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RLS-Sciences Network Virtual Roundtable on COVID-19
As part of the RLS-Virtual Symposium on COVID-19, the Upper Austrian government convened a Virtual Roundtable on RLS-Sciences and COVID-19 on 15 September, 2020. The Virtual Roundtable included a dedicated RLS-Sciences session embedded within it, featuring inputs from all seven regions and all four RLS-Sciences groups (Energy, Aerospace, Small Satellites, Digitalization). Each RLS-Sciences group gave a presentation from their respective field on the topic of COVID-19 and regional crisis management, challenges, opportunities, and best practices.
Energy Network: “Approaches for navigating the RLS regions’ energy transitions during and after the COVID-19 crisis” Dr. Sebastian Goers, Energieinstitut at the Johannes Kepler University Linz Global Aerospace Campus: “Connecting Regions Through Education” Prof. Klaus Drechsler, Munich Aerospace and Technical University of Munich Small Satellites:” Earth Observation with CubeSats in Times of COVID-19: Perspectives from the Telematics International Mission (TIM)” Prof. Klaus Schilling, Julius-Maximilians-University Würzburg and Zentrum für Telematik Expert Dialogue on Digitalization: “Working and Learning from Home in a Digital Era” Prof. Thierry Karsenti, Université de Montréal Learn more about RLS-Sciences here. Learn more about the RLS-Sciences groups here. |
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The Regional Leaders Summit (RLS) is a forum comprising seven regional governments: Bavaria (Germany), Georgia (USA), Québec (Canada), São Paulo (Brazil), Shandong (China), Upper Austria (Austria), and Western Cape (South Africa). Within the framework of RLS, RLS-Sciences seeks to leverage the unique composition and strengths of the RLS network to support scientific research within and between the RLS regions. The goal is to generate and support academic, scientific, and technological exchanges, as well as the initiation of multilateral research projects. RLS-Sciences is comprised of its scientific network, the existing bilateral relationships between the RLS members, and its four research projects: RLS-Energy Network (the RLS-Sciences pilot project), the RLS-Expert Dialogue on Digitalization, the RLS-Global Aerospace Campus, and RLS-Small Satellites.
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Aerospace
Aerospace researchers came together in São José dos Campos as part of the 2019 RLS-Sciences Conference from 27 to 31 May. This marked the third Global Aerospace Campus Summer Summit. They held exchanges on a wide variety of topics, with rich brainstorming discussions afterwards. In addition, a ‘’mini-course’’ was given on the topic of ‘’Smart Materials and Structures’’. Participants had the chance to see a teaser video of the inaugural e-learning course, under development at Munich Aerospace, which will be launched in the autumn of 2019. The group also discussed future summer school sites and topics, and themes for the second and third e-Learning courses, which will include inputs from throughout the regions and industry. The group also shared ideas for potential joint research groups. Learn more about the project by visiting the Global Aerospace Campus site here. |
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Energy
The Energy Network met at the 2019 RLS-Sciences Conference in São José dos Campos. The group exchanged on a variety of interlinking topics, including climate change and energy, biofuels, smart energy grids and storage, and energy efficiency. These exchanges also addressed topics such as interdisciplinarity in research, and the social acceptance of new energy technologies. The group also discussed the progress of their Joint Roadmap, including the status of the SWOT analysis of the energy transition in the regions and a feedback round on the pilot matchmaking database for researchers on solar energy. The group will continue to progress along the Joint Roadmap, and is looking to develop joint project proposals in the coming months. Learn more about the RLS-Energy Network here. |
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Small Satellites
The project group made important progress together on ‘’TIM’’, including discussions on possible additional applications, such as agriculture during the 2019 RLS-Sciences Conference. The group is now looking at a formation of up to 12 pico-satellites. Additional aspects, such as cameras, testing facilities, and mechatronic components are key aspects being supported through regional commitments. The group also held a mini-course on small satellites, and heard presentations covering the range of research being conducted in São Paulo on small satellites, as well as key presentations from Bavaria, Québec, and Western Cape. To review the most recent publications from the group, please click here. To learn more about the project, please visit the RLS-Small Satellites website here. |
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Digitalization
During the 2019 RLS-Sciences Conference in São José dos Campos, experts from São Paulo, Québec, and Upper Austria came together alongside their RLS-Sciences colleagues from aerospace to discuss digitalisation, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. The combination of themes allowed for discussions on the enabling and transversal role of digitalisation in different areas of research and development. You can learn more about the Digitalization Dialogue here. |