Second Meeting of the Global Network of Regional Sustainable Energy Centres (GN-SEC), at the Vienna Energy Forum 2017

Global Network of Regional Sustainable Energy Centres (GN-SEC), Saturday 13 May 2017

The second meeting of the Global Network of Regional Sustainable Energy Centres (GN-SEC), a platform that acts as an umbrella for south-south cooperation between centres around the world was held on 13 May 2017. Representatives from all the eight regional centres on renewable energy and energy efficiency worldwide participated in the meeting held on the sidelines of the Vienna Energy Forum, 2017. Regional centres in Africa had representatives from EACREEE, ECREEE and SACREEE. EACREEE was represented by Mr Michael Kiza, the Programme Management Expert. More information about the GN-SEC is available at the website: www.se4allnetwork.org/. 

Picture: Saturday 13 May 2017, second Meeting of the Global Network of Regional Sustainable Energy Centres (GN-SEC)

Regional Incubation Networks to Accelerate Sustainable Energy Innovation Entrepreneurship and Industrial Development, Tuesday 9 May

Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency needs to be tackled both from technological and financial aspects in order to succeed in energy transition, according to the representatives of the Global Network of Regional Sustainable Energy Centres (GN-SEC). At a side event on ‘Regional Incubation Networks to Accelerate Sustainable Energy Innovation Entrepreneurship and Industrial Development’, held on 9 May to coincide with the Vienna Energy Forum, the GN-SEC representatives and the panellists reiterated that most regions face a common problem: the lack of harmonized policies at the regional level. Hence, the regional centres could  provide their services in key categories like frameworks for regional policies, raising awareness, access to finance, and entrepreneurship development through mentor programmes and capacity building activities. By providing these services, the regional centres could fill the existing gaps and strengthen the local expertise, which results in an added value to the local economy, in turn, attracting more investment to the regions.

Picture: Tuesday 9 May 2017, VEF Side event “Regional Incubation Networks to Accelerate Sustainable Energy Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Industrial Development”. From left to right Kudakwashe Ndhlukula (SACREEE), Mahama Kappiah (Executive Director, ECREEE), Giordano Dichter (Head of EU|BIC Services of the European BIC Network EBN), Philippe Scholtès (Managing Director, PTC, UNIDO, Director, Department of Energy, UNIDO) and Ahmed Badr (Executive Director, RCREEE).