{"id":2172,"date":"2022-10-08T05:33:29","date_gmt":"2022-10-08T05:33:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/horizon.peachpuff-wolverine-566518.hostingersite.com\/?p=2172"},"modified":"2022-10-08T05:33:29","modified_gmt":"2022-10-08T05:33:29","slug":"first-eu-talenton-brings-science-to-life-in-competition-to-solve-global-challenges","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scienceblog.com\/horizon\/2172\/first-eu-talenton-brings-science-to-life-in-competition-to-solve-global-challenges\/","title":{"rendered":"First EU TalentOn brings science to life in competition to solve global challenges"},"content":{"rendered":"

A competition to create solutions to major challenges recently brought out the entrepreneurs and scientists at EU TalentOn.<\/p>\n

By<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0\u00a0HORIZON STAFF<\/p>\n

Criss-crossed by a network of canals, the city of Leiden (pop. 120 000) is just 16km north of Dutch capital The Hague. It has been welcoming scholars since the first university in the Netherlands was established here in the late 16th century.<\/p>\n

Recognised as a centre of scientific study from the 17th century onwards, it is fitting then that this year, Leiden is the\u00a0European City of Science 2022<\/a>\u00a0and the city threw open its doors to the first ever EU TalentOn competition, an event where young academics from all over Europe compete to find the best solutions to major challenges.<\/p>\n

The three-day intensive event sees teams of four collaborating to develop new solutions to some of society\u2019s most important challenges in a short timeframe.<\/p>\n

The pressure-cooker format means that time is limited so the normally deliberative approach of scientists is thrown out in favour of a fast turnaround time from idea to solution.<\/p>\n

Big challenges<\/strong><\/p>\n

The challenges were drawn from the five EU Missions which are Adaptation to Climate Change, Cancer, Restore our Oceans and Waters, 100 Neutral and Smart Cities and a Soil Deal for Europe. The EU Missions pool resources to devise concrete solutions to some of our greatest challenges by 2030. Follow the link for\u00a0more information about the Horizon EU Missions<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Teams of four competed for cash prizes in each Mission category while the overall winner of the inaugural EU TalentOn as decided by a jury of 18 was a project called ROOTED, by the team SoilFix.<\/p>\n

\u2018We developed a platform that will allow people to restore urban soils in their neighbourhoods or in the vicinity of their buildings\u2019 said Roberta Gatta, the SoilFix spokesperson who explained the project to Horizon Magazine.<\/p>\n

Soil community<\/strong><\/p>\n

She describes the purpose of the SoilFix platform. \u2018This is a community-based project so people can spot an area in their neighbourhood where they think there is a need for some kind of restoration of the soil. They report it, start crowdfunding and make the transformation happen.’<\/p>\n

The platform brings citizens living in urban communities into contact with soil experts who give scientific advice and partners who plan and coordinate the project. Community engagement and expert advice are key to improve soil health because even in urban areas, soil forms a complex ecosystem that needs to be kept in balance.<\/p>\n

For example, even soil bacteria have communities and it\u2019s far better if these microorganisms are from the local environment. \u2018Our idea was to somehow restore the biodiversity of these soils and to supply local (microbial) strains to the soil,\u2019 said Roberta.<\/p>\n

There have also been unfortunate cases where trees planted in an urban area to green it have been welcomed initially but within a few years, the growing roots undermine nearby houses.<\/p>\n

Within a couple of days, these four scientific strangers combined their knowledge, worked out the science and business models of the platform, and built a demonstration app they dubbed ROOTED to show how it works. They included educational elements to attract students because they are likely to be involved in such community projects.<\/p>\n

\u2018Our major point is to reduce the concrete in our cities and make our cities greener,\u2019 said Roberta, \u2018And more like Leiden, let’s say,\u2019 she said, half-joking.<\/p>\n

Greenery lacking<\/strong><\/p>\n

The four members of SoilFix had never met before applying for EU TalentOn. They are from different countries and scientific disciplines but during the early brainstorming sessions, they found they had one thing in common. They each come from cities that have a distinct lack of greenery.<\/p>\n

\u2018This was the first thing we noticed when we arrived in Leiden. The whole idea is based on the difference between Leiden and our cities.\u2019<\/p>\n

Beyond the scientific elements, the real challenge for the SoilFix team was to create a product. The EU TalentOn is unique in the way it introduces highly specialised academics to the world of business and challenges them to come up with consumer-facing solutions.<\/p>\n

\u2018We decided to go behind the science and try to create something that everyone could understand, not only scientists. And for us this was the challenge,\u2019 said Roberta. \u2018Try something that was not entirely science, but that can share science with people.\u2019<\/p>\n

Comfort zones<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2018Many of the scientists are challenged to get outside of their comfort zones because usually they might have several months or even years to evolve their research projects,\u2019 said Henrik Scheel, the \u201cMission Navigator\u201d and head coach for the teams at the EU TalentOn. \u2018And now they’re asked in two days to define a problem and come up with a world-changing idea.\u2019<\/p>\n

Scheel is based in Silicon Valley, the high-tech innovation hub in California which is home to technology companies like Apple, Google and Intel. \u2018Silicon Valley\u2019 is a byword for transformative, rapid innovation. He works as an investor and business founder but also as an educator,\u00a0coaching students in entrepreneurial skills<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2018I spend most my time working with young innovators around the world on helping them bring their ideas to life,\u2019 says Scheel, \u2018And solve big problems in their communities and in their countries and regions.\u2019<\/p>\n

With the effects of the pandemic and climate change being keenly felt, amongst other things, have there been any noticeable changes in the world of innovation in recent years in his view?<\/p>\n

Changed innovation<\/strong><\/p>\n

One thing that\u2019s clear to him is, \u2018People are a lot more ambitious\u2019 now. Investors and entrepreneurs have a new attitude, they want to build businesses that make money while doing good, \u2018not just create another app to order pizza or hail a cab,\u2019 said Scheel.<\/p>\n

Another feature he\u2019s seeing is that European start-ups will operate in the US and elsewhere but stay rooted in Europe. \u2018There’s a lot of collaboration and the world has just become a lot more globalised,\u2019 said Scheel. \u2018Teams are born global and stay that way, with distributed teams that are able to grow much faster and be more agile.\u2019<\/p>\n

EU TalentOn\u2019s ambition is to promote an entrepreneurial mindset in scientists. The SoilFix team are actively developing their idea to take their idea to the next level. Used to resolving challenges in a lab, they are learning how to navigate the maze of business rules and legal requirements.<\/p>\n

But it\u2019s as Scheel tells his students, \u2018The bigger the challenge, the bigger the opportunity.\u2019 He is a big fan of the EU TalentOn format in which academics must think more like entrepreneurs.<\/p>\n

\u2018I do think one of the big opportunities here is to merge these two worlds, the start-up world and the more academic scientific world,’ he said. \u2018And by bringing those things together, you can have real scientific projects that are being tested and brought to life much faster than what is currently being done.\u2019<\/p>\n

This article was originally published\u202fin <\/em>Horizon<\/em><\/a>, the EU Research and Innovation Magazine.\u202f\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

More info<\/p>\n

Follow the links below for more information.<\/p>\n