A total of 11 members of the Young Future Energy Leaders (YFEL) program, an outreach initiative of Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, engaged and interacted with industry leaders at the IEEE Technology Time Machine (TTM) 2012 in Dresden, Germany.
Held recently, TTM 2012 was titled ‘Symposium on Technologies beyond 2020’ and served as a unique platform to share visions and missions in emerging technologies. The unique event was hosted at ‘Silicon Saxony’, Europe’s leading cluster for micro- and nano-electronics. The symposium brought together around 200 CEOs, CTOs, CIOs, and leading scientists from across the world in addition to academics and decision-making government officials who direct R&D activities, plan research programs or manage portfolios of research activities.
IEEE Technology Time Machine 2012 aimed to enable interdisciplinary discussions about social impacts of new technologies and to trigger an extensive discourse on the contribution of future technologies to tackling major global challenges.
In order to create an optimal learning environment, YFEL scheduled a week-long calendar of events for the members, who had informal interaction with other delegates, senior business leaders and world-renowned innovators in Dresden. The Symposium additionally provided YFEL members with the opportunity to visit leading German research institutes including the renowned Technische Universität (TU) Dresden and other key industrial facilities.
Dr Lamya Nawaf Fawwaz, Executive Director, Public Affairs, Masdar Institute, said: “The IEEE Technology Time Machine 2012 in Dresden, Saxony, has set the stage for the YFEL members’ participation in international events. With the continuous support of the UAE’s leadership, the first overseas visit this year has provided the YFEL 2012 members with an opportunity to learn about emerging technologies and network with leaders, researchers and pioneers in their respective fields.
“The Dresden event gathered technology leaders, researchers and pioneering academics, making it an ideal forum for YFEL students and young professionals to learn about the new trends and innovations in technology, and to network for their development, both personally and professionally. The YFEL annual calendar of activities is carefully designed, enabling members to widen their knowledge and meticulously chart their future career paths.”
At TU Dresden, YFEL members visited the Centre for Energy Technology (CET) to learn about the nuclear reactor for research and education, fuel and power plant technology, research power plant with steam-injected gas turbine, turbo machinery lab, and efficient utilization of energy and renewable. In addition, they visited the Institute for Electrical Energy Supply and High Voltage Power Techniques (IEEH), and the Department for Electrical Machines and Drives (EMD).
YFEL members attended the official opening ceremony and the panel discussions at TTM 2012 that were followed by a welcome reception at the State Chancellery of Saxony in Dresden. On the second day of the event, they attended the panel discussions on ‘Smart Power’ that included Dr Steven Griffiths, Executive Director of Institute Initiatives, Masdar Institute, on the panel. Later they attended an exclusive banquet dinner event at the renowned Albertinum Dresden..
On the third day, YFEL members visited the GlobalFoundries facility in Dresden. GlobalFoundries is fully owned by Advanced Technology Investment Company (ATIC), which is spearheading Abu Dhabi’s expansion into the semiconductors and advanced technology areas.
Later at Freiberg, they visited the Gastechnologisches Institut, Geokompetenzzentrum Freiberg and TU Bergakademie Freiberg, where they attended a presentation and participated in a discussion on smart energy. A visit to the Gas-Oil-Technique and labs was also part of the agenda.
YFEL offers participants exceptional and unmatched access to top global leaders, senior business executives and academics engaged in alternative energy and sustainability through events such as World Future Energy Summit (WFES) in Abu Dhabi and other major events held globally. It is mandated to educate, inspire and empower students and young professionals to become future leaders capable of solving the world’s most pressing challenges in advanced energy and sustainability.
