Green light for Delta Climate Center in Vlissingen

Worldwide, over 500 million people live in deltas. Their liveability is under pressure because of matters like rising sea levels and deterioration of ecosystems. How do we create sustainable, climate-proof and prospering deltas? That is the question the Delta Climate Center (DCC) will look into. Utrecht University is one of the six founders of the centre which will start operations in Vlissingen in mid-2023. The centre will start with a budget of 88 million euros, provided by the Dutch national government and the Dutch province of Zeeland.

Education and research

The DCC will get to work on education and research on water and energy management, and on new forms of food provision. For mbo, hbo and wo students, the DCC develops an ongoing learning line. Besides that, there will be new degree programmes at Zeeland-based knowledge institutions. In research, the focus is on the themes of water, energy, food and biological resources. The DCC will also stimulate business development and start-ups that will occupy themselves with water, food and energy. The Zeeland delta is the living lab of the DCC: with various parties, it collaborates to work on solutions to climate and sustainability issues in deltas.

Peter Driessen, a Professor of Environmental Governance, is closely involved in the founding of the DCC on behalf of UU. Driessen says: At UU, there is much expertise on delta development, such as water-defence landscapes, food systems and sustainable energy. We also have in-company expertise on the way in which we can use this knowledge to bring about social and economic changes, and transform the Zeeland delta into a sustainable delta. We are very much looking forward to further developing this within the DCC and to actually apply the new insights in practice.

At Utrecht University, there is much expertise on delta development, such as water-defence landscapes, food systems and sustainable energy.

UU will appoint two new professors, who will collaborate with PhDs on the implementation of the research agenda. At the same time, new chances are coming about for Utrecht students to work in Zeeland on interdisciplinary research projects, like as a part of the Master's thesis. With the participation of UU in the DCC, new chances come about to connect fundamental academic research to applied research and to actual applications. The development of the ongoing learning line connects academic education to hbo and mbo.

Unique collaboration

The founders of the DCC are Scalda, HZ University of Applied Sciences, University College Roosevelt, NIOZ, Wageningen University & Research and Utrecht University. The six founders have worked with much care on an ambitious plan for innovative research and education supported by the six partners, says Henk Kummeling, Rector Magnificus of Utrecht University. Kummeling says: Utrecht University is already present in Zeeland via the University College Roosevelt and would love to intensify the collaboration with Zeeland institutions.

Utrecht University is already present in Zeeland via the University College Roosevelt and would love to intensify the collaboration with Zeeland institutions.

Participation in the DCC links up with strategic principles of Utrecht University in the fields of interdisciplinary collaboration, future-proof education culture and sustainable development.

Impact for Zeeland

The location of the DCC is the Kenniswerf in Vlissingen. The expected impact for Zeeland is big: new jobs, an expansion of the number of degree programmes, an increase of the number of students, an improved knowledge infrastructure and a positive effect on the settling climate. Research projects are set up and carried out in close consultation with the Zeeland corporate world, social organisations and governments.