NWO Take‑off 2 rewards for sustainable chemistry and a world first in drug driving screening
Two young academics, Olivier Lugier (UvA) and Pepijn van Rutten (VU), have secured NWO Take‑off 2 grants! The funding helps researchers turn innovative ideas into commercially viable products. Read on to learn more about the plans behind Nano Hybrids’ sustainable chemistry and Respira’s nitrous‑oxide breath test for traffic safety.
University of Amsterdam
Nano Hybrids: sustainable applications of ultra‑small particles for industrial gas detection
Olivier Lugier is the researcher behind Nano Hybrids, a spin‑off with unique expertise in producing sustainable nanoparticles: extremely small materials with special properties. Olivier explains:
“Nanoparticles are very small spheres, in our case made of metal. Nanoparticles have all kinds of applications, for example corona testing. Because the particles are so small, the surface area of the test becomes larger and the chemical reaction proceeds faster – and so you get your test result sooner.”
The new NWO Take‑off 2 funding will be used to develop new applications for gas detectors. These devices are already widely used in industry and are expected to gain ground in biotechnology as well.
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
A world first in drug driving screening
In the Netherlands alone, traffic accidents involving nitrous oxide claim around 20 lives each year. Now there is NitrousTest: a portable nitrous‑oxide breathalyzer designed for roadside traffic checks. Developed and patented by VU spin‑off Respira, this reliable and accurate sensor is a worldwide first for effective screening of nitrous‑oxide use behind the wheel.
With the €450,000 NWO Take‑off 2 grant, Respira will produce the first versions of NitrousTest and collaborate with key partners. CEO Pepijn van Rutten says:
“Thanks to the NWO funding, we can continue our work and strengthen our team. This year we aim to do pilots and validation studies as we move toward market launch. We are driven by one mission: reducing nitrous‑oxide–related traffic accidents through the preventive power of our breathalyser.”
Read more about awarded grants and recognitions:
