DONG Energy and Aalborg University are jointly strengthening both energy and environmental research as well as the education of the energy engineers of the future.
Aalborg University (AAU) and DONG Energy today signed a research agreement of great significance. The strategic framework agreement is to create an even broader and stronger range of energy-related activities within both research, development and education. Over a period of three years, DONG Energy will be granting DKK 15 million towards research projects and the energy technology programmes at AAU.
The agreement objectives include the exchange between DONG Energy and AAU of scientific knowledge of energy technology as well as the joint development of new energy and environmental technologies with direct relevance to future energy generation.
“Energy is a key area for Aalborg University, so we are extremely delighted to be able to strengthen both our research, and our education programmes as well as our collaboration with the industry through an agreement of this magnitude. There is no doubt whatsoever that the important international position, which Aalborg University currently holds within the area of energy technology, will be strengthened further by this framework agreement,” says Frede Blaabjerg, Head of the Faculty of Engineering, Science and Medicine at AAU.
He is pleased that the framework agreement at the same time strengthens the research into future energy as well as the collaboration with DONG Energy and the energy-related engineering programmes, where AAU wishes to be at the cutting edge. The strategic agreement will, amongst other things, include financing an internationally renowned professor, a whole range of research projects, development of the scientific network, and an annual joint conference.
At DONG Energy, CEO Anders Eldrup stresses that a close collaboration between the company and AAU is of great importance
”We have an exciting task ahead of us in generating energy for the future. To that end, we need highly qualified personnel that can rise to technically demanding challenges. At the same time, we need to be fully abreast of the latest knowledge within energy and climate technologies. Here, Aalborg University can contribute, and collaboration across industry and educational and research institutions is precisely what will determine whether Denmark can be in the lead when it comes to future energy technology research,” says Anders Eldrup.
The signing of the framework agreement, coincides with AAU becoming a shareholder of MBD Offshore Power in Frederikshavn, acquiring a 10 per cent stake. MBD, which has DONG Energy as its principal shareholder, is engaged in offshore-based renewable energy and has been collaborating with AAU since 2001. One outcome of this collaboration has been the development of a new type of offshore wind turbine foundation. MBD focuses especially on the development of innovative solutions within offshore wind farms.
Media Relations
Ulrik Frøhlke
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Aalborg University and DONG Energy in collaboration on the energy of the future