Saxion to set up a nuclear knowledge hub in the Eastern Netherlands to strengthen expertise and talent for the energy transition
On Wednesday 17 June, Jo-Annes de Bat, State Secretary for Climate and Green Growth, announced that two nuclear knowledge hubs are to be established in the Netherlands, one of which will be in the Eastern Netherlands. The hubs will focus on knowledge development, applied research and talent development in the fields of industrial sustainability, hydrogen conversion and the integration of nuclear energy into future energy systems. Due to the expected growth of the nuclear sector, there is an increasing need for knowledge development, applied research and well-trained professionals in this field.
National exploratory survey
The launch of these two knowledge hubs follows a national exploratory study in which six universities of applied sciences investigated how higher professional education can contribute to the further development of knowledge, research and talent in the field of nuclear technology. The first two regional hubs are to be established as a result of the recommendations of the study. One of these is being set up by Saxion in the Eastern Netherlands.
Role for the Eastern Netherlands
The hub in the Eastern Netherlands builds on the region’s strong position in high-tech systems, manufacturing industry, digitalisation and energy technology. Saxion will collaborate in this along with regional and national partners in the fields of education, research, government and the business sector.
The Sustainable Energy Systems Research Group will be involved in the development of the knowledge hub on behalf of Saxion. New educational activities are being developed at the hub along with applied research into the integration of carbon-free energy from different sources, such as wind, solar and nuclear energy. Attention is also being paid to the use of hydrogen and ways of making industry more sustainable. In this context, work is being carried out on issues relating to future energy systems, industrial innovation, solutions to grid congestion and making energy-intensive processes more sustainable.
Education and research
For Saxion, the knowledge hub offers opportunities to further strengthen existing expertise in system integration, industrial energy systems, nuclear energy technology and system innovation. In addition, the hub brings together students, researchers and industry partners to work on practical issues that reflect current developments in the energy sector.
Subsequent steps
Work will be carried out over the coming period to further organise the hub. Further information on the national announcement is available from the SIA Coordination Body.
About NHKI
The Nuclear Higher Vocational Education Knowledge Infrastructure (NHKI) programme was set up by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the SIA Co-ordinating Body as part of the Multi-year Mission-driven Innovation Programme for Nuclear Energy (MMIP Nuclear Energy). The MMIP Nuclear Energy programme aims to safeguard, strengthen and future-proof the nuclear knowledge infrastructure through investment in education, research and innovation. The contribution applied university education can make stems from its ability to conduct innovative applied research, co-operate across the knowledge chain and its direct links to professional practice.