ERIS@VUB-TechTransfer’s Post

⏰ Today is ‘Fight Procrastination Day’, the day when we can all admit to putting things off. 👊 Except when it comes to EU funding and opportunities for applied research! The ERIS team is an expert in turning ‘I’ll do it later’ into ‘done and dusted’. Whether you're on the verge of missing a deadline or just getting started, ERIS is there every step of the way, ensuring that no EU funding opportunity slips through the cracks. Don’t postpone it! Reach out to the ERIS team today and see what we can do for you! ERIS team: Philippe Westbroek Alessandra Rossetti Mohammad Boroun Marie Pfeiffer Cristina García Timermans Maxime Smits #ProcrastinationDay #ERISteam #EUInnovation 

Last weekend, ERIS team member Mohammad Boroun joined our imπACT fellows Parkash Rawat, Eric Worlawoe Gaba, PhD and Chukwuebuka Eze at the European Researchers' Night at the Universität Graz, organized by Life is Science. Our fellows presented their cutting-edge research to a curious audience, showcasing Vrije Universiteit Brussel's contribution to European innovation! 🌍💡 ERIS-team: Philippe Westbroek, Alessandra Rossetti, Cristina García Timermans, Marie Pfeiffer, Mohammad Boroun, Maxime Smits #EuropeanResearchersNight #LifeIsScience #Innovation #MarieCurie #WeAreVUB #ERIS

💥 Last Saturday, Luigi Oddo, our impACT programme VUB fellow, gave an insightful presentation on his CLIMAGR project at the European Researchers' Night at WiseNight in Brussels, exploring the link between climate and agricultural productivity across Europe and China from the 16th to 20th centuries. His talk highlighted the value of historical data in understanding modern climate challenges. ERIS-team: Philippe Westbroek, Alessandra Rossetti, Cristina García Timermans, Marie Pfeiffer, Mohammad Boroun, Maxime Smits #EuropeanResearchersNight #WiseNight #WeAreVUB #ERIS #EuropeanResearch #IMPACT

🎇 Today at the European Researchers' Night in Brussels, our imπACT fellows Nishat Hyder-Rahman, Sinem Helvacıoğlu Akyüz and Ella Egberts took the stage and presented their research at the "Meet Today's Marie Curie" session of WiseNight! Vrije Universiteit Brussel ERIS-team: Philippe Westbroek, Alessandra Rossetti, Mohammad Boroun, Marie Pfeiffer, Cristina García Timermans, Maxime Smits #MarieCurie #EuropeanResearchersNight #ImpacFellows #Research #VUB #WeAreVUB

⚠️ Do you know the hidden dangers hiding in your e-waste? Visit the University of Graz, Austria, on Friday, September 27th, for the European Researchers’ Night organized by Life is Science, and visit the hands-on station hosted by Chukwuebuka Eze. Chukwuebuka’s research sheds light on the dangerous chemicals released through informal e-waste recycling practices. 🗓 When: Friday, September 27th 📍 Where: University of Graz, Hauptgebäude (Universitätsplatz 3a) 🕒 Time: 15:00 - 20:00 🎯 For ages: 14 and up ⏳ Duration: 15 min The project highlights the environmental and health impacts of e-waste, particularly in West Africa, where much of Europe’s electronic waste ends up. Through animal-free alternative methods, Chukwuebuka is investigating the chemical mixtures present in e-waste and the risks they pose—not just to local populations, but to the entire planet. Learn how these harmful chemicals, released from improper e-waste recycling, affect communities and the environment, and discover how responsible industrial production and chemical safety are critical for planetary health. No need to register you can just drop by. Click here for more info: https://lnkd.in/e5FbyHUm Vrije Universiteit Brussel ERIS-team: Philippe Westbroek, Alessandra Rossetti, Marie Pfeiffer, Cristina García Timermans, Mohammad Boroun, Maxime Smits #EuropeanResearchersNight #EwasteCrisis #Sustainability #GlobalResponsibility #Brussels #UniversityOfGraz #LifeIsScience #VUB

🎉 Congratulations to Prof. An Jacobs and business developer Bram Lievens from imec-SMIT, Vrije Universiteit Brussel for receiving an EU grant for the DIGIT-ABLE project!   DIGIT-ABLE wants to drive the digital transition for social enterprises. It aims to empower organizations supporting people with disabilities and Work Integration Social Enterprises (WISEs) by improving their digital skills, fostering collaboration with tech companies, and addressing key challenges such as resource gaps and lack of advanced digital skills.   The European dimension of DIGIT-ABLE is due to the involvement of 2 European partners namely: 🤝 ENSIE NETWORK - European Network of Social Integration Enterprises 🤝 EASPD - European Association of Service providers for Persons with Disabilities   Together, we’re working towards a more inclusive digital future across Europe! 🌍   Want to know more about DIGIT-ABLE? 👉 https://lnkd.in/eTKYpaH5   Vrije Universiteit Brussel ERIS-team: Philippe Westbroek, Alessandra Rossetti, Mohammad Boroun, Marie Pfeiffer, Cristina García Timermans, Maxime Smits   #DigitalInclusion #SocialEnterprises #DigitalTransformation #EUProjects #Collaboration #VUB #Innovation #WISE #InclusiveEurope

