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NSUP Conference 2025

The North Sea University Partnership has the pleasure of inviting you to our event
North Sea: Working together on Energy, Green Transition & Security
 
Place: Norway House, Rue Archimède 17, Brussels  
Time: 20 November 09.00 – 16.15  
followed by a networking reception at the British Residence
 
Join in the conversation:  
How can we provide energy security to Europe while improving biodiversity in and around the North Sea? Join us at the first event organised by the North Sea University Partnership to hear more. The event brings together participants from academia, policy and industry to highlight the importance of the North Sea for Europe’s green transition and future energy security.  
 
We will be joined by Ms. Veronica Manfredi, Director of Zero Pollution, Water Resilience & Green Urban Transition in DG Environment, European Commission, as well as by Ambassador Lindsay Croisdale-Appleby, Ambassador Jørn Gloslie, Vice-Chancellor Karen O’Brien, Rector Margareth Hagen, and representatives from academia, policy and industry. The programme will also include a live demonstration of subsurface CO2 injection! 
 

REGISTER HERE for the NSUP Conference

DAY 1 Conference – 20 November 2025
TimeTheme
08.30 – 09.00Registration and coffee
09.00-09.45Welcome and intro to NSUP collaboration

Karen O’Brien, Vice-Chancellor and Warden, Durham University

Margaret Hagen, Rector, University of Bergen

Jørn Gloslie, Ambassador of Norway to Belgium and Deputy Head of the Mission of Norway to the EU

Lindsay Croisdale-Appleby, Ambassador and Head of the UK Mission to the EU
09.45-10.00Keynote Speech

Veronica Manfredi, Director of Zero Pollution, Water Resilience & Green Urban Transition in DG Environment, European Commission
10.00.10.30Panel: North Sea Research and Innovation – a strategic crossroads for energy, sustainability, culture, and security

Chaired by Øystein Lund, Counsellor for Research and Education. Royal Norwegian Embassy in London

Nigel Harkness, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Newcastle University

Shearer West, Vice-Chancellor and President, University of Leeds

Tor Grande, Rector, Norwegian University of Science and Technology – NTNU
10.30-11.00Live demonstration of FluidFlower

Geir Terje Eigestad, Subsurface Manager, Harbour Energy
Kristoffer Eikehaug, Engineer, University of Bergen
11.00-11.30Break
11.30-12.30Resilience for a Net Zero North Sea

Ruud Kempener, Deputy Head of Unit DG ENER, European Commission

Juljius Grubliauskas, Energy Security Officer, NATO (TBC)

Marianne Zeyringer, Associate Professor, University of Oslo

Haris Patsios, Professor, Newcastle University  

Chaired by Richard Dawson, Professor, Newcastle University and Hossein Farahmand, Professor, Norwegian University of Science and Technology – NTNU
12.30-13.30Lunch
13.30-14.30North Sea Conservation and Heritage

Giuliana De Francesco, Policy officer DG RTD, European Commission

Luke Gooding, Research Associate, University of York

Caitlin Ellis, Associate Professor, University of Oslo  

Helen Wilson, Professor, Durham University

Chaired by Simone Abram, Professor, Durham University and Vebjørn Bakken, Director UiO:Energy and Environment, University of Oslo
14.30-14.45Break
14.45-15.45Transitioning the North Sea — from oil & gas basin to a low-carbon multi-use hub

Olav Aamlid Syversen, Vice President Political and Public Affairs, Head of EU Affairs & Country Manager Belgium, Equinor

Mattia Cecchinato, Offshore Wind Manager, WindEurope

Ignacio Anchustegui, Professor, University of Bergen

Sai Ma, Research Fellow, University of Leeds

Chaired by Kristine Spildo, Professor, University of Bergen and James van Alstine, Professor, University of Leeds
15.45-16.15Reflections and thank you

Dag Rune Olsen, Rector, UiT – The Arctic University of Norway
17:00-19:00Reception at the UK ambassador’s official residence, 17 rue Ducale

Welcome by Caroline Read, Deputy Ambassador at the UK Mission to the EU
Remarks from Margaret Hagen, Rector, University of Bergen
Remarks from Karen O’Brien, Vice-Chancellor and Warden, Durham University
DAY 2 Workshop – 21 November 2025
09:00 – 12:00Workshop Research Collaboration Day two will focus on research collaboration, with a workshop dedicated to funding opportunities on the conference theme and the development of concrete post-workshop plans.

Expert Overview of Funding Opportunities from DG RTD:

Svend Søyland, Policy officer, seconded national expert, DG RTD (maritime transport)

David Barratt-Due, Policy officer, seconded national expert, DG RTD (Clean energy innovation: offshore wind, CCS, low-carbon hydrogen & Energy systems & decarbonisation)

Facilitated by Stephen Evans, Professor in Practice at School of Government and International Affairs (SGIA)

Profiles