Biochips, Dutch quantum and urban planning
Welcome to your lowkey, easy-to-follow newsletter about the fundament of (almost) everything. Here's Aafke's Saturday CHIPS!
There are two kinds of people. One group loves cilantro, and the other thinks it tastes like soap. I belong to the second group. Somehow, the first group ALWAYS finds it necessary to say they think I’m acting out. Perhaps the biochips from InsectSense will end this prayer forever.
This Wageningen-based startup is on a mission to revolutionize taste measurement. Using biochips packed with human and insect receptors (yes, you read that right-bugs are in on the science!), plus high-tech software, they can objectively analyze flavors like never before. InsectSense scored €800,000 pre-seed investment earlier this month.
The ReceptomiX technology objectively and quickly measures how molecules' bioactivity affects taste perception and health effects. Unlike traditional analytical methods that only identify the molecules in a product, ReceptomiX mimics insect antennae and combines it with human DNA to detect them and gain insight into how humans perceive these molecules. Cool, right? Read more here!
How Julia Feddersen boosts Dutch quantum
Quantum technology is poised to significantly impact various industries, and the Netherlands plays a vital role in it. The Hague invested €615 million in developing quantum, and in 2024, €40 million of VC was invested in the Dutch quantum ecosystem—compared to €15 million in 2023. So, it seems we’re on the right track.
But, if you compare those amounts to that of other (European) countries, the Netherlands lags behind. How can we change that? I asked Julia Feddersen - and many others - this question at The State of Dutch Tech. Julia has been a senior advisor in EU programs at Quantum Delta NL since 2022. Read the article here.
Scenexus: the startup seeking to improve urban planning worldwide radically
The brand new spin-off from TNO received a €1.6 million investment from Lumo Labs and TNO immediately upon its founding. I spoke with Jeroen Borst (CEO) and Bart Vuijk (CCO) about the company's origins, challenges, and great ambition: to improve urban planning worldwide radically.
Borst: “With the power of GPU (graphics processing unit, ed.), we could perform the same calculations in seconds to minutes. Our goal was clear: within the time an alderman finishes his coffee, he should have an answer to his policy question.” This innovation turned out to be faster and more fundamental: an integrated approach combining traffic, environment, and other urban aspects. Read how chips can change urban planning here.
And here’s more news on chips:
Layoff wave: Dutch chip maker NXP sees both profits and sales fall
PHOTON IP raises €4.75 million for advanced low-power optical chips
Have a lovely weekend (especially for those who think cilantro tastes like soap)!
Aafke Eppinga
editor-in-chief at Innovation Origins