Collaboration between universities and fossil fuel companies is currently in the spotlight. We find it important to be transparent about these collaborations. On this page, you will find more information on the nature and scope of this collaboration. Reference date: 1 January 2023.
At the University of Twente, we take our role in contributing to a sustainable world seriously. We take a proactive and responsible approach to developing solutions that sustain our planet and the people who live on it. We do this together with others all around us. Our position is not to exclude anyone without good reason and to engage in an ongoing dialogue with a view to encouraging cooperation.
For us, active participation in the energy transition also means that we do not initiate research projects that encourage the use of fossil fuels. New cooperation agreements with the fossil industry are only entered into with those parties that show a substantial change in their working method to make the transition from fossil to alternative, renewable sources. We also ask parties in the fossil industry and energy sector to explicitly express their commitment to the Paris Climate Agreement and the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C. We will continue to bring these values to the attention of these parties in the form of an ongoing dialogue.
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Year
Direct funding from fossil industry companies to UT (as share of the total)
Other research funding (as share of the total)
2018
0 %
100 %
2019
1 %
99 %
2020
2021
2 %
98 %
2022
Number of projects
Amount (in euros)
2
310,000
3
775,000
632,000
6
1,916,000
1
680,000
We have compiled an overview of all currently ongoing collaborations with companies in the fossil industry. The reference date is 1 September 2023. The activities below are listed in no particular order.
1. Partnership within the Alistore European Research InstitutePartners involved: TotalEnergiesLink for more information (if applicable): Alistore website
2. Partnership within Batt4EU (Batteries Partnership Europe)Partners involved: Shell, Total EnergiesLink for more information (if applicable): BEPA website
3. Partnership within BatteryNLPartners involved: ShellLink for more information (if applicable): BatteryNL website
4. Partnership within Dutch Polymer Institute (DPI) Partners involved: Shell, ExxonMobil, Aramco Link for more information (if applicable): DPI website
5. DESTINY Horizon 2020 Marie Sklodowska-Curie COFUND PhD ProgrammePartners involved: TotalEnergies Link for more information (if applicable): Project website
6. Partnership within the NWO cross-over programme RELEASEPartners involved: Shell, GasUnieLink for more information (if applicable): Programme website
7. Collaboration in the Wetsus theme Concentration Partners involved: Shell, Aramco Link for more information (if applicable): Wetsus theme website
8. C-cool project on clay-based CO2 storagePartners involved: BPLink for more information (if applicable): RVO project database
9. Research project Integrated approach towards recycling of plastics Partners involved: ExxonMobilLink for more information (if applicable): Topsector Energie project database
10. Research projects on grease lubrication (through SKF) Partners involved: Shell, ExxonMobil Link for more information (if applicable): SKF website
11. Collaboration on Green surfactants Partners involved: ShellLink for more information (if applicable): n/a
12. Partnership in Circular Chemistry (ReWoody)Partners involved: ShellLink for more information (if applicable): Project announcement
13. Partnership in Circular Chemistry: Electrolysers Partners involved: ShellLink for more information (if applicable): n/a
14. Collaboration on treating Biomass streams for biofuels and biochemicalsPartners involved: ShellLink for more information (if applicable): n/a
15. Collaboration on Biomass to glycolsPartners involved: ShellLink for more information (if applicable): n/a
16. Collaboration on Furfural (organic chemicals) productionPartners involved: ShellLink for more information (if applicable): n/a
17. Collaboration on Renewable jet fuelsPartners involved: ShellLink for more information (if applicable): n/a
18. Collaboration on Chemical cyclingPartners involved: ShellLink for more information (if applicable): n/a
19. Co-finance Research Chair Sustainable process technology Partners involved: Shell Link for more information (if applicable): Department website
20. Co-finance Research Chair Inorganic membranesPartners involved: ShellLink for more information (if applicable): Department website
21. Pilot cleaning up water of oil sandsPartners involved: ShellLink for more information (if applicable): n/a
22. Partnership Engineering & Materials Science: Gas separation technology Partners involved: ShellLink for more information (if applicable): n/a
23. Partnership Engineering & Materials Science: Hydrocarbon filtrationPartners involved: ShellLink for more information (if applicable): n/a
24. Partnership in Electrolyser Scale-up Partners involved: ShellLink for more information (if applicable): n/a
25. Partnership multi-phase flow for industrial applicationsPartners involved: ShellLink for more information (if applicable): n/a
26. Partnership on Aquaconnect: reusing wastewater and brackish water in the NLPartners involved: ShellLink for more information (if applicable): Aquaconnect website
27. Sussic - Sustainable treatment of industrial waste streamsPartners involved: Shell Link for more information (if applicable): Sussic project description
To compile this overview, we combined information from various sources. These activities are different types of collaborations that are recorded in different ways. Although we have compiled this overview with the greatest care, it may not be complete.