📣 Meet Maxime Smits, our new Communication Advisor at ERIS! We're excited to welcome Maxime to the ERIS team as of September 2024! With over two years of experience at VUB TechTransfer, Maxime is now embarking on a new communication journey with us. In her role, Maxime will make sure that European applied research at VUB shines in the spotlight it deserves. Whether it’s through engaging social media content, monthly newsletters, or impactful events, she’s here to make sure it gets noticed. ✍ Do you have exciting EU-related news? Maxime’s your go-to! Don’t hesitate to reach out. 🧀 When she’s not typing away about EU research(ers) at VUB, you can probably find her enjoying a ‘portie gemengd’ somewhere, after a nice hike. Curious to learn more about Maxime and her love for science communication and ‘portie gemengd’? 🤔 👉 Check out her full interview here: https://lnkd.in/eSHtbU6H ERIS-team:Philippe Westbroek, Alessandra Rossetti, Cristina García Timermans, Marie Pfeiffer, Mohammad Boroun, Maxime Smits #ERISTeam #ScienceCommunication #Innovation #ResearchAtVUB #VUBTechTransfer #EuropeanInnovation

👶 Are traditional birth registration laws keeping pace with modern families? Find out on Friday, September 27th, at the Planetarium in Brussels, where Nishat Hyder-Rahman will present her innovative research at the European Researchers' Night organized by WiseNight. Through her BIRTH_STORY project, she’s working on a groundbreaking digital tool designed to modernize birth registration frameworks to reflect the realities of today’s diverse family structures. 🗓 When: Friday, September 27th 📍 Where: Planetarium, Brussels 🕒 Time: 14:00 - 15:00 Nishat’s presentation will focus on the limitations of traditional parenthood laws, which often overlook genetic, gestational, and social parents in birth records. Her research seeks to develop a comprehensive framework that accounts for the growing use of assisted reproductive technologies (ART)—ensuring birth registration is more inclusive and accessible for all families. Don’t miss this insightful session on how innovation in birth registration could shape the future of family law! 👨👩👧 Vrije Universiteit Brussel ERIS-team: Philippe Westbroek, Mohammad Boroun, Cristina García Timermans, Alessandra Rossetti, Marie Pfeiffer, Maxime Smits Click here to register: https://lnkd.in/eSSkwAyq #EuropeanResearchersNight #BirthRegistration #FamilyLaw #AssistedReproductiveTechnologies #InclusiveFrameworks #Brussels #ResearchForTheFuture #VUB

🦿 What is life like after limb loss, and how can we make prosthetics greener? Join us on Friday, September 27th, at the Universität Graz for the European Researchers’ Night organized by Life is Science. Eric Worlawoe Gaba, PhD, will host a hands-on station dedicated to understanding amputees' emotional and physical challenges. Eric is working on innovative solutions to improve the quality of life for amputees while exploring environmentally friendly prosthetic technologies. 🗓 When: Friday, September 27th 📍 Where: University of Graz, Hauptgebäude (Universitätsplatz 3a) 🕒 Time: 15:00 - 20:00 🎯 For ages: 14 and up ⏳ Duration: 15 min Eric’s station offers a rare opportunity to step into the shoes of an amputee by using a prosthesis and experiencing the physical forces that impact the residual limb socket. You’ll also gain insight into the emotional and psychological struggles many amputees face, including stigma and the fight for independence. On a broader scale, Eric’s research aims to make prosthetics more sustainable. By investigating how pineapple fibre can be engineered into prosthetic sockets, he’s contributing to a future where prosthetic devices are not only biodegradable but also affordable and energy efficient. His project explores how plant fibre could revolutionize the prosthetic field, blending green technology with life-changing innovation. Come experience the reality of life after limb loss and learn about exciting advancements in sustainable prosthetics! 🌱🦾 No need to register you can just drop by. Click here for more info: https://lnkd.in/egxd9ZeE Vrije Universiteit Brussel ERIS-team: Philippe Westbroek, Alessandra Rossetti, Cristina García Timermans, Marie Pfeiffer, Mohammad Boroun, Maxime Smits #EuropeanResearchersNight #LifeAfterLimbLoss #Prosthetics #Sustainability #PlantFiber #PineappleFiber #UniversityOfGraz #VUB #LifeIsScience

🚀 What are the health risks of living in space for extended periods? Join us on Friday, September 27th, at the Planetarium in Brussels for the European Researchers' Night organized by WiseNight, where Sinem Helvacıoğlu Akyüz will present her groundbreaking research into the effects of microgravity on human health. With the rise of commercial space missions, understanding how humans can live and thrive in space has never been more important. 🗓 When: Friday, September 27th 📍 Where: Planetarium, Brussels 🕒 Time: 14:00 - 15:00 Sinem’s research focuses on the impact of simulated microgravity on drug transporters and the potential to induce cholestasis—an issue that could pose serious risks for astronauts during long-term space missions. Using in vitro liver cell models, her findings could hold the key to preventing health complications in space. Don’t miss this exciting presentation on how science is paving the way for safe, long-term human space exploration! 🌌 🎧 Can't make it? Check out Sinem’s podcast recorded exclusively for European Researchers' Night: https://lnkd.in/ebRzuvXk Vrije Universiteit Brussel ERIS-team: Philippe Westbroek, Alessandra Rossetti, Marie Pfeiffer, Cristina García Timermans, Mohammad Boroun, Maxime Smits Click here to register: https://lnkd.in/dhTXSkjJ #EuropeanResearchersNight #SpaceHealth #Microgravity #SpaceExploration #Cholestasis #LongTermMissions #Brussels #VUB #WiseNight