ESEIA Awardees 2023: Honoring Excellence in Sustainable Energy Innovation

On 19 November 2024, as part of the ESEIA 15-Year Anniversary celebrations, several outstanding contributors to the alliance and the field of sustainable energy were recognized for their remarkable achievements in research, innovation, education, and leadership. Here is an introduction to the awardees, their contributions, and their ongoing efforts:

Harald Kainz, TU Graz – ESEIA Honorary President

  • Award: ESEIA President (2012-2023)
  • Recognition: For 12 years of exceptional leadership, dedication, and constructive efforts in building ESEIA into a globally recognized organization.
  • Current Role: Honorary President of ESEIA, continuing to inspire the alliance’s strategic initiatives.

Michael Bongards, TH Cologne – WG Coordinator of the Year

  • Role: Coordinator of ESEIA Working Group 1: Bioresources, Biobased Economy, and Bioresource Utilization, TH Cologne.
  • Award: For his encouraging and collaborative leadership, enabling young scientists to explore research and innovation pathways.
  • Ongoing Activities: Focusing on research in biobased industrial products and sustainable bioenergy solutions.

Goran Krajačić, UZagreb- FSB and Team – Team of the Year

  • Role: Coordinator of ESEIA Working Group 2: Energy Transition in Urban Regions, UZagreb-FSB.
  • Award: For their collective success in securing two new EU-funded projects, INITIATE and EMERGE.
  • Research Interests: Developing sustainable urban energy systems and enhancing city-level energy transition strategies.

Marko Mimica, UZagreb- FSB – Most Active Member

  • Role: Coordinator of the INITIATE and EMERGE projects, UZagreb-FSB.
  • Award: For his active participation in education, training, and successful project coordination.
  • Current Focus: Advancing collaborative research in renewable energy and urban energy systems.

Himanshu Himanshu, TH Cologne – Most Active Member

  • Role: Member of ESEIA Working Group 1, TH Cologne.
  • Award: For his leadership in multiple research proposals and active involvement in education and training.
  • Research Areas: Exploring bioresources and biobased industrial solutions.

Luis Duarte, LNEG – Most Active Member

  • Role: Leader of the ESEIA Focus Group: Biorefineries and Bio-based Industrial Products, LNEG.
  • Award: For significant contributions to R&I proposals, hosting international summer schools, and leading education initiatives.
  • Ongoing Work: Developing bioeconomy and circular economy innovations.

Walter Wukovits, TU Vienna – Most Active Member

  • Role: Member of ESEIA Working Group 1, TU Vienna.
  • Award: For contributions to decarbonization training and R&I proposals.
  • Focus: Industrial decarbonization and sustainable process engineering.

Fabio Montagnino, CYI – Most Active Member

  • Role: Coordinator of ESEIA Working Group 5: Entrepreneurship Education and Training, CYI.
  • Award: For his guidance in education and training and hosting the 5th ESEIA Biannual Conference.
  • Activities: Supporting entrepreneurship in sustainable energy through innovative training programs.

Anca Duta, UTBV – Most Active Member

  • Role: UTBV, Romania.
  • Award: For her long-term contributions to R&I, education, and hosting the RE4Industry Knowledge Transfer Seminar.
  • Research Focus: Advocating 100% renewable energy solutions for industries.

Celebrating Excellence: The contributions of these individuals and teams highlight the strength and collaborative spirit of the ESEIA community. Their dedication propels innovation in sustainable energy systems, advancing global and European climate goals.

ESEIA Team: office@eseia.eu

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