The adjuvant potential of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for vaccines depends on a detailed understanding of its innate immune signalling properties, in order to achieve the right balance between immunogenicity and reactogenicity. By biosynthetic engineering of meningococcal LPS, we have obtained a unique panel of mutants covering a wide range of endotoxic activity, from the maximum wildtype level to almost totally inactive. However, this is based on activation of the TLR4/MD-2 receptor, and recent studies have revealed that LPS endotoxic activity is also mediated by the intracellular receptor caspase 4 (caspase 11 in the mouse). At present, it is not clear how this contributes to the overall biological activity of LPS, and how it can be modified by structural alterations to the lipid A moiety of LPS. A major contribution of the proposed project will be to provide for the first time a detailed structure-function relationship for this LPS-caspase 4/11 interaction. This information will be crucial in the further evaluation of the adjuvant potential of these LPS derivatives, as well as giving more insight in the role of LPS modification in the interaction of pathogenic bacteria with the innate immune system. LPS mutants with differential effects on the TLR4 and caspase pathways will provide a unique opportunity to tease apart the contributions of both pathways to the overall LPS biological activity. In addition, we will explore the role of delivery of LPS by OMVs (outer membrane vesicles) to the intracellular pathway activation. A second and complementary contribution will be the development of novel LPS purification methods, which will also lead to better understanding of LPS structure-function relationships by allowing the separation of complicated LPS mixtures in their individual molecular species. In addition, they will pave the way for purification procedures which can be upscaled for making clinical grade LPS in human vaccine applications.

In order to cope with an increasing global population, rapid depletion of many resources, increasing environmental pressures and climate change, Europe needs to radically change its approach to production, consumption, processing, storage, recycling and disposal of biological resources. The Europe 2020 strategy calls for a Bioeconomy as a key element for smart and green growth in Europe. However, the complex inter-dependencies that exist between challenges can lead to trade-offs, such as the controversy about competing uses of biomass. The latter arose from concerns about the potential impact of the growing demand for renewable biological resources by other sectors on food security, the use of scare natural resources and the environment in Europe and third countries. On 13th of February 2012 the EU launched the Bioeconomy strategy and action plan on "Innovating for Sustainable Growth: a Bioeconomy for Europe", which aims to pave the way to a more innovative, resource efficient and competitive society that reconciles food security with the sustainable use of renewable resources for industrial purposes, while ensuring environmental protection. In this respect the Strategy stresses that participatory models are needed that engage citizens and end-users in order to reinforce the relationship between science, society and policy making. More informed dialogues will in fact allow science and innovation to provide a sound basis for policy making and informed societal choices by taking into account legitimate societal concerns and needs in the Bioeconomy. In this framework, and in support of the review and implementation of the strategy, this 4th Bioeconomy Stakeholders Conference on April 12-13 2016 will provided opportunity for public awareness raising and for an informed dialogue on the progress of the Bioeconomy, involving researchers, stakeholders, policy makers and the civil society at large across the whole Bioeconomy value chain.

The Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport will organize an international conference focusing on the implementation eHealth in health systems and the use by citizens. This conference will be organized in joint cooperation with the European Commission and aligned with the European conference of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, and together is called the 'eHealth Week 2016'. It is scheduled 6-10 of June 2016 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

The overall objectives of the project are to deliver services designed to enhance the innovation management capacity of SMEs in the Netherlands between 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2017. These services will comprise both Key Account Management services under the SME Instrument of Horizon 2020 and services to Enhance the iInovation Management Capacity of SMEs. The sub objectives for the first category are: to develop regional SME innovation management capacity by carrying out an innovation management gap analysis and developing and implementing a coaching action plan for a specific project under the H2020 SME Instrument. The sub objectives for the second category are: to identify promising SMEs capable of growth and successful internationalisation, to carry out a diagnostic audit to identify gaps in the regional SME innovation management capacity and to develop and implement a tailored action plan to make the innovation system in the company more efficient and effective.

The overall objectives of the project are to deliver services designed to enhance the innovation management capacity of SMEs in The Netherlands between 15 July and 31 December 2014. These services will comprise both key account management services under the SME Instrument of Horizon 2020 and services to enhance the innovation management capacities of SMEs. The sub objectives for the first category are: to develop regional SME innovation management capacity by carrying out an innovation management gap analysis and developing and implementing an coaching action plan for a specific project under the H2020 SME Instrument. The sub objectives for the second category are: to identify promising SMEs capable of growth and successful internationalisation, to carry out a diagnostic audit to identify gaps in the regional SME innovation management capacity and to develop and implement a tailored action plan to make the innovation system in the company more efficient and effective. Our goal is to supply innovation management support services to 10 beneficiaries of the H2020 SME Instrument and 40 SMEs with a high potential to grow and benefit from internationalisation outside the SME Instrument.