Launch large-scale public-private partnership
Today the new research programme Computational sciences for energy research was officially launched. This large-scale research programme is a joint initiative of Shell, NWO and FOM. It includes more than 75 PhD positions as well as large-scale investments in the research infrastructure for computational sciences, the development of CO2-neutral fuels and the reliability of smart energy systems. The programme was launched during a symposium in which the 22 best project proposals from the first funding round of the programme were presented.
Public-private partnership
The public-private research programme is vitally important for the Dutch energy sector and fits well within the top sector Energy. In the programme, large-scale investments will be made in the Dutch knowledge infrastructure, for example in new personnel through tenure track appointments and in hardware. As a training programme for highly qualified researchers, the programme will also help to build up the relationship between Indian and Dutch scientists. Shell is funding the training positions of the researchers who will work within Shell's 'Technology Center Bangalore' upon completing their PhD research. The NWO contribution is for the strengthening of the research programme and is open to both Dutch and foreign researchers.
"This programme is a very good example of public-private partnership," says NWO chair Jos Engelen. "It shows how academia and industry can find each other in the joint funding of groundbreaking fundamental research and how the quality of researchers trained in the Netherlands is internationally valued."
Symposium
During the symposium several short lectures were given about the opportunities and challenges within computational sciences and energy research, public-private partnerships and the top sector's policy, high-quality training programmes for researchers and open innovation at Shell. To mark the official start of the programme the Dutch researchers who will lead the projects awarded funding were symbolically linked to the PhD researchers they had selected. Those researchers will start their PhD research this year.
Projects awarded funding
The 22 project proposals selected from the first round of the programme are listed on the webpage of the Computational sciences for energy research programme.
Further information
About the Computational sciences for energy research programme.
About the mini-symposium.
Contact
On behalf of NWO/FOM: Gabby Zegers, Head of Communication, FOM Foundation, +31 (0)30 60 01 222.
On behalf of Shell: Wim van de Wiel, Media officer Shell Nederland, +31 (0)70 37 78 750.