TERI opens European head office in Netherlands

Utrecht (Netherlands), Oct.6 (ANI-Business Wire India): The European head office of the Indian research institute TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute) has been opened in Utrecht, Netherlands.

It was opened by Princess M xima of The Netherlands.

In addition to exchanging scientific knowledge in the field of sustainable development and energy, the European head office of TERI will also concentrate on promoting partnerships and activities involving European and Asian businesses and institutions.

The arrival of TERI's European head office in the Utrecht Science Park will further enhance the sustainability profile of Utrecht University, Utrecht Science Park and the entire Utrecht region.

In her address, Princess Maxima highlighted the role of "people, planet and profit" in determining a pattern of sustainable development.

She emphasized the enormous opportunities that exist for win-win approaches by which every section of society gains while the environment also gets protected.

She also emphasized the importance of sharing knowledge across countries to deal with global challenges such as climate change.

In his address, TERI's Director-General, Dr RK Pachauri identified opportunities for Utrecht University and TERI working together for promoting the concept of science parks in some states in India, because if economic growth in India has to proceed at a healthy rate, it would need innovation at an unprecedented level.

The development of science parks which bring together knowledge organizations in key sectors of the economy could play a vital role in this direction, he added.

The objective of opening TERI's European head office is to promote the exchange of scientific knowledge in the area of sustainability such as biomass conversion, water, energy, and sustainable cities, which includes promoting scientific research, setting up networks, platforms and intermediary activities between European and Asian companies and institutions.

TERI's European Head office in the Netherlands will work for strengthening the links between India and the Utrecht region and enhancing the Utrecht knowledge infrastructure in the field of sustainability.

This office will lead to better opportunities to collaborate between India and players in the Utrecht region, and will certainly contribute to the sustainability activities in the Utrecht-Delft-Wageningen area.

Presently TERI researcher Dr Atul Kumar is the current holder of the Prince Claus Chair at Utrecht University. He is researching the possibility of using renewable energy to reduce global carbon emissions.

The establishment of TERI's European headquarters in Utrecht is supported by Utrecht University, the Utrecht Provincial Authority and the Utrecht Municipal Authority.

TERI already has a global presence in Japan, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, Washington DC, and London. It soon is planning to have an office in the African region too.

The opening was preceded by a symposium called 'Inclusive Finance, Business and Knowledge Development: towards a Sustainable Future'.

The symposium attempted to foster and strengthen cooperation between knowledge institutions, government agencies and the business sector in order to achieve social and economic value addition without rapidly exhausting essential resources as a result. T

In addition to Princess Maxima and Dr Rajendra Pachauri, the other speakers included Jacqueline Cramer (Utrecht University), Peter Blom (Triodos Bank) and Paul Schnabel (The Netherlands Institute for Social Research) and Dr Atul Kumar (TERI researcher and current holder of the Prince Claus Chair at Utrecht University).

The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) was established in 1974. A dynamic and flexible organization, activities in TERI ranges from microbiology to global climate change, from smoke-filled rural kitchens to plush corporate boardrooms, from schoolchildren to heads of state-no sphere of human endeavour is unfamiliar to TERI.

The organization works on formulating local and national level strategies to suggesting global solutions to critical energy and environment-related issues. ERI is best described as an independent, not-for-profit research institute focused on energy, environment, and sustainable development and devoted to efficient and sustainable use of natural resources.

TERI is headquartered in New Delhi and has established regional offices in Mumbai, Bangalore, Goa, Guwahati and Mukhteshwer in the Himalaya's and International centers in Japan, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, Washington DC, and London. (ANI)