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Knowledge in use: NOK 4,5 million to innovative UiO researchers

21 projects have been granted funding from the rector's office to develop solutions to meet societal needs. We congratulate all the research groups!

The researchers that have been granted funding.

Arne Klungland, Atle Jensen, Biswajyoti Sahu, Crina Damşa, Hanne Scholz, Julien Mayor, Kristin Martinsen, Marianne Hiorth, Pål Trosvik, Trond Vidar Hansen, Ago Mrsa, Arkalekha Mandal, Bineeth Kuriakose, Eva Smorodina, Joachim Mossige, Kjetil Retterstøl, Léon Reubsaet, Ole Smørdal, Pia Sundqvist, Svend Davanger and Yücel Karabiyik.

The result of the announcement of the funds the University of Oslo (UiO) has earmarked for early-phase support for innovation projects is ready.

10 projects receive up to NOK 400,000 each for the test and further development phase, while 11 projects receive NOK 50,000 each for the idea and concept phase.

The academic breadth at UiO is clearly evident in both the 29 applications that came in and the 21 projects that are now receiving funding. Researchers from five faculties – the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, the Faculty of Medicine, the Faculty of Educational Sciences, the Faculty of Social Sciences and the Faculty of Humanities – have been awarded funding.

See an overview of projects that receive an award at the bottom of the article.

Higher quality of the applications

Project manager for the call, senior innovation advisor in the UiO Growth House, Ivar Bergland, says that the quality of the applications across disciplines was higher this year than previous years.

Vice-rector for research and innovation Per Morten Sandset is very pleased with this.

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

– Early-phase innovation funding is very important to realize that research results are translated into knowledge that is put into use. This time we are particularly pleased that the breadth of the applications, which includes many applications also from our environments within humanities and social sciences, says Sandset.

All applicants are now offered follow-up from the UiO Growth House in the form of guidance that can help them further with the innovation idea.

The projects that have been granted support in 2024

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
UV – The Faculty of Educational Sciences
HF – The Faculty of Humanities

The test and further development phase – 10 projects up to NOK 400,000 each

Title of project, project leader, Faculty, Department/Centre

  • Innovative Technology for Identification and Detection of Cancer Markers
    Arne Klungland, MED, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Centre for Embryology and Healthy Development (CRESCO)
  • Testing of a wave energy converter (WEC) in the new 3D wave lab
    Atle Jensen, MN, Department of Mathematics
  • FFPE-insituATAC
    Biswajyoti Sahu, MED, Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway (NCMM)
  • SIMTEAM: Data-informed Reflection Tool for Teamwork Simulation Training
    Crina Damşa, UV, Department of Education
  • Stem cell-derived alpha cells
    Hanne Scholz, MED, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, SFF - Hybrid Technology Hub
  • TLex – Towards large-scale and unbiased online language screening
    Julien Mayor, SV, Department of Psychology
  • Saft parents, brave children
    Kristin Martinsen, SV, Department of Psychology
  • Development of a new product to ease discomfort from superficial oral lesions
    Marianne Hiorth, MN, Department of Pharmacy
  • DNA diagnostic method for characterizing the human diet
    Pål Trosvik, MN, Department of Biosciences
  • Resolving bacterial infections
    Trond Vidar Hansen, MN, Department of Pharmacy

The idea and concept phase – 11 projects of NOK 50,000 each

Title of project, project leader, Faculty, Department/Centre

  • Smart Affinity Samplers with Cell Separation
    Ago Mrsa, MN, Department of Pharmacy
  • Design and thin film engineering of novel organic donor acceptor ambipolar semiconductor cocrystals towards synaptic field effect transistor fabrication
    Arkalekha Mandal, MN, Department of Chemistry, Centre for Materials Science and Nanotechnology (SMN)
  • EduSynth: AI-based Synthetic Data Generator for Enhanced Education Analytics
    Bineeth Kuriakose, UV, Department of Education
  • Supercharging antibodies with catalytic activity
    Eva Smorodina, MED, Institute of Clinical Medicine
  • Flows of life: Flow based incubator for extended live cell imaging
    Joachim Mossige, HF, Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies in Rhythm, Time and Motion (RITMO)
  • Dietary tutoring and exercise to battle metabolic risk factors for cardiovascular disease in Norwegian patients with severe mental illness
    Kjetil Retterstøl, MED, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences
  • Smart Samplers for Quantitative protein determination
    Léon Reubsaet, MN, Department of Pharmacy
  • Providing Talkwall in a learning ecolog
    Ole Smørdal, UV, Department of Education
  • STAGE Young Learner Vocabulary Test (SYLT-VOC)
    Pia Sundqvist, UV, Department of Teacher Education and School Research
  • Brain Health Management (Hjernehelse mestring)
    Svend Davanger, MED, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences
  • An advanced digital stethoscope with diagnostic assistance
    Yücel Karabiyik, MN, Department of informatics

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. In 2024 UiO set aside NOK 5 million UiO for this.

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, could apply for support for the development of ideas and concepts. Those who have progressed a little further in the process could apply for support for testing and further development of their innovation projects. Researchers at all faculties could apply for support, and it is a goal that the funding should reflect the breadth of UiO's academic fields.

The applications were evaluated based on the three evaluation criteria: innovation potential, societal benefit and feasibility (only for the test and further development phase). The UiO Growth House has been responsible for the application process and has involved several representatives in UiO's innovation ecosystem in the work.

By Norunn K. Torheim, UiO Growth House
Published Nov. 15, 2024 10:53 AM - Last modified Nov. 18, 2024 8:30 AM