Seven cross-border Excellence projects receive funding as part of the Science Offensive of the Trinational Upper Rhine Metropolitan Region
Ceremony on 4 July at the University of Koblenz-Landau Yesterday, on the occasion of the official ceremony of the Science Offensive, high-ranking representatives of the science ministries of Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate, of the Alsace region and the European Union presented seven cross-border flagship projects with their approval for funding. Joint funding of excellent cross-border research projects via funds from the federal states Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland Palatinate, the Alsace region and the European Union is now possible for the first time thanks to the Science Offensive, a unique Europe-wide initiative Out of a total of 36 submitted project proposals, the seven awarded projects with a volume of 10 million euros came out on top in an international expert review process. Vera REISS, State Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Science, Education and Culture, Rhineland-Palatinate “The 12th Trinational Conference “Education, research and innovation” held in Basel in December 2010 was an optimal platform for achieving the cooperation of all relevant parties in the scientific and research sector; without its input, the Science Offensive would not have been possible at all.” Dr. Simone SCHWANITZ Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Science, Research and The Arts, Baden-Württemberg “The selection process ensured the high quality of the competition and the winning projects to be nominated today” Jean-Marie BELLIARD, Regional Council Member in Conseil Régional d’Alsace and Chairman of the working group of the INTERREG IV Oberrhein programme. “The large number of submitted projects reflects a large high demand and genuine cross-border potential.” With project proposals from the fields of materials science, chemistry, medicine, life sciences, energy/environment and culture/history, the funded project proposals are a reflection of the broad range of research topics covered by research work in the Upper Rhine region. The proposals stand out especially because of their innovative character and high scientific added value. The projects will run for three years. The TMO is one of the highest performing regions in Europe. The objective of the first joint call for projects by the INTERREG IV programme, the Alsace region as well as the federal states Baden-Württemberg and the Rhineland-Palatinate was to encourage scientists, researches and innovative companies in the Upper Rhine region to better use the available cross-border potential for research and development. List of funded projects: - Neurogenesis and neuroprotection for the prevention of neurological diseases or the recovery of neurophysiological functions Partner: University of Strasbourg, CNRS, University Medical Center Freiburg Volume: €2,189,206, thereof €1,094,603 ERDF and €250,000 regional funds - Chiral porous crystals for kinetic resolution Partner: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, CNRS, TU Kaiserslautern Volume: €843,200, thereof €421,600 ERDF und €250,000 regional funds - Innovations for sustainable biomass use in the Upper Rhine region Partner: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, University of Freiburg, CNRS, University of Strasbourg, Université de Haute-Alsace, University of Koblenz-Landau, ENGEES, ASPA, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, University of Basel Volume: €1,945,862, thereof €845,431 ERDF und €250,000 regional funds - Genetic mechanisms of cardiovascular diseases Partner: CIE-CERBM – Institut Clinique de la Souris, Heidelberg University Hospital, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, University of Heidelberg Volume: €1,122,520, thereof €561,260 ERDF and €250,000 regional funds - Manifestations of rare illnesses in the mouth and teeth area: Outlook for diagnosis and therapy Partner: University of Strasbourg, CIE-CERBM, Strasbourg University Hospital, Freiburg University Hospital, Heidelberg University Hospital Volume: €1,971,342, thereof €985,671 ERDF and €250,000 regional funds - The Upper Rhine in utility films: Projections of memory, history and identity 1900-1970 Partner: University of Strasbourg, University of Heidelberg Volume: €743,896, thereof €371,948 ERDF and €162,000 regional funds - PLAN-EE, a GIS-based planning tool for renewable energies Partner: University of Koblenz-Landau, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, University of Strasbourg, CNRS Volume: €936,354, thereof €468,177 ERDF and €186,957 regional funds
Countries
Germany, France