UKRAINE at a Crossroads
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Knowledge bridge for sustainable energy could be model for other sectors
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By Harold Byers
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oreign universities and governments are increasingly interested in collaborative efforts with Ukraine and its academic institutions. An example of the exploration of potential partnerships recently took place in the picturesque Ukrainian city of Lviv. The Netherlands sent a trade mission of experts in the development of alternative forms of energy to exchange ideas with academics and entrepreneurs in Ukraine.

Members of the Netherlands team included Martin and John Seiffers, two brothers who operate Accenda, a consulting enterprise focused on the identification of best practices for organizations. These include the most cost-effective approaches to solving problems, and loosening the decision-making process so that partnering organizations can move forward to their mutual objectives.

“We found the academics from universities in Ukraine very enthusiastic to join forces,” says Martin Seiffers. “All were eager to build a knowledge bridge between Holland and Ukraine so ideas could be presented, receive feedback and be built on.”

“It’s obvious that all the universities have a tremendous amount of knowledge that can be shared in assisting each other,” says Seiffers. “The challenge to projects of this nature is to get the researchers and knowledge centers to speak and understand their respective technical languages, to understand what it is they really want to achieve. If they can’t do this, they talk past each other and do not connect their ideas in ways that are meaningful.”

Accenda’s role includes identifying the additional knowledge necessary to enable successful start-up projects in the Ukraine that promote sustainable energy. “Our approach is to identify the relevant ideas across Ukrainian universities and the approaches they seek to take,” says Seiffers.

“You can only succeed when there is a demand for what you are willing to deliver. With the information we’ve gathered, we will go to specific faculties in Dutch universities and discuss the ideas on the demands and projects within Ukraine. We will match up the ideas from both countries, and then advise the Dutch government on what knowledge-exchange projects should be priorities.” Accenda then monitors these exchanges, and again narrows down the most promising common ground to move forward on.

Among the energy sources being explored is the creation of bio fuel out of oil seeds. Solar, wind, waste, gasification, wood pallets and wastewater are also being examined.

Seiffers notes that there is also keen interest from city councils in Ukraine and the Netherlands in becoming involved in energy-saving programs. He regards their input as important to the knowledge exchange as that of the academics and industry experts. The Seiffers brothers see this model for exchanges as one that can be adapted across a variety of disciplines for other Ukraine and Dutch collaborations in the future.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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