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Knowledge in use: NOK 5 million to innovative UiO researchers

A record number of 63 applications were submitted when UiO advertised the innovation funds this year. 23 projects have been granted funding from the rector's office to develop solutions to meet societal needs. We congratulate all the research groups.

Pictures of project leaders

The NOK 5 million UiO set aside for early-phase support for innovation projects has now been distributed. 11 projects receive NOK 400,000 each for the test and further development phase, while 12 projects receive NOK 50,000 each for the idea and concept phase.

Covers broadly

The funding covers, among other things, the development of new vaccines, tools that will give voice to persons who cannot speak, the development of heat storage for energy efficiency and the development of teaching programs about evolution for pupils at secondary school.

Per Morten Sandset
Vice-rector for research and innovation Per Morten Sandset

 – On behalf of the rector's office, I would like to congratulate everyone who has been granted funding. It is very gratifying that so many researchers have become aware of our innovation funding. We received applications from six faculties. This is a milestone. Although the funding goes to only three of these, the academic breadth at UiO is well represented, says vice-rector for research and innovation Per Morten Sandset.

– Over the past year, UiO has strengthened its work with innovation and innovation culture by, among other things, establishing the innovation unit the UiO Growth House. All applicants are now offered follow-up from the Growth House in the form of guidance that can help them further with the innovation idea, Sandset.

The UiO Growth House coordinates application processes

The UiO Growth House has been responsible for the call for UiO's innovation funding. The Growth House itself advertised its seed funding this spring.

Hilde Nebb
Innovation director at the UiO Growth House Hilde Nebb.

– The Growth House wants to coordinate the various application processes to ensure that the application opportunities are distributed throughout the year and plans to create an annual wheel that makes the announcements predictable for our researchers. The Growth House has also worked with evaluation criteria and an evaluation process that will secure the quality of both application processes, says innovation director at the UiO Growth House Hilde Nebb.

Sandset adds that the work the Growth House does is important to raise awareness of the responsibility the university has to engage in innovation and entrepreneurship in addition to research and teaching.

The UiO Growth House has low-threshold innovation services for researchers and students at UiO. The Growth House has, among other things, guidance and seed funding for those who want to take the research further into new products and services.

– Together with financial incentives such as the UiO innovation funding, this work ensures that we are on the right track, says Sandset.

The projects that have been granted support in 2023

Sorted alphabetically by the first name of the project leader.

Abbreviations
MED – The Faculty of Medicine
MN – The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
SV – The Faculty of Social Sciences
 

The test and further development phase – 11 projects of NOK 400,000 each

Project leader, Faculty, Department
Title of project

  • Carmen Herrera, MN, Biosciences
    Cancer diagnostics: development of an early detection diagnostic test for aggressive cancer 
  • Emilie Kildal, MED, Clinical Medicine
    The “Understand me!” app – Giving a voice to those who cannot speak 
  • Gunnveig Gr?deland, MED, Clinical Medicine
    A seasonal vaccine against influenza and coronaviruses 
  • Hilde Loge Nilsen/Deo Prakash, MED, Clinical Medicine

    Transcriptional cyclin dependent kinases as potential therapeutic targets for pancreatic cancer 

  • Johanne Jacobsen, MED, Clinical Medicine
    EvoMab: germinal center guided affinity optimization of therapeutic antibodies 
  • Magnar Bj?r?s, MED, Clinical Medicine
    Development of a novel albumin- peptide combination treatment effective against critical resistant bacterial infections 
  • Massimiliano Pio di Cagno, MN, Pharmacy
    Development of a new sustainable instrumentation for accelerate early-stage drug development 
  • Ragnhild Marie Undseth, SV, Psychology
    Real-time fNIRS neurofeedback to supplement fMRI targeted brain-training 
  • Sebastian Prodinger, MN, Chemistry
    Thermoheim – Developing Adsorption Based Heat Storage 
  • Vibeke Ansteinsson, MED, Health and Society
    Collaboration solution for coordinated oral health services for elderly patients living at home (KO-ORAL) 
  • Wenche Erlien, MN, The Norwegian Centre for Science Education
    Evolution – the story of all life

The idea and concept phase – 12 projects of NOK 50,000 each

Project leader, Faculty, Department
Title of project

  • Ana ?uk, MN, Pharmacy
    Development of a new in situ gelling system for prolonged release of local anesthetics 
  • Guro Haugen Fossum, MED, Health and Society
    Perpetual Observational Study (POS) of Acute Respiratory Infections 
  • Joel Glover, MED, Basic Medical Sciences
    Light-activated nanoparticles for targeted release of small inhibitory RNAs to specific neuron populations affected by neurodegenerative diseases 
  • Kristin Martinsen, SV, Psychology
    Safe parents, brave and empowered children? 
  • Léon Reubsaet, MN, Pharmacy
    SmaSh-Quant – Smart Samplers for Quantitative protein determination 
  • Mariana Mazetto de Carvalho, MN, Pharmacy
    Development of β-glucans coated liposomes for the obtaining of novel wound healing formulations 
  • Merethe Blandhol, MED, Basic Medical Sciences
    An Ecological Experimental Model of Chronic Pain 
  • Stefan Schauber, MED, HELP – Unit for Health Sciences Education
    Edutron – effective feedback to university teachers using tools from learning analytics and data science
  • Tilmann von Soest, SV, Psychology
    Nabolagshelse.no 
  • Tore Bonge-Hansen, MN, Chemistry
    A simple and general method for tailormade surface coatings and adhesives 
  • Victor Modamio, MN, Physics
    RESHINED – Red Shift Neutron Detector
  • Zhi Zhao, MED, Basic Medical Sciences
    Identification of cell composition-based omics features for survival prognosis using a novel machine learning approach 

This is how UiO's innovation funding works

The University of Oslo works to ensure that knowledge is put to use and wants to give employees the opportunity to contribute to value creation and new jobs through innovation and entrepreneurship. That is why the rectorate announces funds every year to support the early phases of innovation projects.

Researchers at UiO who have identified a need in society for which they want to find a solution, or have a research result with value for society, can apply for support for the development of ideas and concepts. Those who have progressed a little further in the process can apply for support for testing and further development of their innovation projects. Researchers at all faculties can apply for support, and it is a goal that the funding should reflect the breadth of UiO's academic fields.

By Norunn K. Torheim, UiO Growth House
Published Oct. 17, 2023 10:02 AM - Last modified Oct. 17, 2023 10:02 AM