Overview initiatives

Underneath, you will find a small selection from the many projects the Ubbo Emmius Fund is currently involved in.

Dead Sea Scrolls

The Ubbo Emmius fund team is searching funds for the further development of the Qumran Institute of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Groningen at this moment. The Qumran Institute is a top-notch research institute that investigates the Dead Sea Scrolls. It is the only centre of expertise on this topic in The Netherlands and plays a pivotal role both in science as well as society. Internationally, Groningen is leading in the field of the Dead Sea Scrolls and Early Judaism.

Last autumn, a revised translation of the dead Sea Scrolls was published in The Netherlands. This new translation has drawn huge attention nationally. Three researchers from the Qumran Institute of Groningen University were responsible for the translation, among which the institute’s new director, dr. Mladen Popovic. His doctoral thesis recently won the Keetje Hodshon award. This project is sponored by the SNS REAAL Fonds.

Canadian Studies

The Centre for Canadian Studies of the University of Groningen was founded in 1988. It is active in a number of fields: the Centre coordinates the Minor Canadian Studies programme, it is where research is done on Canada and Dutch-Canadian relations, and the Centre organizes exchanges for both Dutch students and teachers to go to Canada and Canadian students and teachers wishing to come to the Netherlands. The Centre for Canadian Studies is sponsored by the TD Bank N.V. Read more>>>

Master-apprentice: the Talent Project

Based on the age-old guild system, the University developed the Talent project in 2003. In this project, a talented student (apprentice) is assigned to an expert (master) from the business community. The student thus acquires a wealth of practical experience and the expert gains access to current scientific developments. Since 2005, the project is also open to students from colleges.

On the Talent Project website, you can find all information on this unique project, which can no longer be dispensed from the Northern education and business community. By now, Universities from other parts of The Netherlands as well as Scandinavia have shown an interest in this type of knowledge exchange.

Beatrix Children’s Hospital

The paediatric department of the University Medical Centre Groningen is constituted by the Beatrix Children’s Hospital, formerly known as the Beatrix Peadiatric Clinic. Highly trained paediatricians and nursing staff offer top-clinical care to young patients suffering from a wide variety of conditions. Among other things, the paediatric clinic is specialized in the care of premature babies, babies that are severely ill (neonatology), and in the treatment of children suffering from cancer. The paediatric clinic of Groningen is one of a kind: it is the only centre in The Netherlands that conducts transplant surgery for liver, lung and small intestines.

Being admitted to a hospital or having a polyclinic consult is usually a far-reaching experience for children. Thanks to smaller and larger donations from businesses and private individuals, the Beatrix Children’s Hospital is able to pay a lot of attention to a child-friendly atmosphere, facilities that make staying pleasant and solid counselling for both children and parents. Besides this, extra financial support enables the clinic to conduct high-quality research on innovative treatment methods. A good example of this is the child obesity research, which was partly sponsored by funds raised by the UEF.

Institute for Integration and Social Efficacy (ISE)

The institute for Integration and Social Efficacyis a multidisciplinary, inter-university research institute, that aims to carry out scientific research concerning integration and social efficacy issues. The central question is how new forms of social cohesion can contribute to integration and social efficacy.

The ISE collaborates with other universities and unites (inter)national top researchers. In addition to that, the execution of the research takes place in close collaboration with organizations from outside the university. The multidisciplinary character enables them to analyze and deal with problems from different angles, and to surpass the level of a one-sided economic, juridic or socioscientific approach.

Read more on the ISE website, or in the interview given by ISE director Karen van Oudenhoven in Broerstraat 5 [PDF], page 12-13 (Dutch only).

The Eric Bleumink Fund

Meetings between scientists from various countries and cultures are advantageous to all parties. It can lead to a close and permanent scientific network and form the basis for social and economic development. Taking this thought as a starting point, in 2000 the Eric Bleumink Fund was created, on the occasion of the retirement of Prof. Eric Bleumink as chairman of the Board of the University of Groningen.

