International mobility, inter-sectoral exposure, and inter-disciplinarity
Interuniversity collaboration
Leiden University, Delft University of Technology, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Leiden University Medical Centre and Erasmus Medical Centre have a long tradition of bottom-up collaborations between excellent research groups in the fields of natural sciences and technology - often as part of larger partnerships. Researchers work together in nanotechnology, nano-biology, quantum physics, biotechnology, nanotechnology and bio-nanoscience, chemistry, mathematics and computer science, with interuniversity research groups operating at the forefront of research.
At the interface of medicine, the life sciences, and technology, researchers successfully collaborate in Medical Delta, a consortium of the three universities, Erasmus Medical Centre, and Leiden University Medical Centre, as well as public-sector bodies and businesses.
The three universities formalized their partnership in 2012, through the Leiden-Delft-Erasmus strategic alliance, with the aim of stimulating and extending the collaboration. They founded eight joint multidisciplinary centres in which researchers and students work together on complex regional and global societal issues, which ask for a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approach. www.leiden-delft-erasmus.nl
The eight joint Leiden-Delft-Erasmus centres are:
- Centre for BOLD Cities;
- Centre for Education and Learning;
- Centre for Frugal Innovation in Africa;
- Centre for Global Heritage and Development;
- Centre for Metropolis and Mainport;
- Centre for Safety and Security;
- Centre for Sustainability;
- European Research Centre for Economic and Financial Governance.
Issues in society require far-reaching cooperation between universities, the business sector, government, and other educational and research institutions.The Leiden-Delft-Erasmus centres and Medical Delta work with societal partners and form a basis for further academic and public-private partnerships. They contain structural joint activities, providing for even more opportunities to realise short inter- and multidisciplinary internships at the five partner institutions.
Applicants are invited to express in their training plan interests towards utilizing their academic skills in these settings.
Region: Province of South- Holland
The five participants are all located within 40 km distance of each other in the province of South-Holland, one of Europe’s most dynamic and knowledge-intensive regions, an important part of the country’s economic centre (in the top three for income per capita) and seat of the national government. The province hosts a relatively large share of the nation’s innovative, knowledge based, technology oriented start-up companies and full-grown businesses (one of 12 provinces, over 20 % of the nation’s turnover).
All five partners are deeply involved in cooperation with non-academic partners such as local start-up incubators and science parks, public government bodies and industry. There is wide variety of options for cooperation with several partners in industry, government, start-ups or societal organisations. High-tech start-ups and mature companies are located near or on campus. This situation provides a wealth of opportunities for LEaDing Fellows to become involved in activities involving non-academic partners.
The five knowledge institutions have established strong and innovative public-private partnerships across a broad range of technology sectors. These include Medical Delta, Cleantech Delta, SmartPort, and The Hague Security Delta. Our knowledge and expertise are helping to address regional issues in such areas as sustainable energy, security, urbanization and accessibility.
With their extensive research infrastructure and specialist science parks, including highly successful incubators, our campuses make attractive locations for businesses and for educational and research institutions.
The three universities are members of or work closely with InnovationQuarter (IQ) and the Rotterdam-The Hague Metropolitan Region (MRDH) and are represented on the regional Economic Board Zuid-Holland (EPZ).
Inter-sectoral exposure
Cooperating with non-academic partners such as established businesses, start-up technology companies, government authorities and other public organizations can open up new career prospects for the selected postdocs.
The researchers will be introduced to their supervisors’ networks but also invited to make their own contacts in public and private organizations in the region.
For example the Leiden Bio Science Park: the largest life science cluster in the Netherlands. In Leiden Bio Science Park about 93 companies together with research institutes, Leiden University and the LUMC are dedicated to the development of innovative drugs, vaccines, diagnostics, and platform technologies.