DESERTEC University Network founded: International science cooperation for clean power from deserts

• Founders: The DESERTEC Foundation together with 18 universities and research facilities
• The local education of qualified specialists is a key aspect for DESERTEC
• Future plans are to extend the network to a global platform
• It’s next to the industrial initiative Dii GmbH another pillar of the DESERTEC Foundation’s strategy

The DESERTEC Foundation, in cooperation with the Tunisian National Advisory Council for Scientific Research and Technology, has founded a platform for scientific cooperation for DESERTEC. Founding members besides the non-profit DESERTEC Foundation are 18 universities and research facilities from North Africa and the Middle East. It is planned to expand the network to a global platform, in order to promote the realization of the DESERTEC Concept “Clean Power from Deserts” in different regions of the world.

“The DESERTEC University Network is another main pillar of the DESERTEC Foundation’s strategy alongside the industrial initiative Dii GmbH, which has been founded last year. From our intense contacts with activists and experts in the desert countries we have learnt that the local education of qualified specialists is a critical success factor for the implementation and the acceptance of our DESERTEC Concept”, said Dr. Thiemo Gropp, Director of the DESERTEC Foundation.

The signing of the founding document took place in Tunis at the “Tunisia Solar International Conference” – under patronage of the President of Tunisia Ben Ali. Right after the inauguration, two universities from Germany joined the network. For several other institutes from Italy, France and Germany the approval procedure is underway.

“We are pleased that the foundation of the DESERTEC University Network has been initiated mainly by institutes and DESERTEC-associates from the countries south of the Mediterranean”, said Dr. Thiemo Gropp. “The DESERTEC Concept was originally developed by a network of scientists around the Mediterranean, from which our DESERTEC Foundation has evolved. Thus it is consistent that universities and research facilities around the Mediterranean form a network in order to develop and disseminate the necessary know-how for the realization of the concept.”

The objectives of the DESERTEC University Network:
• International cooperation of public and private academic and scientific institutions with the aim of contributing to the implementation of the DESERTEC Concept.
• Promoting the education of skilled professionals, particularly in the desert countries, which will soon be among the world’s biggest producers of renewable energy. This shall help maximize those countries' share of the value creation.
• Research and education for a continuous improvement of production, installation and operation of future DESERTEC energy systems.

Founding Members of the DESERTEC University Networks:
1. Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
2. German University in Cairo, New Cairo City, Egypt
3. Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
4. UDES (Unité de Développement des Equipements Solaires), Algiers, Algeria
5. USTO (Université des Sciences et de la Technologie d'Oran), Oran, Algeria
6. DESERTEC Foundation, Hamburg, Germany
7. University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
8. University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
9. Al-Fateh University, Tripoli, Libya
10. Center for Solar Energy Research and Studies (CSERS), Tripoli, Libya
11. National Authority for Scientific Research, Tripoli, Libya
12. Sebha University, Sebha, Libya
13. CNRST (Centre National pour la Recherche Scientifique et Technique), Rabat, Morocco
14. Ecole Nationale de l’Industrie Minérale, Agdal, Rabat, Morocco
15. Ecole Nationale Supérieure d’Electricité et de Mécanique (ENSEM-UH2C), Casablanca, Morocco
16. Centre de Recherches et des Technologies de l’Energie, Borj-Cedria, Tunisia
17. Ecole Nationale d’Ingénieurs de Tunis, Université Tunis-El-Manar, Tunisia
18. Ecole Nationale d’Ingénieurs de Monastir, Université de Monastir, Tunisia
19. Université de Gafsa, Gafsa, Tunisia

Furthermore appointed as individual founders:
Dr. Mustapha Ayaita, Morocco,
Dr. Salah Hannachi, Tunisia,
Dr. Gerhard Knies, Germany and
Mr. Mouldi Miled, Tunisia.

Right after the founding ceremony, the first two institutions from Europe were accepted as new members (for several others from Italy, France and Germany the approval procedure is underway):
• Jacobs University, Bremen, Germany
• The German-French University, Saarbrücken, Germany

About the DESERTEC Foundation
"Within 6 hours deserts receive more energy from the sun than humankind consumes within a year", calculated Dr. Gerhard Knies, German Physicist and member of the Supervisory Board of the DESERTEC Foundation. The key technologies for the generation and transmission of clean power from the deserts have already been successfully in use for several years.

The DESERTEC Foundation was established on 20 January 2009 as a non-profit foundation with the aim of promoting the implementation of the global DESERTEC Concept "Clean Power from Deserts" all over the world. The DESERTEC Foundation has evolved from a network of politicians, academics and economists from Europe, the Middle East and North Africa as well as the Club of Rome, who jointly developed the DESERTEC Concept.

In October 2009, the DESERTEC Foundation founded the industrial initiative Dii GmbH together with partners from the industrial and finance sector. The task of the Dii is to accelerate the implementation of the DESERTEC Concept in the Mediterranean region. As shareholder, the DESERTEC Foundation closely cooperates with Dii and its other shareholders and partners.

DESERTEC is an integrated concept which includes energy security and climate protection as well as drinking water production, socio-economic development, security policy and international cooperation. Sufficient clean power can be generated in the world's deserts to supply mankind with enough electricity on a sustainable basis.

Michael Straub

Head of Communications

DESERTEC Foundation
Initiative of the CLUB OF ROME
Ferdinandstr. 28-30
Germany - 20095 Hamburg

Tel: +49 (0)176 - 6231 0987
FAX: +49 (0)3212 - 1010 860
Press@DESERTEC.org

- www.DESERTEC.org -
Clean Power from Deserts

This release was published on openPR.