The University of Bergen is taking home more than NOK 170 million in the Research Council's grants for December. The funds range from a new innovation center and groundbreaking health projects to top-notch research in physics, seabed minerals and digital technology.
One of the largest awards goes to the new Innovation Center for Neuroresilience (ICoN), led by Professor Charalampos Tzoulis at Clinical Department 1. The center will receive NOK 96 million and status as a Center for Research-Driven Innovation (SFI). The goal is to develop knowledge and technology that can prevent Parkinson's disease and dementia. UiB is also a partner in SFI SAINT, led by NTNU, which will research nuclear power as a zero-emission technology for shipping. Both centers are part of the Research Council's investment in eight new SFIs, which together receive NOK 768 million to strengthen the interaction between research and industry.
In health, the PreRule study, led by Kristin Moberg Aakre at Clinical Institute 2, will receive NOK 14.9 million. The project will develop methods for rapid and precise diagnosis of heart attacks already in the ambulance.
In the top research arena, Kristian Ytre-Hauge at the Department of Physics and Technology receives 40 million kroner for the BioPrecise Protons project, which will contribute to more precise and gentle proton therapy in cancer treatment.
Through the FRIPRO scheme, Dinara Yangeldina at the Center for Women's and Gender Research is receiving 5.6 million kroner for the project To kill an empire?, which investigates how Russian musicians in exile use music as political protest during wartime.
In geosciences, Sabina Strmic Palinkas is awarded NOK 16 million for NorSeMin: Unlocking Mineral Processes, a project that will provide new insight into processes related to seabed minerals and environmental impact.
In the enabling technologies category, Simone Grassini at the Department of Social Psychology receives NOK 11.9 million for InfoSHIELD, a project that will develop technological tools to strengthen digital resilience, uncover disinformation and understand user vulnerability.