United Arab Emirates: Green Energy Institute

The United Arab Emirates bid to become an international hub for renewable energy takes a step forward with the opening of a US$1.2 billion graduate institution on 6^th September focusing on research into alternative energy, sustainability and the environment. The Masdar Institute of Science and Technology (MIST) of the UAE Capital, Abu Dhabi has been launched from a temporary campus at the Petroleum Institute near the outskirts of Abu Dhabi and has started the academic year with 92 students from 22 countries, who are all on a full scholarship. Just over ten per cent of students are from the Emirates. MIST is part of the US$15 billion alternative energy and clean technology initiative launched in April 2006 by the UAE. Its two-year Master's programme offers five multidisciplinary specialized areas geared towards the R&D of alternative energy and sustainability. MA programmes include Engineering and Systems Management; Information Technology; Materials Science and Engineering; Mechanical Engineering, and Water and Environment. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) of the USA will run joint research projects with MIST, as well as help the fledgling institution with student recruitment. MIST is fully devoted to R&D in different fields of energy, which will not only turn UAE into an exporter of green technologies but also establish renewable energy technologies in the Middle East.

Source: Science Development Network, 15^th September 2009