2 science projects win up to billion euros each
Source: Agencies |
January 29, 2013, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
TWO science projects - one to map the human brain, the other to explore the extraordinary properties of the carbon-based material graphene - were declared the winners yesterday of an EU technologies contest and would receive up to 1 billion euros (US$1.35 billion) each over the next 10 years.
"European's position as a knowledge superpower depends on thinking the unthinkable and exploiting the best ideas," European Commission Vice President Neelie Kroes said yesterday. "This multi-billion competition rewards home-grown scientific breakthroughs and shows that when we are ambitious we can develop the best research in Europe."
The Human Brain Project will use supercomputers to create the most detailed model of the human brain to date, then simulate drugs and treatments for neurological diseases and related ailments.
"The pharmaceutical industry won't do this, computing companies won't do this - there's too much fundamental science," said Henry Markram, a professor of neuroscience at the Ecole Polytechnique Federale of Lausanne in Switzerland. "This is one project which absolutely needs public funding."
The other project will investigate the possible uses of graphene, the thinnest known material, which conducts electricity far better than copper, is at least 100 times stronger than steel, and has unique optical properties. Important future uses include the development of fast, flexible and strong consumer electronics, bendable personal communication devises, lighter airplanes and artificial retinas.
The project will be led by Professor Jari Kinaret of the Chalmers University of Technology in Goteborg, Sweden.
Each of the projects will receive up to 54 million euros from the European Commission, with the rest of the money coming from national governments and other sources.
"European's position as a knowledge superpower depends on thinking the unthinkable and exploiting the best ideas," European Commission Vice President Neelie Kroes said yesterday. "This multi-billion competition rewards home-grown scientific breakthroughs and shows that when we are ambitious we can develop the best research in Europe."
The Human Brain Project will use supercomputers to create the most detailed model of the human brain to date, then simulate drugs and treatments for neurological diseases and related ailments.
"The pharmaceutical industry won't do this, computing companies won't do this - there's too much fundamental science," said Henry Markram, a professor of neuroscience at the Ecole Polytechnique Federale of Lausanne in Switzerland. "This is one project which absolutely needs public funding."
The other project will investigate the possible uses of graphene, the thinnest known material, which conducts electricity far better than copper, is at least 100 times stronger than steel, and has unique optical properties. Important future uses include the development of fast, flexible and strong consumer electronics, bendable personal communication devises, lighter airplanes and artificial retinas.
The project will be led by Professor Jari Kinaret of the Chalmers University of Technology in Goteborg, Sweden.
Each of the projects will receive up to 54 million euros from the European Commission, with the rest of the money coming from national governments and other sources.
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