PNW explores global energy partnerships in Portugal through federal IDEAS grant
Arash Asrari, second from left, and Ramesh Neupane, far right, meet with U.S. Embassy representatives in Lisbon, Portugal during a June 2026 visit to explore academic and industry partnerships that will benefit future learning Study Away opportunities for PNW students.
Arash Asrari, associate professor of Electrical Engineering, and Ramesh Neupane, director of International Programs and Partnerships, visited academic and energy-sector partners in Portugal in June 2026 as part of a U.S. Department of State Increase and Diversify Education Abroad for U.S. Students (IDEAS) program grant project.
The funded proposal was titled “From Indiana to Portugal – G.E.M.S.: Global Energy Modernization Study Away Program for Power System Resilience and Innovation.” The project supports the development of a future faculty-led Study Away program in Portugal that will introduce PNW students to international perspectives on smart grids, energy policy, power system resilience and sustainable energy technologies.
As part of the grant-supported activities, Asrari and Neupane completed an exploratory visit to Portugal in June 2026. Together, they coordinated partner outreach, organized institutional meetings and met with academic and energy-sector organizations in the Algarve and Lisbon regions to explore potential collaboration, research partnerships, site-visit opportunities and future student learning experiences.
Through these partnerships, we aim to create academic pathways that connect technical learning with international collaboration and prepare students to contribute to the future of clean and resilient energy systems.
Arash Asrari, associate professor of Electrical Engineering
Institutions and organizations visited included Instituto Superior de Engenharia at the University of Algarve; Instituto Superior Manuel Teixeira Gomes; NOVA University Lisbon; Energy Services Regulatory Authority; and Instituto Superior Técnico. Discussions focused on potential collaboration in power systems, smart grids, energy regulation, innovation, student and faculty exchange, collaborative research and future study-away programming.
“This project is about giving PNW students a global lens on one of the most important engineering challenges of our time: building resilient, sustainable energy systems,” said Asrari. “Portugal offers a valuable setting for students to see how energy modernization, smart grids and clean energy integration come together in practice. Through these partnerships, we aim to create academic pathways that connect technical learning with international collaboration and prepare students to contribute to the future of clean and resilient energy systems.”
These conversations will help us move from initial discussions toward practical collaboration in student mobility, faculty engagement and long-term institutional partnerships.
Ramesh Neupane, director of International Programs and Partnerships
“By meeting directly with universities, government-related organizations and energy-sector partners in Portugal, we were able to better understand where PNW’s academic strengths and global engagement goals align with Portuguese institutions,” said Neupane. “These conversations will help us move from initial discussions toward practical collaboration in student mobility, faculty engagement and long-term institutional partnerships.”
Asrari and Neupane’s visit also included a meeting with representatives from the U.S. Embassy in Lisbon, where partners discussed opportunities to strengthen educational, institutional and energy-related collaboration between the U.S. and Portugal.