Corporations find support and insight at Northwestern in new Industry Affiliates Program

Innovation in sustainability and energy is at the core of the Industry Affiliates Program (IAP) announced today by the Paula M. Trienens Institute for Sustainability and Energy at Northwestern University. The Trienens Institute IAP facilitates collaboration among industry leaders and University researchers to accelerate the global energy transition. Founding members of the Trienens Institute IAP include Schneider Electric, Fortune Brands Innovations, Heritage Research Group and Elevate Packaging.

Through the IAP, companies across key sectors gain access to cutting-edge research, faculty expertise and a student recruiting pipeline. IAP members also are offered a seat on the Trienens Institute executive council, a philanthropic advisory board of individuals and organizations principally involved in sustainability and energy initiatives. In turn, Northwestern researchers are informed and supported by industry insights, joint funding proposals and opportunities to scale and deploy solutions.

“Partnerships allow academia to collaborate across disciplines and industries to create solutions for large-scale challenges, such as the energy transition,” said Ted Sargent, executive director of the Trienens Institute and the Lynn Hopton Davis and Greg Davis Professor of Chemistry, Electrical and Computer Engineering at Northwestern. “As the global demand for energy grows, our ability to produce and store energy is increasingly vital. It is a widespread effort and opportunity that requires innovation across sectors.”

IAP members have the option to partner with University faculty who are leading research through a set of research and development pillars. The pillars are a complementary set of integrated scientific priorities that outline areas of focus for research and translation.

Schneider Electric, a global leader in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, was one of the first industry partners to join the IAP.

“Collaborating with Northwestern’s world‑class researchers will help us accelerate breakthroughs in electrification, digitalization and decarbonization,” said Cory Lichtenberger, vice president of U.S. Strategy at Schneider Electric. “By connecting our industry know‑how with Northwestern’s cutting‑edge science and exceptional student talent, we can fast‑track scalable next-generation solutions.”

Schneider Electric and Northwestern have had a long-standing partnership that has included thought leadership and student engagement. The company’s IAP membership represents a strategic expansion of this partnership composed of interdisciplinary activities across Northwestern, including with the Kellogg School of Management, the McCormick School of Engineering and the Trienens Institute.

“This initiative aligns with our commitment to innovation and sustainability,” said Peter Kotiadis, director of technology, sustainability & alliances at Fortune Brands Innovations, which is based in Deerfield, Illinois. “We plan to bring our advanced materials expertise and manufacturing and operational insights to the table to advance the program’s mission. By collaborating with Northwestern’s world-class scientists and engineers, we aim to drive forward the development of groundbreaking solutions that will benefit both our industry and society at large.”

During this first year of the program, members are working in close partnership with the Northwestern research community to help shape core collaborative priorities and strategies for the IAP.

In addition to specialized collaborations, all IAP members are invited to attend research and development seminars presented by Northwestern faculty on topics ranging from solar energy production to decarbonizing chemicals and catalysts to next-generation batteries and beyond. They also are able to participate in Energy and Sustainability Roundtables, which are regular gatherings to map out priorities and recommendations related to the Trienens Institute’s set of research and development pillars. An annual IAP meeting convenes members and University researchers to review and share updates as well as engage in networking opportunities with Northwestern students and postdoctoral fellows.

Visit the Industry Affliates Program to learn more and request information.