Research News
HAI – background:
Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding: 2009
Beginning of the research collaboration: 2011
Withdrawal from Oil Sand Research?
In the course of the past weeks, the Helmholtz Alberta Initiative (HAI) has repeatedly made headlines in the media. There was talk about a complete withdrawal of the Helmholtz Association from the German-Canadian co-operation project. What is the truth behind the headlines? We provide answers.
Is the Helmholtz Alberta Initiative at an end?
No. The partnership with the well-respected University of Alberta in Edmonton will continue. Only the industrial oil sand research in the HAI context will be suspended. As it were, this was only a small part of the German contribution to the co-operation. At the same time, however, co-operation in other fields will be extended. The aim is to ensure that HAI has a long term perspective.
Why does the Helmholtz Association pull out of oil sand research?
Our oil sand research aimed at bundling the scientific expertise of both partners for the benefit of sustainable and environmentally friendly energy generation. Energy generation comprised both renewable and conventional energy sources. The reclamation of land, research on new methods for waste water treatment and environmentally friendly refinement processes for this raw material – these were all goals of oil sand-related research.
The progress in doing so was remarkable. But in Europe and in particular in Germany the debate regarding climate change and energy transition has further intensified, causing a distorted image of the German-Canadian research activities: HAI has never intended to mine and process oil sand.
What are the key research areas HAI will concentrate on after its withdrawal from oil sand-related research?
The scientific co-operation with the University of Alberta can be continued in all research fields, since research in the HAI range of topics is wide-ranging and thus can be continued also without any reference to oil sand. Topics such as geothermics, membrane technologies, geological storage of carbon dioxide and research on initial ecosystem development have formed the core of HAI activities ever since the initiative was established. They all are now being further extended. Additional expansion plans exist in the field of remote sensing and environmental monitoring. It is intended to include also research on mineral resources. Last but not least, health will also become an important aspect of our co-operation. Here, joint projects in the fields of infection research and neurodegenerative diseases are in the process of being prepared.
