Reflecting on the Academy’s recent UK–Germany Energy Systems Symposium, Professor John Loughhead highlights the important role of institutions in maintaining collaboration with Europe.
Through the recently announced UK–EU trade deal, businesses and institutions are finally getting some clarity on the implications of Brexit and some definition of how the UK will work with European partners in future. Much is still to be agreed although there was welcome good news with agreement in place for the UK’s association with Horizon Europe—the next phase of the EU’s research and innovation programme. While the particulars are ironed out, initiatives such as the Academy’s recent UK–Germany Energy Systems Symposium can help ensure that rich dialogue and co-operation with Europe continues, especially during what is a crucial year for UK climate diplomacy with COP26 due to take place in a few months.
Tackling shared problems post-Brexit
While the agreement has thankfully avoided the disruption and further uncertainty of a no-deal scenario, the UK has lots to do to complete the post-Brexit transition and define its role and value to the world. One thing that is certain is that the UK possesses some of the world’s most talented engineers and scientists. So in terms of continuing to be a valuable partner in solving global challenges, we must ensure that effective mechanisms remain in place for those experts to work with international counterparts. Considering that the UK and the European Union have announced the furthest-reaching net-zero targets of the world’s advanced economies, it is a no-brainer that the two entities should continue to collaborate on how to achieve their goals (not least because UK energy networks remain literally connected to the EU). We can’t escape the fact that Brexit brings at least some barriers but UK institutions have an opportunity to step up to help the international community tackle shared problems.
As an example, the Academy’s UK–Germany Energy Systems Symposium, held in October 2020, brought together 60 engineers, scientists, policymakers and energy professionals from the two nations to explore how to deliver the energy transition within a large European economy. Held virtually because of the pandemic, the symposium explored synergies and shared challenges associated with each nation’s transition pathway, particularly around the deployment of energy storage solutions and approaches to fostering public interaction with zero carbon measures.
An outcome of the symposium is that ten UK–Germany collaborative projects have now launched with the support of UK government (Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy) funding. Each project is led by a coalition of UK and Germany-based engineers and scientists and seeks to deliver a novel action against an aspect of the transition common to both countries. Collaborations have been formed to work on long-duration thermal energy storage solutions, software optimisation of offshore wind power, national approaches to energy demand governance and sustainable solutions for urban freight logistics.
International partnerships and maximising impacts
The symposium and its outcomes were made possible by the Academy’s strong working relationship with acatech, the German Academy of Science and Engineering. Also on the European front, the Academy remains the UK member of Euro-CASE, which exists to provide engineering and science advice to the European Commission and continues to offer a route for the UK to have influence in Europe. As the environment of UK–European collaboration is redefined, links and networks like these through organisations such as the Academy can come into their own and help maximise the impact of the global engineering profession.
The Academy is also well positioned through its international partnership activities to help government deliver its post-Brexit ‘Global Britain’ agenda, including engagement with China and a redirected US administration. But European links must also remain in close focus, particularly on such a pressing issue as climate change where there are clear, common goals that are best pursued in partnership. The National Engineering Policy Centre’s net zero programme provides a strong foundation for international engagement and the Academy’s global reach can help the UK government meet its goals for hosting G7 and COP26 this year.
At a time when the UK is redefining its relationship with the world, independent organisations like the Academy have an opportunity to demonstrate their worth and forge valuable partnerships to ensure that UK experts remain at the forefront of international action.
To learn more about the Academy’s international partnership activities, please contact [email protected].