The Massachusetts Institute of Technology Energy Initiative (MITEI) announced today that the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology is building on its long-standing relationship with MIT by becoming the inaugural founding public member of MITEI. The collaboration will support ongoing research and development of alternative and renewable energy technologies and solutions, and will pursue new opportunities to help meet the world's need for sustainable energy supplies and practices.
"As we press for bold answers to the world's energy challenges, we actively seek global partners who share our commitment to excellence and innovation. Given its demonstrated commitment to renewable energy research and experimentation at scale, the Masdar Institute will be a valuable partner in MITEI," said MIT President Susan Hockfield.
"The Masdar Institute is excited to be deepening our relationship with MIT by joining this initiative. This is a natural extension of our mandate to help advance research and development in Abu Dhabi and worldwide," said Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, CEO of Masdar. "Our partnership with MIT has been at the forefront of our drive toward executing the wise vision of our leadership; growing Abu Dhabi into a centre of knowledge for alternative energy."
The Masdar Institute is one of several public and private organizations in the alternative energy sector that have joined as members of MITEI. As a founding public member, Masdar will have a seat on MITEI's governing board. The Masdar Institute will also be directly involved in identifying sponsored research programs, and will join with other MITEI members in supporting the MITEI Energy Research Seed Fund program which funds innovative early-stage research projects solicited from across the MIT campus. As a founding public member, Masdar will appoint post-doctoral fellows to MIT and will explore opportunities to bring post-doctoral fellows to Masdar to further enhance its intellectual infrastructure and capabilities.
MITEI Director Ernest Moniz, the Cecil and Ida Green Professor of Physics and Engineering Systems, said, "MITEI is excited that MASDAR is strengthening its relationship with MIT. To date, most of Masdar's work with MIT has had an energy focus. Joining MITEI as a founding public member will create new opportunities for Masdar and MIT to work together to help address global energy challenges through research and education."
About the Masdar Institute
The Masdar Institute, which commences its classes in September 2009, was developed in cooperation with MIT's Technology and Development Program to be the world's first graduate-level institution dedicated to the study and research of advanced energy and sustainable technologies. The Masdar Institute's long-standing partnership with MIT includes assistance in the development of graduate degree programs and recruitment of faculty and senior-level administration, joint collaborative research, and outreach that encourages industrial participation in research and development activities.
About MITEI
MITEI was established to mobilize MIT's capabilities to help meet the world's pressing energy challenges and builds on the Institute's outstanding capabilities and lengthy history of providing real-world solutions to difficult societal problems. MITEI is designed to accelerate innovation in energy science, technology, and policy through the integrated application of the Institute's cutting-edge capabilities in science, engineering, management, planning and policy.
A version of this article appeared in MIT Tech Talk on February 4, 2009 (download PDF).
