AI-illustration: A vibrant and dynamic scene representing the Center for Energy and Environment (CEE)

Project: Centre for Energy and Environment (CEE)

To increase productivity in the business sector, it is important that companies, academia, and innovation environments collaborate more. A major obstacle is that small and medium-sized enterprises are not sufficiently familiar with or involved in university research and education. To solve this problem, this project lays the foundation for a Center for Energy and Environment (CEE) which will serve as a long-term collaboration platform.

Project information

Project manager
Krushna Mahapatra
Other project members
Katarina Rupar-Gadd
Participating organizations
Linnaeus University, GodaHus
Financier
Tillväxtverket (The Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth), EU, Region Kalmar län, Region Kronoberg
Timetable
1 Jan 2025–15 Maj 2028
Subject
Subject
Energy and Environmental Technology, Sustainable Built Environment (Department of Built Environment and Energy Technology, Faculty of Technology)
Research group
Sustainable Built Environment Research (SBER)
Knowledge Environment
Linnaeus Knowledge Environment: Green Sustainable Development

More about the project

The project aims to lay the foundation for the Center for Energy and Environment (CEE), which will support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the energy and built environment sectors by enhancing their competencies.

The project will involve outreach activities and guidance for SMEs. Companies will be identified, contacted, and site visits will be conducted to understand their needs and guide them to relevant resources and activities. We refer to this as "Pilot Activities."

The knowledge-enhancing activities will consist of seminars and workshops to improve SMEs' understanding of energy efficiency, sustainability, and innovation. The seminars will focus on broader themes within energy efficiency and sustainable building. These may include topics such as new regulatory requirements, an overview of technological innovations, and an introduction to concepts like circularity and digitalization in the construction sector. Workshops on collaboration between SMEs and academia will be offered to provide companies with the necessary knowledge to successfully navigate the process of participating in academic collaboration projects and develop long-term strategies for cooperation. This aims to challenge and inspire participants to broaden and further develop their view on the role they can take in ongoing collaborations and place their own role in a larger transnational context.

A mentorship program will be offered within the project. Mentors will be selected based on experience, commitment, and ability to contribute to the program. Through the mentorship program, we strive to improve the implementation of collaboration projects between academia and industry, thereby strengthening companies' ability to utilize the results from their projects. This mentorship program is an open forum that all participating SMEs can join.

An annual conference on energy and the built environment will be organized to promote networking and collaboration between companies, organizations, and students. During this full-day conference, lectures, exhibitions, and other activities will be offered to disseminate both international and national research as well as proven experience within energy and the built environment.

Company-specific project work will be carried out, focusing on tailored projects to address specific challenges faced by SMEs and demonstrate the value of academic collaboration.

The project is expected to lead to increased innovation capacity and sustainable transition ability among SMEs, contributing to a competitive and sustainable future for the energy and built environment sector in Region Kronoberg and Region Kalmar County. The project lays the foundation for a Center for Energy and Environment (CEE) that will serve as a long-term collaboration platform.

The project is part of the research in the Sustainable Built Environment Research (SBER) and the Linnaeus Knowledge Environment: Green Sustainable Development.