Working with the EU on climate change

CLIMATE CHANGE: Climate-KIC is Europe’s largest climate innovation initiative and includes both the private and public sectors, with partners drawn from both private companies and high-ranking academic institutions. The initiative is part of the EU’s efforts to work towards a sustainable, climate-friendly future.

As a partner in  Climate-KIC, NTNU can contribute to a much greater degree to solving complicated, multi-faceted issues that result from climate change. Many of the challenges the planet faces require expertise on everything from energy and the environment to mobility, the economy and public attitudes. NTNU’s goal is to create a society with steadily decreasing greenhouse gas emissions, the university said in a recent press release.

NTNU’s main areas of expertise are in technology and natural sciences, but the university also has a focus on the humanities, social sciences, art, architecture and medicine. This gives the university unique opportunities for interdisciplinary research and education. This includes climate studies, where NTNU is involved in several long-term programmes with other universities.

The university also has great expertise in energy and sustainability— two interdisciplinary areas that are very important to Climate-KIC.

Susanne Pedersen, director of Climate-KIC Nordic, is very happy to have NTNU on board as the first Norwegian partner.

“NTNU has shown immense engagement and dedication since we first began talking. They’ve worked hard to establish an internal organization to work with Climate-KIC and make things run as smoothly as possible. We congratulate NTNU on becoming our first partner this year,” Pedersen said.

Pedersen says that Climate-KIC is now working with NTNU to find Norwegian companies who would be valuable partners in the initiative. Pedersen said they might recruit as many as four or five companies this year. Several Norwegian cities with ambitious climate goals will be invited to collaborate as well.