On 23-24 February the European University Association will organise the inaugural event of the European Platform of Universities Engaged in Energy Research, Education and Training (EPUE). The opening event will be hosted by Delft University of Technology.
The European University Association (EUA), an association representing universities across Europe, has decided to create this Platform in order to bring together university-based energy research and education programmes. The aim is to enable universities to play their full role in the European Union’s Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET-PLAN) and in the European Commission’s proposed HORIZON 2020 research programme (2014-2020). This inaugural event will therefore bring together leading academic experts, policy makers and other key stakeholders in the field of energy research, education and training from across Europe.
At present, over 160 European universities with research and training capacity in different energy-related fields, ranging from science, engineering and technology to bio-sciences, medical/life sciences and economics, social sciences and the humanities, have indicated their interest in joining the Platform. The EPUE has already been recognised as a partner within the European Energy Research Alliance (EERA) of the EU SET-PLAN.
The role of universities
In order to highlight the distinctive role of universities in responding to this societal challenge, EUA is carrying out a survey on the research and education capacities of Europe’s universities in the field of energy that examines the types of research and training programmes, sources of funding, and how universities collaborate with external partners. Findings from this survey, which will be presented at the meeting in Delft, will provide a unique profile of the role of European universities in the field of energy research and training/education.
Discussions at the event in Delft will focus on a number of key issues including the future role of universities in forthcoming energy research and training activities in HORIZON 2020 and in the EU energy policy framework of the Energy Roadmap 2050 and discuss current examples of best practice in energy research and training and research collaborations with industry partners. It will include high-level contributions from Professor Torbjorn Digernes (Rector, Norwegian University of Science and Technology NTNU, Trondheim, and Chairman of EPUE), Dr. Henrik Bindslev (Chairman of EERA Executive Committee), from the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, the Directorate-General for Energy, and from university researchers who have been involved in the initial development of the Platform.
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