Investing in the Future of One Grid: The CIGRE Innovation and Education Fund

One of CIGRE’s enduring strengths has always been its ability to anticipate the future needs of power systems and to act collectively in response. Today, I am pleased to share an important step in that direction: the creation of the CIGRE Innovation and Education Fund.

This new Fund is a long-term endowment designed to reinforce CIGRE’s core mission of technical knowledge sharing and capacity building, in support of One Grid for the Energy Transition. It reflects a clear strategic choice: to invest not only in today’s expertise, but also in the people, ideas, and solutions that will shape tomorrow’s power systems.

Established as a nonprofit entity in France and fully aligned with CIGRE’s purpose, the Fund has been launched with strong support from our community. The decision of the General Assembly to provide initial capital demonstrates a shared commitment to innovation, education, and global solidarity. I am equally encouraged by the positive response from members and partners worldwide who have expressed their intention to contribute further to this initiative.

The CIGRE Innovation and Education Fund will support projects and programs that advance power system knowledge and skills globally. Its scope includes research and development, graduate scholarships, educational initiatives, STEM engagement, and humanitarian actions aimed at enabling sustainable electricity for less fortunate communities. Diversity of topics and geographic balance will guide funding decisions over time. In line with CIGRE’s values, the Fund will not engage in commercial or political activities.

Applications for projects, as well as their implementation and management, will be carried out through our National Committees. This approach builds on CIGRE’s established structures, ensuring that initiatives are rooted in local expertise while remaining aligned with global priorities and standards.

A dedicated governance framework has been established to ensure transparency, independence, and responsible stewardship of the Fund. In this context, I would like to acknowledge the commitment of those who have guided the Fund through its preparatory phase and will now support its operational development, particularly Michael Heyeck, the designated President of the Endowment Fund and Gérald Sanchiz, its Managing Director. Their engagement has been instrumental in transforming this strategic vision into a concrete and credible initiative.

Grant decisions will follow clear and prudent rules. Annual allocations will be limited to the Fund’s earnings and donations, with appropriate safeguards to promote fairness, sustainability, and global reach. Operationally, the Fund will follow established CIGRE practices, relying on volunteer leadership and professional support services where appropriate, while ensuring that CIGRE itself bears no financial burden.

More detailed information on the CIGRE Innovation and Education Fund, including its objectives, governance, and implementation principles, can be found in the recent Power Talk, the CIGRE newsletter, by our Secretary General, Philippe Adam (https://www.cigre.org/article/GB/cigre-innovation-and-education-fund-powered-by-cigre-announcement-by-cigre-president-konstantin-papailiou).

Much work now lies ahead. A dedicated presence on the CIGRE website will soon provide further information, and the first calls for proposals will follow. I encourage National Committees and other eligible CIGRE bodies to begin considering initiatives that align with the Fund’s objectives and ambitions.

In closing, the CIGRE Innovation and Education Fund represents more than a financial instrument. It is a statement of confidence in our collective future. Through it, CIGRE strengthens its unique role across generation, transmission, distribution, demand, and the grid edge, while investing in research, education, and humanitarian impact.

I thank all CIGRE members and volunteers for their trust, engagement, and commitment. Together, through CIGRE and now through the CIGRE Innovation and Education Fund, we continue to work toward better solutions for society and a successful Energy Transition— One Grid, for a sustainable future.

Konstantin O. Papailiou
President of CIGRE