The future leaders of the energy transition

Training the future leaders of the energy transition from a holistic and multidisciplinary perspective. That is the goal of an educational programme set up by Rotterdam School of Management and Delft University of Technology. The project is made possible by the Energy Transition Fund, a named fund within the Erasmus University Rotterdam Fund, in which more than fifteen alumni have joined forces on the initiative of Eelco Hoekstra and Bastiaan Vaandrager.

With a degree in economics from Rotterdam University, Eelco Hoekstra pursued a career in the energy sector. Senior positions on various continents provided him with extensive knowledge and expertise. He now applies this knowledge to the Energy Transition Fund, with the aim of putting the younger generation of thinkers and doers in the best possible position to shape the transition to a clean, sustainable energy world. Hoekstra: ''The issue is incredibly complex. No one can predict exactly what the future will look like. However, I believe we are on the eve of a major, transformative change in the energy systems as we know them.''

A significant impact on our lives

''Technology is innovating exponentially,'' Hoekstra continues. "We are also looking for new sources. I think the way we consume and produce energy will change enormously. Consider that everything we do in life is connected to energy. What we make, what we eat, you name it. In other words, the metamorphosis of the energy market will probably have a much greater impact on businesses and people than we can imagine. Economically, but also in terms of legal implications, geopolitical consequences, and so on. Companies will have to reposition themselves. Compare it to the digital revolution. The rise of big tech companies has completely changed the global economy.

The second factor is the climate. We are reaching planetary boundaries, and the energy sector is also responsible for a lot of harmful emissions. We need to find a solution together: science, governments, NGOs, businesses, and other stakeholders. The younger generation needs to understand the opportunities, but also the threats, of these issues at an early age.''

Future leaders of the energy transition

Hoekstra understands the mission of his generation: to bring parties together and generate knowledge. Today's young academics will soon be the leaders of the energy transition. They will help determine what the world will look like. Hoekstra: ''The University of Rotterdam is phenomenal in transition studies, economics and leadership. Delft University of Technology knows a great deal about technology related to the energy system. What Bastiaan and I want is to find synergy, possibly supplemented later with the knowledge of Clingendael and Leiden University in the field of geopolitics and international law. Research is also still fairly fragmented in the Netherlands. And let's not hesitate to involve the private sector. Their knowledge and cooperation are indispensable."