Efficiency for Access Design Challenge Academic and Industry Partners

Creating Partnerships

We recognise the importance of building connections between academia and industry to ensure the continued development of the off-grid sector. The Efficiency for Access Design Challenge aims to help establish these long-lasting, productive partnerships.

If you are a company and want to be an industry partner for the competition please contact EforAchallenge@est.org.uk

Universities

The Efficiency for Access Design Challenge is now in its fifth year, and has gained a reputation for showcasing innovation and positive change. It empowers teams of university students to drive clean energy access by crafting affordable, high-performance off-grid appliances and enabling technologies.

For this academic year 2023-2024, students from 17 universities are taking part in the Challenge. Here is a list of the participating universities.

Industry Partners

The Efficiency for Access Design Challenge counts on a broad range of industry partners and experts engaging in the Challenge as mentors, speakers, reviewers and judges. Here is the list of companies supporting student teams this year.

Connecting Academia and Industry Workshops

Academic and industry partners have had opportunities to participate in workshops designed to bring together both sectors and explore opportunities for collaboration. As part of the Challenge, we provide opportunities for academics and industry partners to connect and explore opportunities for collaboration. We hope to help academics forge connections with industry reps whose perspective can inform course content, and enable industry partners to connect with academics whose perspective and access to research can help inform innovations.

Kinya Kimathi of Kijani Testing, Dr Alan Bigelow from Solar Cookers International, and Dr Ping Yin from Swansea University each gave presentations that explained they have successfully forged collaborative partnerships between universities and the energy access sector. Following this, we held a speed-networking session for academic and business representatives involved in the Efficiency for Access Design Challenge. The key takeaways from this event can be found here.

Dr Iwona Bisaga and Dr Priti Parikh presented on the UCL and BBOXX partnership. The key takeaways from the Connecting Academia and Industry workshop can be found here.

Biraj Gautam and Sam Williamson presented on the PEEDA and University of Bristol partnership. The key takeaways from the Connecting Academia and Industry workshop can be found here.