a second time in Brussels. Following on from these presentations, in its recommendation to the Board of Directors, the Hercules Science Committee decided to assess four applications as excellent and ranked these four projects:
- First: the application entitled “PRIME Electron Microscope” (promoter-spokesperson Professor G. Van Tendeloo, U. Antwerp)
- Second: the application entitled “Development of a high field Bio-NMR centre in Flanders” (promoter-spokesperson Professor L. Wyns, VIB-VUB)
- Third: the application entitled “The VERO system” (promoter-spokesperson Professor G. Storme, VUB)
- Fourth: the application entitled “High Performance Computing” (promoter-spokesperson Professor S. Poedts, KULeuven).
The total amount of subsidies requested for these four applications together is EUR 11,300,000.
The Hercules Invest Committee examined the four applications assessed by the Hercules Science Committee as excellent and requested additional information from the promoter-spokespersons on a number of points.
In its recommendation to the Board of Directors on October 13, 2008, the Hercules Invest Committee proposed subsidising the top three applications, if a number of additional guarantees were given. For the application entitled “High Performance Computing”, this Committee judged that it could not give any opinion as the investment plan and accompanying operational plan had only been developed to a limited extent.
On November 27, 2008, the Board of Directors gave these three applications its final approval. Further to this decision, a subsidy agreement was concluded at the end of 2008 with the receiving institution for each of these three applications and a down-payment of 20% of the allocated subsidy was paid out.
Overview of the approved applications
PRIME Electron Microscope
Brief description:
Electron microscopy enables us to display and characterise the atomic structure of materials. The new PRIME equipment enables us to probe deeper into the still unknown world of atoms, and the technology will help develop new energy-friendly and sustainable materials.
The applicants indicate that this instrument will be used for both fundamental and basic research.
Promoter-spokesperson: Professor Gustaaf Van Tendeloo, University of Antwerp
Consortium: UNICORE, IMEC, FEI (the Netherlands)
Funding:
| Organisation | Amount in EUR |
Hercules Foundation |
4,241,000 |
University of Antwerp and third parties |
5,779,000 |
Total |
10,020,000 |
Development, validation and clinical creation of an innovative platform for a high-precision and image-driven system: the VERO System
Brief description:
The innovative nature of the VERO System, with its seamless integration of imaging, high precision in the irradiation of the patient and the possibility of following the movement of tumours, enables tumours to be located more accurately and thereby treated more precisely than any system available up to now. New paradigms in radiation oncology are being developed for optimum healthcare and quality of life for each patient!
The applicants indicate that this instrument will be used for fundamental research and the treatment of patients.
Promoter-spokesperson: Prof. Dr Guy STORME, University Hospital Brussels (Vrije Universiteit Brussel)
Funding
| Organisation | Amount in EUR |
Hercules Foundation |
3,897,250 |
UH Brussels and third party |
7,679,000 |
Total |
11,576,250 |
Development of a high field Bio-NMR centre in Flanders
Brief description:
Biomolecular NMR spectroscopy is of central importance in determining the structure and the function of biological macromodules. The development of a high field NMR centre in Brussels and Flanders will lead to new discoveries and applications in biomedical sciences.
The applicants indicate that this instrument will be used for both fundamental and basic research.
Promoter-spokesperson: Prof. Dr Lode Wyns, Flemish Institute of Biotechnology, Molecular and Cellular Interactions Department, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
Consortium: Ablynx NV, Galapagos NV
Funding:
| Organisation | Amount in EUR |
Hercules Foundation |
1,120,000 |
VIB-VUB and third parties |
480,000 |
Total |
1,600,000 |
Overview of the funding of the three applications
Organisation |
Amount in EUR |
% |
Hercules Foundation |
9,258,250 |
39.91 |
Flemish knowledge institutions |
5,714,000 |
24.63 |
Third parties |
8,224,000 |
35.45 |
Total |
23,196,250 |
100.00 |
This table clearly reveals the cooperation with companies, whereby the Hercules funding has an important leverage effect. While the Hercules Foundation is allocating an amount of almost EUR 9,300,000 in subsidies for these three applications, the institutions are making available approximately EUR 5,700,000 in co-funding. In addition, companies are investing in these three projects for a total of approximately EUR 8,225,000 in exchange for a limited right of use.
Conclusion
The relatively modest success rates in these two calls illustrates the great need of Flemish researchers from all disciplines for high-performance research infrastructure, which is nevertheless essential for high-quality, high-level research that is a match for increasingly intense international competition.