The Fund awards several types of scholarships to talented students, researchers and university staff from the developing world. Such scholarships mean that they can follow further education partly in Groningen and partly in their own country.

Read more on the EBF website.

Digitalization photo archives churches

The photo archive of the Institute for Liturgical Research comprises of almost 60.000 photographs. It forms an important source of information for theologists, architects and art historians. The digitalization of this archive creates a wider accessibility for a larger audience. As well, a shadow archive is being created. Take a look at the digital archive here .

Herta Macht Thesis Award

Several years ago Bettina van Hoven, researcher at the University of Groningen, received an inheritance from her grandmother. She decided to use this money to establish the Herta Macht Thesis Award, named after her grandmother. The award is granted to young talent in the Faculty of Spatial Sciences and is intended to enhance cultural aspects and social relevance of this study.  

Read more in the interview given by Bettina van Hoven in Broerstraat 5 [PDF], page 18-19 (Dutch only), or on the Faculty website.

Asthma Genetic Research

Worldwide, more and more people suffer from asthma and allergies. The university of Groningen is leading in the field of research on pulmonary diseases, aided by the Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD (GRIAC), which is led by Professor Dirkje Postma. She belongs to the top 10 of researchers in the world in the field of asthma research and was awarded with the Spinoza award and a position as full professor in Groningen.

At this point in time, the GRIAC has taken a crucial step forward in the genetic research on asthma. It is now possible to locate the genes involved in this disease exactly. Furthermore, Groningen finds itself in the luxury position that in this domain it has already booked substantial successes with another complex condition (Crohn’s disease) and that it has access to DNA-specifics from a considerable number of asthma patients and their families. Because of this, Groningen is able to achieve record-breaking results quickly with relatively new research.

Allersmaborg

The University of Groningen has acquired hereditary tenure of the Allersmaborg in the North of Groningen. This manor is one of the oldest stone houses of the province. Last autumn, the Allersmaborg opened its doors as dazzling meetingplace for Groningen’s academic community; it will accommodate alumni get-togethers, courses, cultural activities, dinners and luncheons, summer schools, conferences, et cetera. Renovation and decoration of the Allersmaborg was sponsored in part by the many donations made by former students of the University, businesses and institutions.

For more information, or if you would like to book the Allersmaborg for a special event, check the website of the Allersmaborg.

Center for Entrepreneurship

This project aims at the establishment and expansion of an entrepreneurship and expertise centre for the North-East of The Netherlands. The centre will focus on research, education and advise in the field of entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial initiatives.

I2Care

Through the use of ICT, problems in the (home) care branch can be solved. This can be done through the development of supporting technology that improves the safety of home care, for example. The I2Care project connects research to questions from actual practice and vice versa, applying a multi-disciplinary approach. The project is mainly concerned with the social service sector in the North of The Netherlands. Check the website for further information.

Alumni Giving

Alumni are vital to the University, both as ambassador of the alma mater and as a source of knowledge from actual practice. For former students to contribute to the University financially, is not common practice in The Netherlands. By stimulating giving behaviour among alumni, the Ubbo Emmius Fund attempts to lay the foundation for extra financial support for extraordinary projects. Since a few years, the Fund holds an annual campagne for the Eric Bleumink Fund. As well, it has campagned for the renovation of the Allersmaborg. The Fund also tries to reach private individuals to create an interest in making a special donation, leaving a legacy or the establishing of a named fund. In the future, annual campagnes will be held among all former students of the University of Groningen.

RUG Holding Company

The University of Groningen is a breeding ground for entrepreneurship: young, talented researchers who work on ideas for viable companies and for the commercial application of new technology. The RUG Holding Company supports these young entrepreneurs by providing them with capital and service and by creating a versatile network.

Center for Uroneurology

The Center for Uroneurology of the UMCG conducts research on finding a neurological solution to the problem of urge incontinence.

Biotechnology and Society in Africa

New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) and Michigan State University (MSU) have invited the University of Groningen (RUG) to join their partnership to empower African biosafety institutions and regulators with regard to biotechnology. Read more>>>