MIT Portugal Energy Club: A new organization initiated by MIT Portugal current students and alumni The MIT Portugal Energy Club is a new organization that aims to bring together multiple actors of the energy sector (academic community, business sector and civil society) at the national level. We want to increase the interaction between research groups and the Portuguese national companies in the sector , said Gonçalo Mendes, one of the co-founders of the organization, stressing the importance of the communication between the two sectors. Break down the boundaries between researchers, students, companies and capital in the energy sector is one of the main motivations of the MIT Energy Club Portugal. Our goal is to create a forum for discussion and knowledge transference , said Antonio Lorena, also co-founder of the MIT Energy Club Portugal. The culture of innovation and entrepreneurship promoted by the MIT Portugal Program coupled with the experienced of the founder members at international educational institutions such as MIT, the University of California or Carnegie Mellon, has been at the origin of the Energy Club. The MIT Energy Club Portugal professionals already encompasses the energy sector, researchers, students, master's, doctorate and MBA from areas such as engineering, management and economics, as well as citizens interested in this area. Several national companies already showed their interested in the Energy Club, some of them may likely to become strategic partners in the course of 2012. We know that we are creating value propositions for the industry and, accordingly, always seek partnerships with companies in which there are mutual benefits, says Gonçalo Mendes. The dynamic and enthusiastic start of the MIT Portugal Energy Club has already payid off and the club has been recognized by the Collegiate Energy Association, an organization that brings together similar initiatives internationally. The Energy Club is already planning several activities for the current year, from discussion forums and training to an Energy Night initiative, which will bring together the best of education, research and entrepreneurship in the energy sector in Portugal. Join their LinkedIn group for more information and updates on future events: http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=4146764 |
