The strategic partnership between TU/e and Shell consisted of a framework agreement that made it easier to start projects, because the parties agreed in advance on conditions such as standard rates. As a result, individual projects did not have to be assessed separately.

Following the initial five-year term, the agreement was automatically renewed on an annual basis by tacit renewal, but new international regulations meant it had to be revised this time. The Executive Board (CvB) then decided not to renew it at all.

According to TU/e spokesperson Ivo Jongsma, one reason was that the collaboration had already declined significantly. “The Executive Board also observes that Shell has focused less on the energy transition and related R&D (research and development) in recent years, and more on fossil fuels,” Jongsma says.

As a result, Shell is considered a less suitable strategic partner. “Especially given TU/e’s stronger focus on sustainability, as laid down in our new Institutional Plan.”

The decision does not affect ongoing projects. According to Shell’s latest report on academic collaborations, published at the end of 2025, there are currently 21 projects running with TU/e. None of these projects concern fossil-fuel applications.

Individual researchers can still enter into new collaborations. “However, these new collaborations will be assessed under the system for ‘responsible collaborations’ that will be introduced shortly, which also considers sustainability,” Jongsma says.

Shell itself will also assess new projects individually to determine whether they are appropriate, a company spokesperson said.

In recent years, demonstrators repeatedly protested Shell’s presence at the Career Days and asked the university to cut ties with the company. The university did not comply with that demand. According to Jongsma, the protests did not influence the Executive Board’s decision not to renew the framework agreement.

This article was translated using AI-assisted tools and reviewed by an editor.