NWO Vidi Awards Empower TU/e Scientists to Drive Innovation in Light Technology, Policy Design, and Secure Sensing Systems

The three TU/e researchers who have been awarded a Vidi grant: (from left to right) Ahmed Dorrah, Jaime Bonnin Roca and Hamdi Joudeh.

(IN BRIEF) Three researchers from Eindhoven University of Technology — Ahmed Dorrah, Jaime Bonnin Roca, and Hamdi Joudeh — have each received NWO Vidi grants worth up to €850,000 to advance their individual research programs. The funding enables them to expand their teams and pursue breakthroughs in photonics, innovation policy, and secure wireless sensing. Dorrah’s project focuses on developing multi-layer nano-optical materials for faster and more energy-efficient optical systems; Bonnin Roca explores how government policies can accelerate innovation for societal benefit; and Joudeh aims to make wireless sensing technologies more resilient against interference and cyberattacks. Awarded during a time of financial restraint in research funding, these grants highlight TU/e’s continued leadership in advancing science and technology that contribute to a safer, smarter, and more sustainable future.

(PRESS RELEASE) EINDHOVEN, 23-Oct-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Three researchers from Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) have each been awarded a prestigious NWO Vidi grant, providing them with up to €850,000 to advance their independent research programs and build their research teams. These grants, distributed by the Dutch Research Council (NWO), come at a critical time for the research sector, offering much-needed financial and academic support amidst national budget constraints.

The recipients — Dr. Ahmed Dorrah, Dr. Jaime Bonnin Roca, and Dr. Hamdi Joudeh — represent diverse disciplines across TU/e, ranging from applied physics to innovation policy and electrical engineering. Their projects address some of today’s most pressing technological and societal challenges, including photonics, sustainable innovation governance, and secure wireless systems.

NWO’s 2025 Vidi funding round saw 778 initial proposals, of which 149 were selected — 70 from male and 79 from female researchers — distributing more than €126 million in total. The expanded budget this year enabled NWO to reward additional high-quality proposals and support talented scientists during a period of reduced research investment. TU/e’s success in securing three of these awards highlights the university’s growing influence in global innovation and scientific leadership.

Revolutionizing Light-Based Technology
Dr. Ahmed Dorrah, from the Department of Applied Physics and Science Education, is developing new multi-layer nano-optical materials capable of manipulating light on subwavelength scales. His project aims to create ultra-thin optical systems that integrate seamlessly with semiconductor chips, enabling energy-efficient and compact devices. The technology could revolutionize cameras, sensors, and even quantum communication systems by enhancing speed, precision, and sustainability. Dorrah’s vision extends to strengthening the Netherlands and the Brainport region as international hubs for photonics and quantum technologies.

Accelerating Innovation Through Smarter Policy Design
In the Department of Industrial Engineering and Innovation Sciences, Dr. Jaime Bonnin Roca investigates how governments can more effectively design and implement policies to speed up innovation in critical areas like climate action. His research examines how bureaucratic and regulatory barriers slow technological progress and aims to provide strategies that allow governments to deliver faster, more responsible innovations. The Vidi grant allows Bonnin Roca to establish his own research team and explore the topic with greater academic freedom, fostering solutions for large-scale societal challenges.

Building Secure Wireless Sensing Systems
From the Department of Electrical Engineering, Dr. Hamdi Joudeh is rethinking how wireless sensing systems — integral to technologies such as automotive radars, smart agriculture, and healthcare monitoring — can be made more secure and resilient. Using principles from information theory, his project focuses on developing mathematical foundations that enhance the robustness and reliability of these systems against cyber threats and interference. His ultimate goal is to pave the way for more efficient sensing technologies, contributing to safer autonomous vehicles and dependable smart infrastructure.

Through these NWO Vidi grants, TU/e continues to empower researchers whose work drives scientific progress and societal benefit. Together, Dorrah, Bonnin Roca, and Joudeh exemplify TU/e’s commitment to excellence in innovation, advancing both fundamental science and real-world applications.

Media Contact:

Sanne Resoort
Press Officer
+31 (0)6 15 33 15 10
s.resoort@tue.nl

SOURCE: TU/e