Innovation in sustainability and energy is the focus of a new Industry Affiliates Program (IAP) launched by the Paula M. Trienens Institute for Sustainability and Energy at Northwestern University. The program encourages collaboration between industry leaders and university researchers to expedite the global energy transition. Founding members include Schneider Electric, Fortune Brands Innovations, Heritage Research Group, and Elevate Packaging.
The IAP provides companies access to research, faculty expertise, and a student recruiting pipeline. Members also gain a seat on the Trienens Institute executive council, an advisory board involved in sustainability and energy initiatives. In return, Northwestern researchers benefit from industry insights, joint funding proposals, and opportunities to scale solutions.
“Partnerships allow academia to collaborate across disciplines and industries to create solutions for large-scale challenges, such as the energy transition,” said Ted Sargent, executive director of the Trienens Institute at Northwestern. “As the global demand for energy grows, our ability to produce and store energy is increasingly vital."
Schneider Electric was one of the first partners to join the IAP. Cory Lichtenberger of Schneider Electric stated that collaborating with Northwestern’s researchers will help accelerate breakthroughs in electrification, digitalization, and decarbonization.
Fortune Brands Innovations expressed similar enthusiasm about its involvement. Peter Kotiadis highlighted their commitment to innovation and sustainability through this initiative.
In its first year, members are working closely with Northwestern's research community to define collaborative priorities for the IAP. Members can attend seminars on topics like solar energy production and participate in Energy and Sustainability Roundtables. An annual meeting will review updates and offer networking opportunities with students and postdoctoral fellows.
For more information on the Industry Affiliates Program or to request details, interested parties are encouraged to visit their site.