It’s twice the honour for EIT InnoEnergy Master School graduate, Fabia Miorelli, having recently achieved two separate Forbes “under 30” lists! She made the “100 under 30 in Italy” list for contributing to innovation and entrepreneurship in the field of energy, as well as the distinguished “30 under 30 in Europe” in the Industry and Manufacturing category, which identifies those creating the products, methods, and materials of tomorrow. Her current role as a PhD candidate at the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) in the Energy Systems Analysis department helps her bring a fresh perspective to these topics, with her research focused on assessing the impact of different futuristic electric vehicle and mobility concepts on future energy systems.
Making the list
Fabia shares her experience so far, “It’s a tremendous honour and even more of an accolade to see that most of the people on the list work in industry or are founders of start-ups, underlining the fact that big contributions can be made in the research field, as well. And I have already experienced what a crowd of curious and proactive minds the Forbes under 30 community is in the events I have attended so far. Outstanding initiatives are born when bright minds from different cultures synergise and create something new.”
An interdisciplinary approach
Reflecting on her time in the Master’s in Sustainable Energy Systems programme, Fabia shares the benefits of an international double master’s degree that also offers an interdisciplinary approach. She says, “I strongly believe in the benefit of professional and personal versatility. EIT InnoEnergy provides a great addition to engineering studies by offering a broad range of business management and entrepreneurship courses. This additional business knowledge and skills are useful in entrepreneurial settings and research, making me better in my scientific field. The hands-on projects are also invaluable for our development. For example, I was involved in 2 projects, the first one a proposal of innovative energy storage business models for a small Catalan utility company, while the second one brought us to Indonesia for the electrification of rural villages. So, I spent my time at EIT InnoEnergy exploring different topics and settings in the energy field, which is important to understand where one’s strengths lie.”
Studying in Europe
Fabia explains the thought process behind her choices of universities in the programme: “Europe is a great continent in which to study. Within a limited geographical scope, it offers a wide variety of cultures, languages, and industries. Moreover, Sweden has always fascinated me as it’s leading the way towards a low-carbon economy, often referred to as the ‘Silicon Valley of Europe’. Hence, the choice fell naturally onto KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm for my first year. And since I had already realised how valuable diametrical experiences can be, I chose a very different country from Sweden for my second year, Portugal – where the technical focus at Instituto Superior Técnico (IST) appealed to me.”
Building strong ties
Passionate about renewable energy integration and decarbonisation strategies, she shares: “I’m interested in investigating the scientific, technological, and economic opportunities to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to decarbonisation of the transport sector. Only through strong ties between academia, industry, and governments will it be possible to devise meaningful strategies to build a more sustainable world – whether as scientists, policymakers, or business leaders, we all have an important role to play.”
Inspiring women in STEM
As the first female EIT InnoEnergy Master School graduate on the coveted Forbes list, Fabia is a true inspiration to others. She offers this advice, “Being a woman in a male-dominated field can sometimes be a hurdle, so focus on your goals and who you want to become. I have always sought out a role model throughout my career, as I believe you cannot become what you cannot see.” How wonderful that Fabia can now be a role model, as well!
Virtual Open Day: 23 February 2023
EIT InnoEnergy Master School Virtual Open Day is the best way to get a real taste of university life and one step closer to finding your ideal programme in sustainable energy engineering!
Meeting EIT InnoEnergy Master School team, learning about career prospects and interacting with our universities, will give you the confidence and clarity you will need to thrive from day one! The event will close with a Q&A session offering you an opportunity to directly interact with all presenters!