Drenthe?s Provincial Executive subsidises sensor technology

Drenthe's Provincial Executive has approved subsidies for three northern sensor technology projects. The amount involved totals approximately 2.6 million euros.

Drenthe's Provincial Executive has approved subsidies for three northern sensor technology projects. The amount involved totals approximately 2.6 million euros.

The first project is for the continued development of the new study programme 'Hanze Institute of Technology' in Assen. The study programme, in which organisations such as TNO, Astron, SUN Microsystems and the NAM are involved, concentrates on new openings for sensor technology. The Provincial Executive is also making funding available for start-up financing for research institute INCAS3. The plan is for the Assen-based institute to develop into a leading scientific organisation employing seventy people by 2012.

The lion's share of the subsidy has been earmarked for the Sensor City project, in which the Municipality of Assen and the Province of Drenthe are working together on a network of measurement points in and around Assen. The network will provide information for aspects such as noise and air quality measurements and the movement of traffic flows. Drenthe's capital is thus setting out to profile itself as a testbed for sensor technology.