Prof. Paulo Ferrão Appointed as New Co-Chair of the EASAC Energy Steering Panel

Prof. Paulo Ferrão, representative of the Academy of Sciences of Lisbon on the EASAC Energy Steering Panel, has been appointed as the new Panel Co-Chair. He joins Prof. Paula Kivimaa, representative of the Council of Finnish Academies, in leading the Panel, and succeeds Prof. Neven Duić, who will continue to serve as the Panel’s representative of the Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts.

“Europe is entering a decisive phase of its energy transition, where climate ambition must translate into integrated energy systems that are secure, affordable and support a competitive and resilient economy,” Prof. Ferrão remarked. “Science has a crucial role in providing evidence, scenarios and solutions to help policymakers design integrated energy systems and create the conditions for people to embrace and adopt new technologies.”

Prof. Ferrão’s extensive experience in EU policy engagement and his leadership in coordinating European networks further strengthen the Energy Steering Panel’s mission. His notable roles include serving as Chair of the European Commission Mission Board on “Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities” and as President of the European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Association. These accomplishments underscore his ability to enhance the relevance and visibility of EASAC’s energy programme.

 “I am delighted to join Prof. Paula Kivimaa in co-chairing the Panel and to contribute to EASAC’s unique role in bringing independent scientific evidence into the European policy debate,” Prof. Ferrão said. His expertise in engineering, energy systems and industrial ecology complements Prof. Kivimaa’s background in social sciences, energy policy and the socioeconomic dimensions of the energy transition, creating a multidisciplinary leadership team to address Europe’s crucial energy challenges. 

EASAC and the Panel would like to thank Prof. Duić for his outstanding leadership and contributions during his tenure as Co-Chair. His dedication and expertise have been instrumental in advancing the Panel’s work. The Panel also looks forward to Prof. Ferrão’s contributions in advancing its mission to provide science-based policy advice on energy issues critical to Europe’s sustainable future.