In 2019, 22 projects were awarded funding in the annual call of High Tech Systems & Materials (HTSM). To ensure that these studies result in socially responsible innovations, NWO offers the possibility to integrate a number of projects with Responsible Innovation (Dutch acronym MVI) research via an HTSM MVI top-up call. The call for proposals was put on hold due to COVID-19, but is now open again for submissions until 27 August 2020 at 14:00:00 (CET). The total budget for this call is 500,000 euros.

Project leaders from a number of HTSM 2019 proposals awarded funding intend to submit a proposal in the context of the HTSM MVI top-up call. They are looking for researchers from the social sciences and humanities to collaborate with them for the formulation of a research proposal. These are research projects into, for example, pedestrian management, the strength and wear resistance of coatings, new 3D printed materials, and the groundbreaking technology that reduces the MRI scan time, reducing costs and improving patient experience.

A brief summary of their HTSM projects awarded funding and their contact details can be found on the here. Please consult this page for more information. If there is a project you are interested, please contact the project leader concerned. The deadline for submitting proposals is 27 August 2020 at 14:00:00 (CET).

Amending decision

Due to an observed inconsistency in the call for proposals and the conditions set for submission, an amending decision has been taken.

Two amendments have been made in the call:

1. participation in the information meeting of 22 January is no longer a condition for submitting a proposal;
2. it now states that all HTSM 2019 project leaders who were unable to attend the information meeting have the possibility to contact the AES or SSH programme office to discuss their interest for the MVI top-up and to express their desire to submit a proposal.

About the Responsible Innovation research programme (NWO-MVI)

Responsible Innovation research focuses on important societal challenges and the innovations these require. It explores the societal aspects of these technological and other innovations at an early stage so that these can be taken into account during the design and development process. The aim of Responsible Innovation research is to realise innovations that are acceptable to society. The priorities of the Responsible Innovation approach are:

• Proactive design and development perspective
  Societal aspects and potential impact on stakeholders are included from the start of the innovation process; for example, legal, ethical/philosophical, economic, sociological or (behavioural) psychological aspects.
• Multidisciplinary integrated approach
  Societal challenges are always multidisciplinary in nature. In the research, expertise from the humanities, natural sciences and social sciences is deployed in an integrated manner to realise innovations that not only attempt to solve a problem but are also responsible and acceptable to society.
• Societal relevance in valorisation
  Stakeholders are involved in the research in the interests of the applicability and implementation of the research results and due to their knowledge of everyday practice.

More information can be found on this website.

About HTSM

High Tech Systems and Materials is one of the nine Dutch Top Sectors. Various roadmaps have been defined within HTSM: Advanced Instrumentation, Aeronautics, Automotive, Electronics, Embedded Systems, Healthcare, High Tech Materials, Lighting, Nanotechnology, Photonics, Printing, Security, Semiconductor Equipment, Smart Industry and Space. Furthermore, there is the top-sector-wide theme of ICT. These roadmaps and ICT jointly from the Top Consortium Knowledge and Innovation(TKI) of HTSM and provide the direction in which the demand-driven research should develop in the coming years. The HTSM research programme is aimed at developing knowledge for technological breakthroughs and innovative applications. Researchers and companies work closely together to realise that.