The University of Vaasa is a people-oriented institution that fosters impactful research in an inspiring and modern campus along Finland’s coast. Its mission is rooted in tackling pressing global challenges in the energy and climate fields. With strategic emphasis on close cooperation between academia, industry, and government, the university plays a central role in shaping the region’s and Europe's sustainable future. 

The University of Vaasa is highly committed to incorporating the social, economic and ecological dimensions of sustainability into all aspects of its work, making it closely aligned with the core values and objectives of EERA. Prominently showcasing the synergies between the two, EERA recently participated in the “Sustainable Energy Reimagined” event, hosted by the University on 17 March 2025 as part of Vaasa Energy Week. The event brought together high-level stakeholders from academia, industry, and policy, and featured an insightful keynote speech from EERA Secretary General, Adel El Gammal. Underscoring the importance of strategic autonomy for the European Union, he emphasised that investment in research and innovation (R&I) must be built upon a coherent, EU-wide agenda. He importantly pointed to the clean energy transition as the only viable path to restoring the EU’s competitiveness, while also emphasising the crucial role of low-carbon energy R&I in accelerating the science to market journey.   

Undoubtedly showcasing the efforts of Vaasa's industrial-university ecosystem working towards accelerating such ambitions, the EERA delegation, comprising Adel El Gammal and Alliance Policy Director Rosita Zilli, had the opportunity to visit the University's energy lab VEBIC (Vaasa Energy Business Innovation Centre) before the event. Here, Professor Maciej Mikulski led a tour of the Internal Combustion Engine & Fuel Laboratory (ICE-lab & fuel-lab), importantly highlighting the strong synergies between the University of Vaasa and the region’s industrial players.  

Against this backdrop, the integration of the University of Vaasa into EERA's low-carbon energy research network represents a promising step towards more collaborative, digitalised, and sustainable energy innovation in Europe. The expertise and regional engagement of the University will be essential in contributing to JP DfE's work, particularly as digitalisation is increasingly recognised as one of the core technologies and initiatives that will enable a successful clean energy transition. We are also pleased to announce that the University of Vaasa has expressed interest in joining additional EERA Joint Programmes in the near future and has shared its particular expertise in the field of resilience, an area set to become a key chapter of EERA’s work given its strategic relevance, thereby adding another important dimension to future collaborative efforts within the EERA community.