NWO and Stichting Big Chemistry Launch €2.8 Million Funding Initiative for AI-Driven Chemical Research

NWO and Stichting Big Chemistry Launch €2.8 Million Funding Initiative for AI-Driven Chemical Research

(IN BRIEF) The Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO), in partnership with Stichting Big Chemistry, has launched a funding initiative to support proof-of-concept studies that utilize artificial intelligence (AI) for predicting the physical and chemical properties of complex molecular systems. The program aims to foster collaboration between academic institutions and private companies. NWO has set aside €2.8 million for this effort, with grants of up to €400,000 available for successful consortia. A minimum of 20% co-funding is required, with at least half in cash. Proposals are due by February 20, 2025. Additionally, an informational meeting will be held for interested parties. This initiative is part of the National Growth Fund Project Big Chemistry, which aims to create a fully automated RobotLab for high-throughput experiments.

(PRESS RELEASE) THE HAGUE, 6-Nov-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — The Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO), in collaboration with Stichting Big Chemistry, has announced a funding opportunity aimed at supporting proof-of-concept studies that leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to predict the physical and chemical properties of complex molecular systems. This initiative encourages collaborative research between academic institutions and private sector partners.

By employing high-throughput experimentation techniques, researchers can conduct numerous simultaneous experiments, generating vast amounts of data. This data is then analyzed using AI to uncover patterns that can predict various properties of new chemical compounds, such as taste, odor, and solubility. The ultimate goal is to integrate these findings into a fully automated RobotLab, streamlining the process of discovering chemicals with desired attributes—a necessity for numerous industries, including paint, food, and pharmaceuticals.

In terms of budget, NWO has allocated a total of €2.8 million for this initiative. To qualify, research teams must consist of both scientists and industry representatives, with a minimum of 20% co-funding required—at least half of which must be provided in cash. Each consortium may apply for grants up to €400,000 per project. The deadline for submitting proposals is set for February 20, 2025, at 14:00:00 CET.

Stichting Big Chemistry is also organizing an informational meeting where interested public and private parties can learn more about this funding call. Additional details regarding the meeting can be found on the Big Chemistry website.

This funding initiative is part of the broader National Growth Fund Project Big Chemistry, which seeks to establish a RobotLab that utilizes high-throughput experiments and AI to create a fully automated chemistry laboratory. This lab will facilitate the simultaneous execution of numerous experiments, thereby generating substantial data on complex molecular systems. In 2023, the Stichting Big Chemistry proposal successfully secured a grant of €96.9 million from the National Growth Fund.

NWO administers thematic programs for research, knowledge development, and innovation supported by the National Growth Fund. The outcomes of these programs contribute to innovations and enhance the sustainable earning capacity and overall welfare of the Netherlands, fostering collaboration among stakeholders across the entire knowledge chain, both public and private.

This press release was authored to inform the public about the new funding opportunity from NWO and its significance in advancing research in the field of chemical properties prediction through AI.

About the National Growth Fund Project Big Chemistry
This call for proposals is part of the National Growth Fund Project Big Chemistry. This project aims to create a RobotLab that uses high-throughput experiments and artificial intelligence (AI) to function as a fully automated chemistry lab. This will allow many experiments to take place simultaneously that will collect a lot of data on complex molecular systems. In 2023, the Stichting Big Chemistry proposal received a grant from the National Growth Fund of 96.9 million euros.

National Growth Fund programmes
NWO runs thematic programmes for research, knowledge development and innovation funded by the National Growth Fund. The results are used in innovations and organisations, thus contributing to the sustainable earning capacity and broad welfare of the Netherlands. The programmes bring together parties from the entire knowledge chain, both public and private.

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Source: NWO