Comprehensive Analytical Science and Technology (COAST)

TA-COAST will develop innovative analytical technologies with which

  • innovative R&D can be performed with substantially higher discriminating power (location, time and composition) and/or
  • cheap and robust analyses can be performed in the field, in the chemical process or to help the consumer/patient (point of care).

Aim 

The objective of the TA-COAST R&D programme is to advance research, development and innovation in analytical science for the benefit of its application areas and science as a whole. To maximize innovation and valorisation potential, the programme is designed to promote and facilitate cross-fertilization between basic sciences, analytical technologies and application areas. The R&D programme should lead to breakthroughs in analytical technologies that will find their applications in multiple areas. The programme of this TA-COAST call is structured around three R&D themes:

  • Revolutions in Resolutions
  • Analysis of Intact Systems
  • Bringing the Lab to the Sample

These themes were chosen for their relevance to all application areas. The final portfolio of the R&D programme will be a well-balanced mix of these R&D themes.

Call

The TA-COAST budget in this first call is ca. M€ 6.75 (M€ 4.5 subsidy from government, € M2.25 to be funded by cash and in-kind contributions from private partners (industry, research institutes, SMEs). The total overall budget is ca. M€ 9, when the implicit matching of in-kind contributions from knowledge institutes (as defined by NWO definition, mainly universities) is included).

Closing date for the submission of proposals for the first round was 30 August 2011. Fourteen proposals were received of which nine were granted in December 2011. 24 private partners, including 10 SMEs, and 17 academic groups will work in these granted projects on improvements of resolving power, analysis of intact systems and miniaturization of analytical instrumentation. See press release of the granted projects.

Office

A programme office within NWO and TI-COAST (Technology Institute) will support TA-COAST.