A scientific excellence programme between TU Delft and France
To foster and strengthen collaboration between TU Delft and French universities and research organisations, TU Delft France Initiative (TDFI) started an open consortium to promote research, innovation and researchers’ mobility between TU Delft and French universities and research organisations. TDFI is established in spring of 2023.
What is TDFI?
The TU Delft France Initiative is an open consortium to promote research, innovation and researchers’ mobility between TU Delft and major French academic and research institutions, with a strong focus on student and researcher mobility. Founding partners are TU Delft and the Embassy of France in the Netherlands. The consortium agreement was signed by the Pro Vice Rector for International Affairs of the TU Delft and the Ambassador of France during the State Visit of the President of France, Emmanuel Macron to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, 12 April 2023.
The executive board consists of representatives of the two founding partners, Prof. Dr. E. Voûte, Pro Vice Rector for International Affairs and His Excellency, F. Alabrune, Ambassador of France in the Netherlands, and the presidents of the scientific and sponsorship committees as well as the Director of the Institut Français in the Netherlands. The secretarial support and execution of the initiative is entrusted to Delft University Fund.
The sponsorship committees consists of C-level representatives from corporations in France and the Netherlands. The committees have different configurations to engage in dialogue about leading academic research themes, such as sustainable aviation, quantum technologies, artificial intelligence, and maritime engineering.
The scientific committee is chaired by former European Research Council President, Professor Dr. J.P. Bourguinon. Other committee members are relevant and eminent scientists in the respective fields selected by the Executive Board. These are:
Robbert Dijkgraaf, Former Dutch Minister of Education, Culture and Science
Marwan Lahoud, Aeronautical engineer and former Executive Vice President, Strategy and Marketing, Airbus Group
Philippe Perrin, Test pilot with Airbus and former astronaut with ESA
Maureen Clerc, Director of Sofia Antipolis Research Center
Wim van Saarloos, Professor of Theoretical Physics at the University of Leiden Van Saarloos
Louise Fresco, Former Director of the Agriculture Department at the FAO, Director since 2014 of Wageningen University and specialist in life sciences.
TDFI is a new and unchartered territory to foster academic collaboration between two countries in Europe with long standing academic collaborations and friendships.
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Ena Voûte, co-chair of the TDFI Executive Committee
Calls for joint research proposals
How can you apply? Are you a researcher at TU Delft or at a French research institute and do you wish to forge a TU Delft - France collaboration? Then, you are kindly invited to submit a joint proposal.
Now open:
Call for Sustainable Aviation research – deadline 1 October 2024 The first phase of TDFI, spanning from 2023 to 2027 is devoted to enhancing sustainable aviation and focuses on a key area of innovation: new and second life light materials (focusing on circularity and sustainability). The call for applications for sustainable aviation is published here.
To launch the initiative a first joint research project was awarded by TDFI between ISAE-SUPAERO and TU Delft’s Faculty of Aerospace Engineering in the spring of 2023. The project started in august 2023 and is well underway.
Composites and new connection technologies are key in the transition to a sustainable aviation. We have to reduce the demand for energy and we have to look for sustainable power supplies. Reduction of weight and a lower aerodynamic resistance are needed for an energy efficient aircraft. Alternative energy supplies however need more volume for storage and/or cause more weight. By using composites in an optimal way, significant weight reduction and even lower aerodynamic resistance can be achieved. Reuse of waste and the use of bio (inspired) materials will contribute to a sustainable aerospace.
This project is funded jointly by L’Ambassade de France and TU Delft
Fostering industry collaboration
Multi-party collaborations are essential to translate complex technological developments into innovations. Companies are encouraged to contribute to the promotion of research, innovation and researcher mobility by donating to TDFI’s programmes in their areas of interest. This way we jointly bridge the gap between academic and industrial research and develop innovative bilateral research programmes on topic of common interest, such as sustainable aviation and quantum technology.
Participation in TU Delft France Initiative – TDFI is categorised in three levels of commitment:
€50K per annum for three years. Benefits are access to the relevant innovation ecosystem, visibility in the Delft innovation ecosystem and the tax incentive.
€150K per annum for three years. Benefits are on top of the Silver level benefits: meetings with students and researchers, optional access to knowledge, meetings with the relevant committees, taking the floor at sponsoring partner events selected by the executive board.
€300K per annum for three years. Benefits are on top of Silver and Gold: priority access to results, participation in governance committees.
