An energy chair is a research and innovation mechanism that structures a long-term collaboration between an academic institution (university or engineering school), industrial stakeholders, and in some cases public partners. It differs from a traditional research project by its strategic, multi-year nature and strong funding, aiming to concentrate scientific, technical, and educational expertise around a major energy challenge. The objective is not only to produce knowledge, but to create an integrated space where fundamental research, technological innovation, education, and industrial needs converge in order to accelerate the transformation of energy systems.
Energy chairs take several forms depending on their objectives and funding models. Academic chairs are mainly oriented toward scientific output and high-level education, strengthening laboratory capacities and structuring specialized programs. Industrial chairs, on the other hand, are co-funded by companies and research organizations and aim to solve concrete technological problems, with a strong focus on translating research into applications. There are also interdisciplinary or so-called “societal” chairs, which broaden the analysis to the economic, social, legal, and political dimensions of the energy transition, thereby integrating issues of acceptance and governance. Finally, some chairs are directly led or funded by companies in a logic of strategic innovation or corporate social responsibility, often focusing on specific themes such as smart grids, renewable energy, or decarbonized fuels.
In the context of the fight against climate change, energy chairs play a decisive role in the two main dimensions of climate action: mitigation and adaptation. In terms of mitigation, they contribute to the development of low-carbon solutions by supporting research on clean technologies, energy efficiency, industrial process decarbonization, and the integration of renewable energy into energy systems. They thus directly help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by accelerating innovation and facilitating technology transfer to industry. In terms of adaptation, they improve understanding of the systemic impacts of climate change on energy infrastructure and help develop solutions to strengthen resilience, whether in electricity grid management, supply security, or the evolution of energy systems in response to extreme climate events.
Beyond their scientific role, energy chairs are also essential instruments for structuring industrial ecosystems and developing the skills required for the energy transition. They actively contribute to the training of engineers, researchers, and experts capable of designing, developing, and deploying future technologies. By creating bridges between universities and companies, they facilitate professional integration and ensure better alignment between labor market needs and available skills. They also act as an interface between researchers, industry, and policymakers, helping translate scientific advances into coherent public policies and industrial strategies.
One of the fields where the impact of energy chairs is particularly visible is hydrogen. Hydrogen is now considered a key energy vector for the low-carbon transition, especially for decarbonizing heavy industry, storing energy from intermittent renewables, and powering sectors that are difficult to electrify such as maritime and air transport. Chairs dedicated to this topic work across the entire value chain: low-carbon hydrogen production (notably through electrolysis), storage, transport, safety, integration into energy networks, and development of new industrial uses. They also play a crucial role in reducing technology costs and scaling up emerging solutions to industrial levels.
By structuring research around hydrogen, these chairs contribute to building a true technological and industrial ecosystem. They connect research laboratories, innovative startups, large energy companies, and public institutions, creating an environment conducive to innovation and rapid technology diffusion. They also help train a new generation of experts specialized in hydrogen systems, capable of understanding the chemical, energy, economic, and regulatory dimensions of this sector.
Thus, energy chairs appear as structuring instruments of the global energy transition. They accelerate the shift from research to industrial innovation, strengthen the human and scientific capacities needed for economic decarbonization, and contribute to aligning energy policies. In the case of hydrogen, they play a particularly strategic role by supporting the emergence of a still developing sector that is expected to become central in future low-carbon energy systems.