(Edmonton) Close to 150 people focused on making the oilsands a more sustainable energy resource will be networking this week at the University of Alberta. The Helmholtz Alberta Initiative, a partnership between the U of A and the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres, is bringing scientists and leaders from the energy industry together for two days to set a course for developing new technologies.

Lorne Babiuk, U of A's vice president (research), says this is a significant step forward for the initiative, which was formalized last fall. "This is the first time that industry and scientists are all going to be together in the same room," said Babiuk.

About 20 researchers from the German research group will be part of the conference Thursday and Friday at the Lister Conference Centre on the U of A campus. The Helmholtz Association is made up of 16 research centres across Germany. It is the country's largest scientific organization.

Stefan Scherer, a special advisor to the university's research office, says the key technological and environmental issues facing oilsands development are the same concerns facing coal operations in both Alberta and Germany. Technology fixes for issues like carbon capture and management of tailings ponds will be shared by both countries.

In December, the Alberta government committed $25 million over five years to the initiative and the university is looking for additional funding from the oilsands industry. Scherer is encouraged that representatives from the oil patch are participating in the conference.

"We have more than 20 representatives from various industries in Alberta," said Scherer. "We want to start an early dialogue between our researchers and the possible end-users of the technology in the oilsands industry."

As it stands the HAI is a five-year agreement, but Babiuk is looking beyond that timeframe for this international partnership. "Our goal is to expand it and making it a long-term project."