ETI supports future low carbon leaders with fellowship to continue legacy of Dr David Clarke

The UK-based Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) has announced a new fellowship programme at its 10 Years of Innovation Conference, in honour of the organisation’s late CEO and Royal Academy of Engineering fellow, Dr David Clarke, who passed away in February 2017.

Launched in partnership with the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the David Clarke Fellowship is a personal award, designed to fully fund the recipient and advance their research into novel low-carbon energy solutions, and develop themselves as a leader of the future.

The ETI is a UK-based company formed from global industries and the UK government.

Before joining the ETI as chief executive in 2007 to establish the organisation, David spent 20 years at Rolls-Royce holding several senior positions including Head of the Corporate Strategic Research Centre and the Head of Technology Strategy and Research. The fellowship recipient will work with an industry mentor, reflecting the focus on collaboration between academia and industry, demonstrated throughout David’s career.

Jonathan Wills, CEO at the Energy Technologies Institute, said: “David was the very first employee appointed at the ETI. For more than nine years he led the organisation with tenacity and vision, and was a colleague and friend to us all. The David Clarke Fellowships will honour his passion and dedication to advancing low carbon technology for the UK and beyond.

“Supporting the recipient to devote their time to delivering the vision in their research, the fellowships will help to develop leaders of the future and continue David’s legacy in which the ETI has sought to accelerate the development of low-carbon technology.”

Professor Philip Nelson, chief executive at EPSRC, added: “I had the pleasure of knowing David Clarke in a professional and personal capacity and valued him immensely both as a colleague and a friend. He has real enthusiasm for, and deep commitment to, ETI’s aims of improving energy supply whilst addressing the challenges of climate change, and this shone out from his work and his relations with others.

“David was a strong advocate for the role of research in informing policy and in steering the country to a sustainable future. That is why EPSRC is proud to be associated with these new fellowships named in his memory. His dedication and optimism will live on through the work of others.”

The fellowships will be awarded for three consecutive years, and applicants will be expected to hold a PhD or have equivalent research experience. Their research proposal should demonstrate a high degree of novelty in comparison to the broader research context of the area internationally. An advisory group, including David’s widow Alison will select the successful candidates.

The ETI’s 10 Years of Innovation conference is a two-day event sharing the results from more than 150 complex low carbon energy innovation projects where academia, industry and government will hear thoughts and ideas on how to develop policies and invest in the infrastructure that is needed to meet carbon targets in 2050.