Federal Councillor Schneider-Ammann pays visit to Energy Competence Center
Berne, 06.10.2014 - Dübendorf, 6.10.2014 - Federal Councillor Johann N. Schneider-Ammann visited a Swiss Competence Center for Energy Research (SCCER) at the Empa in Dübendorf today. He was there to find out about the work being done under the Coordinated Energy Research Switzerland action plan, which is funded by the Commission for Technology and Innovation CTI. He was particularly impressed by the strong inter-disciplinary cooperation and the new infrastructure put in place to produce solutions for the energy revolution.
Two of the eight SCCERs presented their priorities and goals for the next few years to the head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER), and explained the cooperation between the SCCERs and the strong ties with economic partners. During the subsequent tour through various demonstration facilities, Federal Councillor Schneider-Ammann was able to see first hand some of the possible solutions for the energy revolution. The federal councillor was impressed by the projects he was shown: "Innovation is key to ensuring the energy revolution doesn't place an unnecessarily burden on Switzerland's appeal as a location for business. I am delighted to see that efforts to acquire the necessary competences are well under way and that the challenges are being tackled in a holistic way, not just from a technological angle, but also taking into account socio-economic aspects."
Under the Coordinated Energy Research Switzerland action plan, the Commission for Technology and Innovation CTI was given the task of establishing and funding an inter-university network of competence centres in research, the Swiss Competence Centers for Energy Research (SCCER), in seven fields of action. The SCCERs are networks consisting of Swiss research institutes from all three types of higher education institution and economic partners which work on a specific energy-related field (action area), with one institution acting as Leading House.
All seven action areas have now been established with a total of eight energy competence centrers. Six SCCERs have been operational since the start of 2014, while the two SCCERs in the 'efficiency' action area started work in the middle of the year.
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Further enquiries and photo orders:
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Publisher
Commission for Technology and Innovation - as of 1.1.2018 Innosuisse – Swiss Innovation Promotion Agency
http://www.kti.admin.ch
