Our shared future

  • Circularity
  • Sustainable development goals
  • Outreach
  • Diversity

A shared feature of all our new PV technologies is their design for circularity. Manufacturing PV products in Europe, using local supply chains, and expanding the generation of PV electricity will avoid generating over 100 megatons CO2 each year. Moreover, the program will make a major contribution to achieving the national climate objectives for 2030 (55% less CO2) and 2050 (Netherlands climate neutral).

To achieve all of the above, it is essential to build a workforce that possesses the necessary knowledge across all branches of the solar energy industry to ensure the program's success. This includes not only academic knowledge but also practical, hands-on expertise, where those involved in implementation play a significant role.

Group of students working on Solar Energy Technologies, standing in front of a Living Lab facility

Human Capital

The Human Capital Agenda (HCA) within the Growth Fund program focuses on collaboration between research, practice partners (industry), and education in four regions.

The participating universities of applied sciences are: Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, Zuyd University of Applied Sciences, Hanze University of Applied Sciences Groningen, and Saxion University of Applied Sciences.

The program aims to create a strong connection between education, research, and practice. It strengthens regional and national networks and contributes to addressing societal and industrial challenges of today and tomorrow.

Focus Areas

Education Development

  • Development of higher professional education (HBO) modules related to SolarNL and their integration into the energy transition.
  • Design of minors, specializations, and projects. 
  • Creation of practical education modules applicable to other programs and lifelong learning (LLO). 
  • Active knowledge exchange between universities of applied sciences. 

 

Living Labs

Practice-oriented labs where collaboration between education, research, and industry takes place. Key themes include: 

  • Optimization: Improving production processes. 
  • Manufacturing: Innovative production solutions. 
  • Circularity: Sustainable and circular approaches. 
  • Characterization: Technical and material research. 
  • Building/Infrastructure Integration: Integrating technology into the built environment. 
  • System Integration: Connecting technologies and systems. 

 

Each of the four universities of applied sciences contributes its regional expertise. This multidisciplinary collaboration enhances alignment with the labor market, strengthens the knowledge economy, and makes concrete contributions to the energy transition.