BDSS 2026 “Accelerating Energy Transition towards Net Zero” is a 4-day event from 15 – 18 June, aiming to bring early career researchers and engineers to work together on a technical solution and business model for a real-world Energy Transition challenge, proposed by our lead industrial partner, GE Vernova. Participants will have two days of workshops (technical presentations and soft skill training) with some opportunities of working in groups to develop their technical solution and business model, and then pitch to a judging panel mainly formed by industry experts on the final day.

BDSS provides all participants with opportunities to work in groups on a real-world Energy Transition challenge. This will train the participants to consider both technical and economic aspects when they formulate solutions to real-world challenges to achieve Net Zero. By collaborating with researchers from other areas such as business and engineers from industry utility, participants are expected to develop their interdisciplinary research capability, practical engineering problem-solving ability, and networking. The collaboration between academic researchers and industry engineers can also benefit each other in developing their skills for transitioning to industry and leading research projects collaborating with university partners, respectively. Also, networking with keynote speakers will facilitate the early career development of all participants. Moreover, summer school participants will have the chance to take part in an interdisciplinary research on how to present to industry stakeholders more effectively.

This event is open to all postgraduate students, early career researchers and engineers from academia and industry, who are working in Net-Zero related disciplines in the UK.

How you will benefit from BDSS

Take this great opportunity to join us to:

• Gain awareness of what the real challenges are of the Energy Transition towards net-zero
• Meet world-class experts in net-zero from industry and academia
• Work collaboratively with other researchers on a real-world net-zero challenge
• Pitch to a judge panel and win £500 prize (Amazon voucher or similar, for the winner group)
• Learn about how to present to industry stakeholders more effectively

This event is sponsored by the ERA / C-DICE Community Fund ’25-26, and there are five free places for doctoral researchers from ERA partners available on a first come, first served basis. Attendance at the event for attendees from ERA partners may be supported by our Travel and Carer Support Fund, for details please contact Dr Neil Radford, n.p,radford@lboro.ac.uk.

To register for the event please follow the link to the BDSS webpage: Birmingham Decarbonisation Summer School 2026 – University of Birmingham