Eleven Eindhoven Researchers Win Major Grants to Advance Pioneering Technology
Eindhoven, Friday, 31 July 2026.
In July 2026, eleven TU Eindhoven researchers secured record-breaking Veni grants of up to €320,000 each, funding highly innovative projects like smart contact lenses that continuously monitor health through tears.
A Historic Funding Milestone for Dutch Deep-Tech
The Dutch Research Council (NWO) officially announced the latest round of Veni grant recipients, marking a historic achievement for the Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) [1][2]. Eleven early-career researchers from the institution secured these highly competitive awards, setting a new university record [2]. Designed specifically for researchers who have recently completed their PhDs, the Veni grants provide each recipient with up to €320,000 to conduct independent research over a three-year period [2][4]. This financial injection represents a maximum potential allocation of 3.520 million euros to TU/e’s pioneering projects, allowing these early-stage scientists the creative freedom to establish their own distinct lines of research [2][3].
Analyzing the Competitive Landscape
Securing a Veni grant is a notoriously difficult academic feat within the Netherlands. In this specific funding round, the NWO evaluated a total of 1,392 pre-proposals, which were eventually whittled down to 448 final submissions [1]. Ultimately, only 205 grants were awarded nationwide, resulting in an overall success rate of just 14.727% from the initial pool of pre-proposals, and 45.759% for those who advanced to the final round [1]. Demographically, the national cohort of 205 winners includes 115 female researchers, 88 male researchers, and two individuals identifying as gender X, bolstered by additional funding earmarked specifically to support female academics in the sciences, applied engineering, and social sciences [1].
Revolutionizing Medical Diagnostics and Therapeutics
Several of the winning TU/e projects focus on bridging the gap between engineering and medical sciences to develop non-invasive healthcare solutions. Inês Figueiredo Pereira from the Department of Mechanical Engineering is leading the “MICROTEAR” project, which aims to integrate microfluidic channels and valves directly into soft contact lenses [1][2]. This technology is designed to continuously and painlessly monitor patient health by collecting and analyzing biomarkers found in human tears [1][2]. Concurrently, Laura Rijns from the Department of Biomedical Engineering is developing conductive supramolecular hydrogels [1]. Her research seeks to enable the precise electrical modulation of individual neurons, which could eventually pave the way for highly targeted treatments for neurodegenerative conditions like multiple sclerosis [1].
Advancing Cryopreservation and AI-Driven Biology
Other biomedical breakthroughs in this cohort target cellular health and survival. Nadia Erkamp is utilizing an AI-driven, self-driving laboratory to analyze protein dynamics and cellular interactions, aiming to prevent disease-causing cellular behaviors [1][2]. In the realm of cryobiology, Claudia Reyes San Martin is investigating the nanoscale mechanisms behind mitochondrial damage during freezing [1]. By using quantum-based sensors to manipulate ice formation, her research aims to improve the predictability and success rates of long-term tissue and organ cryopreservation [1][2]. Additionally, Ruisheng Su is leveraging explainable AI to analyze brain blood flow and angiographic data, with the goal of improving clinical recovery outcomes for ischemic stroke patients [1][2].
Securing Autonomy and Navigating GenAI Ethics
As autonomous systems and artificial intelligence become deeply integrated into critical infrastructure, safety and ethics have emerged as paramount concerns. Siyuan Liu from the Department of Electrical Engineering is addressing these challenges through the “STAMP” project, which designs security-aware task planning and control software to prevent “information leakage” in multi-agent autonomous networks [1][2]. Similarly, Fahim Shakib is establishing the theoretical foundations for complexity-aware, safe AI in dynamical systems, ensuring that intelligent systems can be safely deployed on resource-constrained platforms [1][2]. These technical safeguards are complemented by Hilde Weerts’ work, which merges computer science with legal frameworks to create interdisciplinary standards that evaluate the real-world effectiveness of algorithms and protect fundamental human rights [1][2].
Rethinking Responsibility and Soft Robotics
Addressing the societal implications of AI, Marianna Capasso from the Philosophy and Ethics Group is developing a social justice-sensitive framework to evaluate moral responsibility in Generative AI (GenAI) [1][4]. Her project moves beyond individual actor blame to analyze the structural and social conditions that cause GenAI-related harms [1][4]. Meanwhile, in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Luuk van Laake is designing bio-inspired fluidic circuits for autonomous soft robots [2][3]. Van Laake, who returned to academia after a decade-long career in industry and collaborative art, intends to use physical environmental interactions to help transition soft robots from controlled laboratory settings into real-world applications such as search-and-rescue and medical assistance [2][3].
Strategic Regional Impact and Future Growth
This record-breaking academic success directly aligns with broader regional initiatives in the Brainport Eindhoven area. TU/e is currently participating in the national “Beethoven” project, a strategic effort designed to bolster the Dutch semiconductor and high-tech ecosystem [5]. As part of this commitment, the university has pledged to educate an additional 2,000 engineers between 2026 and 2030, expanding its specialized Master’s programs across mathematics, computer science, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and applied physics [5]. The pioneering research lines established by these eleven Veni laureates will undoubtedly enrich the university’s academic portfolio and support this rapid regional expansion [2][5].