Dr. Robert Nygård, Research
Advisor, Division of Natural Sciences for Sustainable Development Sida
/ SAREC, Sweden informed AIT of the approval of grants for the two
proposals submitted by AIT totaling 12.2 MSEK, namely for the “Energy
for Sustainable Development and Climate Change ESDCC” and
“Environmental Technology Program” respectively.
With regard to the ESDCC proposal, funding of the chronologically
first two out of six issues in the work plan (“Methodology and
workshop” and “Accessibility, affordability and productive use of
energy”) in the amount of 9 MSEK will be granted, in an agreement of
one year based on the current proposal.
For the Environmental Technology Program in 2007/08, an evaluation of
the program at AIT funded by Sida was conducted as part of which a
comprehensive evaluation and visit of all 18 regional universities in
the research network collaboration was undertaken, with an overall
positive conclusion of the program. The evaluation noted that AIT’s
scientific leadership and administrative management of the network has
been more than good. Based on the findings AIT has been invited to
present a proposal for a new program, although not necessarily a
bridging, where the climate change aspects are prominent. Synergies
with both energy as well as urban planning issues will also be
identified. Funding in the amount of 3.2 MSEK for the environmental
grant application has been approved for this.