Successful second edition of the University of the North Roadshow

Last November, the University of the North presented its Knowledge Agenda. This year, three roadshows will be organized in the northern provinces to allow stakeholders to familiarize themselves with the ambitions and activities of the University of the North. After visiting Greenwise Campus Emmen, last week the Roadshow was held at Campus Groningen.

Within the University of the North, the University of Groningen, the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), the Hanze University of Applied Sciences, NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences, and Van Hall Larenstein University of Applied Sciences want to work closer together with each other, as well as with businesses, governmental and societal organizations to help contribute to the most important change assignments in the north of the Netherlands.

After a brief introduction by University of the North steering committee chair Jouke de Vries, the focus of the afternoon was on the icon projects of the University of the North: HTRIC and Fascinating. Ton Rademaker, Director of HTRIC, and Hélder Almeida Santos, Head of Biomedical Engineering at the UMCG, took attendees through the ambitions of HTRIC, and Jan Sikkema, one of the founders of Fascinating, talked in more detail about how Fascinating is contributing to the future of agriculture. Both presentations were met with many questions from the audience. Deputy Mirjam Wulfse was present to give her vision on cooperation in the north in the concluding wrap-up.

The University of the North also introduced the Boosterfund which was launched a day later, on 8 September The Booster Fund is an initiative of the member knowledge institutions and intended to boost and accelerate the realization of the RIS3 objectives of the University of the North goals from the Knowledge Agenda. Collaborative projects eligible for the fund can apply until 23 October. An important condition is that at least three affiliated knowledge institutions participate in the consortium. A webinar (in Dutch) will be organized on Wednesday 21 September, during which the Booster Fund will be introduced and questions can be asked.

North University Roadshow #3 is already scheduled. In November, Drachten will be visited to get acquainted with the innovative ecosystem and collaborative projects there.

If you would you like to know more about the University of the North or its roadshows, please contact Gernant Deekens, secretary and administrative advisor for the University of the North, via g.e.deekens@rug.nl

You can also visit our website.