UnILiON - Universities Informal Liaison Offices Network

UnILiON (Universities Informal Liaison Offices Network) is an informal network of about 50 liaison offices representing more than 150 excellent universities based in Europe, Japan and Russia. The network represents an arena of exchange where the participants share information, create collaboration and act as information multipliers towards the represented organisations.

The network can be a useful tool for NTNU employees to open collaboration dialogues with a large number of Universities as well as to spread relevant information or opportunities coming from NTNU and of interest to the network’s members.

Director of the Brussels Office, Massimo Busuoli is currently the deputy secretary general of UnILiON, after three years as secretary general of it. He was also one of the founders of the network in 2017.

CESAER - the Conference of European Schools for Advanced Engineering Education and Research

The Conference of European Schools for Advanced Engineering Education and Research (CESAER) is an association of leading universities of science and technology in Europe that was founded in Leuven, Belgium in 1990. The association unites over 50 leading universities of science and technology in 25 countries that champion excellence in higher education, training, research and innovation, influence debate, contribute to the realisation of open knowledge societies and deliver significant scientific, economic, social and societal impact.

NTNU is a member of 11 CESAER working groups and in particular the Brussels Office is actively participating in the Task Force Competitive Funding.

Science|Business

Science|Business exists to bring together three worlds which should work together but too often stumble apart: industry, research and policy. They publish newsletters and reports about European policy making and the framework programmes, and arrange events and meetings with important stakeholders in Brussels. The Science|Business Network of universities, companies, and research and policy organisations is a uniquely powerful forum for driving innovation forward.

Science|Business has more than 60 members coming from Industry, Academia, Public Organisations and Associations like: Toyota, KU Leuven, and CERN.

NTNU is a member of the Network and NTNU Brussels office is the main contact for them.

Science Business a useful source of relevant information as well an important tool for promotion of NTNU and creation of strategic collaborations

EARMA - European Association of Research Managers and Administrators

European Association of Research Managers and Administrators (EARMA) represents the community of research managers and administrators within Europe. They work toward building the European Research Area and form the interface between research funding organisations and the scientific community, bridging cultural and legal differences between countries, and between academia and industry, contributing to policy consultations, and managing the smooth running of research projects

NTNU is a member of the network which is composed by more than 300 members.

NTNU Brussels office Director, Massimo Busuoli is a member of the ACPC Committee, responsible for the organization of the EARMA annual conference.

EERA - European Energy Research Alliance

The European Energy Research Alliance (EERA) is an association of European public research centers and universities active in low-carbon energy research. Bringing together more than 250 organisations and around 50,000 researchers from 30 countries, EERA represents Europe’s largest energy research community. EERA’s official mission is to catalyze European energy research for achieving the Paris Agreement targets.

EERA operates through 17 different Joint programmes of research thematically oriented towards key areas related to Low carbon energy production such as Photovoltaic, Energy Storage, and Hydropower.

NTNU is a full member of the network being active in many of the 17 Joint programmes also with coordination roles in many of them.

Massimo Busuoli, director of NTNU Brussels office, has been Secretary General of the Network from 2012 until 2015 and today collaborates with NTNU TSO Energy Director in the management of the NTNU participation in the initiative.

G.I.I – Gruppo di Iniziativa Italiana

The Italian Initiative Group (G.I.I.) was founded in 1995 with the aim of strengthening the relations within the Italian business community in Brussels, and G.I.I quickly became the most representative fellowship in the broad and diversified network of Italian interests located in Brussels. The group include main public institutions and private business associations; major industrial groups, banks and international oriented companies; research centers and universities; regions and local authorities as well as Italian chambers of commerce.

The network represents a useful tool for opening collaboration dialogues with many of the most important industrial players of Italy.

NTNU is a member of the network as the nationality of the Brussels office Director is Italian.