The ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands explores collaboration on the green energy transition
On Wednesday the 24th of April Luleå University of Technology welcomed the ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands Bengt van Loosdrecht and Policy Officer Jara Verkleij for a constructive dialogue on potential collaborations between the Netherlands and Sweden.
The visit, characterized by a series of informative presentations, substantive discussions, and an interesting laboratory tour, aimed at fostering strategic partnerships and knowledge sharing between the two nations.
The visit was organized by Iris van der Werf after being contacted by the embassy and started with a presentation from Pro-vice Chancellor Pär Weihed who provided an overview of the university, its strategic policies, and future aspirations. Subsequently, the ambassador provided an introduction, explaining the purpose of the visit: to explore shared visions regarding critical societal issues concerning mining and the transition to green energy. The meeting continued with presentations on university research done within the value chain of mining by Glenn Bark for Ore geology, Daniel Johansson for mining and Engineering, Saeed Chehreh Chelgani for Mineral processing, and Charlotte Andersson for Process metallurgy. Furthermore, Saeed and Charlotte respectively introduced the Swedish School of Mines and Swedish Mining Innovation to show the scope and possibilities for collaboration between different subjects in the value chain and the chances for external partners to contribute. Following the presentations, a comprehensive laboratory tour provided a firsthand look at current research processes, allowing for in-depth explanations and discussions.
In light of the productive discussions, a follow-up visit involving an expanded cohort of institutions and enterprises from both the Netherlands and Sweden has been discussed. This next phase seeks to outline concrete pathways for cooperation in research, innovation, and education.



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