November has seen renewed and expanded partnerships with European institutions, with a focus on the theme of sustainability.
One significant development is Durham’s central role in the North Sea University Partnership’s (NSUP) inaugural public conference in Brussels on Thursday 20 and Friday 21 November.
The NSUP is a strategic collaboration which brings together four Norwegian and four UK universities to strengthen research, innovation, and education links between the UK and Norway, and progress towards a more sustainable future for the North Sea.
The partnership is coordinated and led by Durham and the University of Bergen, with representatives from all eight institutions having met in December 2024 to sign a ‘letter of intent’, and formally launching NSUP.
The conference convened leadership of the eight member universities, ambassadors from the UK and Norway, representatives from the European Commission and NATO, leading academics, policymakers, and industry representatives to explore ‘North Sea: Working Together on Energy, Green Transition & Security’. With the North Sea at its heart, the conference focused on its growing role as a shared space for energy security, sustainability, and cultural exchange.
Our Vice-Chancellor and Warden, Professor Karen O’Brien delivered the welcome address, alongside Professor Margareth Hagen, Rector of the University of Bergen.
Durham and Bergen collaborated closely to lead the conference’s intellectual programme, and Professor Simone Abram, Executive Director of the Durham Energy Institute co-chaired the conference’s organising committee with Professor Kristine Spildo, Vice-Dean for Climate and the Energy Transition from the University of Bergen. Professor Tony Roskilly, Co-Director of Durham Energy Institute, also served on the organising committee. Professor Claire O’Malley, Durham's Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Global), was one of the members of the NSUP’s Leadership Group to oversee the conference programme development.
A key focal point of the conference was the presentation of position paper ‘North Sea research and innovation: a strategic crossroads for energy, sustainability, culture, and security’. Professor O’Malley spoke on a panel discussing the paper’s key messages, emphasising the importance of cross-border collaboration, and focusing in particular on the importance of the UK-Norway partnership for energy security and defence.
Professor Simone Abram also co-chaired a panel discussion on North Sea conservation and heritage with Vebjørn Bakken (University of Oslo). They considered perspectives on the environmental, cultural and governance challenges facing the region, drawing on our leading role in the UK National Clean Maritime Research Hub, which has as its aim to decarbonise and eliminate air pollution from maritime activity in ports and at sea.
Professor Simone Abram, Executive Director of the Durham Energy Institute (pictured right), presenting at the NSUP conference in Brussels.
The NSUP conference follows on from the Energetic Future 2025 conference hosted at Newcastle Civic Centre in October. UK and Norwegian business and industry leaders, academics, students, and policymakers came together to advance collaboration in the clean energy transition.
The NSUP was highlighted in an address given by Her Excellency Ambassador Jan Thompson, the UK’s Ambassador to Norway, and Durham alumna, highlighting the importance of bilateral cooperation on sustainable energy and innovation.
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