What is the current energy institute landscape and opportunities for collaboration?
Between 150 and 200 institutes anchored to universities across the U.S. are working to solve the world’s energy and environmental challenges. The work of UEIC is motivated by the realization that most of these institutes do not engage one another through formal and consistent collaboration around what are many shared points of interest. Based on the notion that a large and potentially formal organization of institutes could benefit the energy community, UEIC published a study in November 2020 that examined current institute focuses and potential areas of collaboration.
Key Takeaways
At least 157 university energy institutes in the U.S. are advancing energy-related research and education.
Many academic energy institutes overlap in their focuses and interact with one another and stakeholders but not with a larger network of institutes.
A network could facilitate communication and collaboration among institutes and stakeholders, offer a common core of energy-related skills and topics in higher education, and impact energy policy.
In general, institutes willing to join a network would want to increase their research funding and impact national policy. Most institutes suggested they would financially support a network.
Of the external 48 stakeholders whom we surveyed, over 90% indicated they would interact with a network. However, less than half of stakeholder respondents suggested they would financially support a network.