Copernicus Instituut voor Duurzame Ontwikkeling en Innovatie

1
Copernicus Institute Research institute for
Sustainable Development and Innovation General
introduction Prof.dr. Wim C. Turkenburg scientifi
c director / chairman board
2
History

• Created in in March 2001, proposed by a Steering
  Group (chair Margaretha de Boer)
• Background COPERNICUS charter European
  Universities
• PurposeTo increase the visibility of sustainable
  development research in Utrecht, to facilitate
  mutual cooperation between the research groups,
  to create synergy, to enhance coherence, to
  enlarge the scientific and social forum, to allow
  better tuning between research and education
• At present about 100 co-workers

3
Faculty of Geosciences Dean Prof.dr. Pieter
Hooimeijer Vice-dean Prof.dr. Bert van der
Zwaan
Faculty of Science Dean Prof.dr. Gerard van
Koten Dean Chemistry Prof.dr. Andries Meijerink
Copernicus Institute Research Institute for
Sustainable Development and Innovation
Education Institute for Innovation and
Environmental Sciences

Department of Innovation and Environmental
Sciences
Division of Science, Technology and Society
(STS) Head Prof.dr. Wim C. Turkenburg
Innovation Studies (IS) Head Prof.dr. Marius Meeus
Environmental Sciences (ESc) Head Prof.dr.
Peter de Ruiter
Environmental Studies and Policy
(ESP) Head Prof.dr. Pieter Glasbergen

4
Innovation
Land Use Biodiversity
Energy Resources
Governance
5
Funds available to the institute

• Almost all comes in kind from the two faculties.
• Additional funding from Utrecht University (at
  present about 275.000 Euro a year).
• Available funds in 2000-2004 have increased from
  1.8 to about 3 mln Euro a year.
• Direct funds (1e gs) 51, Research funds (2e gs)
  17, Contracts (3e gs) 32.

6
Overview of Chairs

• Full professors
• Peter Driessen / Pieter Glasbergen / Marius
  Meeus / Peter de Ruiter / Ruud Smits / Wim
  Turkenburg
• Part-time professors
• Kornelis Blok / Jacqueline Cramer
• Adjunct professors (bijzonder hoogleraar)
• Klaas van Egmond / Stefan Kuhlmann / Bert de
  Vries / Martin Wassen

7
Ambition of the institute

• To make a difference in science and education,
  and in society at large in the exploration of a
  sustainable world.
• To be strong and competitive on a national and
  international scale.
• To be well linked to corresponding bachelors,
  masters, and Ph.D. education programs.

8
Character of the institute

• The specific character of the Institute is the
  development of solid scientific knowledge and
  experience in the field of some specific
  technical and scientific issues (energy and
  resources, land use and biodiversity) as well
  as in the field of processes of change and
  innovation.
• Fundamental and strategic research.
• Dealing with issues with a multidisciplinary
  character.
• T-approach multidisciplinary beta-gamma
  (broad) and disciplinary (in depth)
  research.
• Starting point for the research program of the
  Institute is the cause-effect chain, connecting
  economic activities with ecological qualities.

9
(No Transcript)
10
Mission of the institute

• The Copernicus Institute develops knowledge,
  methods and instruments directed towards
  sustainable development, with specific attention
  for
• - demand, supply and use of energy and materials
• - land use, the environment and biodiversity
• - social steering and innovation

11
Research program Exploring a Sustainable World

• Energy and materials demand and efficiency EME
• (dr. Martin Patel and prof. Kornelis Blok)
• 2. Possibilities for a more sustainable energy
  supply ES
• (dr. Andre Faaij and prof. Wim Turkenburg)
• 3. Land use, biodiversity and ecosystem
  functioning LBE
• (prof. Martin Wassen, dr. Pita Verweij and prof.
  Peter de Ruiter)
• 4. Innovation systems, processes and policies
  IS
• (prof. Ruud Smits and prof. Marius Meeus)
• 5. Governance for sustainable development GSD
• (prof. Pieter Glasbergen)
• Integrative models and methods and the management
  of risks and uncertainties MRU
• (dr. Jeroen van der Sluijs, prof. Ruud Smits and
  prof. Bert de Vries)

12
Research Issues (I)

• EME Techno-economic analyses of energy and
  material consumption / policies to enhance energy
  savings / energy and material efficiency
  improvement and innovation.
• ES Bio-energy production / sustainable use of
  fossil fuels / solar PV and wind energy studies /
  energy system analysis.

13
Research Issues (II)

• (3) LBE Community food webs, nutrient dynamics,
  and vegetation structure in terrestrial
  ecosystems / nutrient dynamics and plant
  biodiversity in river basin and wetland
  ecosystems / land use, environmental quality and
  biodiversity conservation.
• (4) IS Co-evolution of technical change and
  transition of innovation systems / indicators and
  measurements for modeling innovative behavior /
  innovation policy and governance.

14
Research Issues (III)

• (5) GSD Innovative environmental governance in
  post-industrial societies / sustainable use of
  rural areas / sustainable cities / sustainable
  use of energy and resources / environmental
  governance in developing countries.
• (6) MRU Models and methods for integrated
  assessment of sustainable development and
  innovation / sustainable development and
  management of transition processes / management
  of environmental risks and uncertainties.

15
Cooperation between topics (PhD students,
externally funded projects, mutual assistance)
EME
Blok
Patel
Nieuwlaar
ES
MRU
v.d. Sluijs
Faaij
Smits
Alsema
Donders
Turkenburg
de Vries
Hekkert
van Sark
Nieuwdorp
W. de Ruiter
LBE
GSD
P. de Ruiter
Wassen
Glasbergen
J. Dekker
Driessen
S. Dekker
Vermeulen
Schot
Rietkerk
Verweij
Dieperink
Barendregt
IS
Meeus
Smits
Kuhlmann
Donders
v. Lente
Wiegmans
Faber
Hekkert
Moors
16
(No Transcript)
17
Some trends in performance

• Increase productivity in all groups.
• Strong increase number of peer reviewed
  publications (incl. Science and Nature).
• Increase funding from different sources.
• Increase joint projects (projects involving two
  or more Copernicus groups / topics.
• Increase number of (inter)national projects
  initiated or steered by (a.o.) Copernicus.

18
Outcomes external evaluation (June 2004)

• General conclusion goals of first 3 years
  achieved.
• Quality and productivity very good up to
  excellent all groups have avery good reputation.
• Relevance high, scientifically as well and
  socially.
• Prospects very good the coming years the
  institute should work on enhancing its reputation