The First Minister of Scotland, Alex Salmond, has invited a gathering of over 150 students at the World Future Energy Summit to visit Scotland and see the world-class energy research being undertaken there.

He extended the invitation to attend the Scottish Low Carbon Investment Conference while addressing the Young Future Energy Leaders (YFEL) at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi.

He told the gathering of students from UAE universities, international universities, and young professionals from local companies that they should experience the world class related energy research, development and industry taking place in Scotland.

“We must start from today with our young future energy leaders using your talent and enthusiasm to turn vision into reality. This is a global challenge and therefore one which demands collaboration across nations. That is why I would like you – some of the best renewables minds in the world – to visit Scotland – the best location for developing renewables in the world,” Salmond said.

The Scottish Low Carbon Investment Conference, which will take place in October this year  in Edinburgh, brings together government, finance, utilities and developers to engage directly on the opportunities and challenges presented by the global shift to low carbon economies.

It will be an ideal forum for the group to mix with outstanding students studying renewables at Scotland’s leading universities, senior business leaders, Ministers and policy makers and to contribute to discussions on the future of the European/Scottish renewables industry.

“It is clear that nations can no longer consider the challenge of energy security as something for the next generation to tackle and solve,” Salmond said.

Lena Wilson, chief executive of Scottish Enterprise, said: "Scotland is globally recognised as a world-leader in the low carbon industry and it's vital for Scotland's long term economic future that we continue to build on this and find new ways of working and developing our expertise to improve our success.”

"The Scottish Low Carbon Investment Conference is the ideal opportunity for Scottish-based companies to meet and share ideas and experiences with like-minded organisations and to network with key players from across the industry,” she said.

Dr Fred Moavenzadeh, president, Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, said: “The Scottish First Minister’s participation strongly reflects the importance of Masdar Institute’s outreach initiative that aims to inspire, educate and position students and young professionals for obtaining solutions to the world’s most pressing environmental issues.”

The young innovators are part of the outreach initiative created and run by the Masdar Institute of Science of Technology, an independent, research-driven graduate-level university and part of Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s multi-faceted renewable energy company.

The members for 2012 were selected out of 400 applicants, after a stringent vetting process that ensured only the most eligible candidates are chosen for the exclusive YFEL programme.

Salmond is in Abu Dhabi to attend the opening ceremony of the World Future Energy Summit. The opening ceremony will be performed by Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, chief executive of Masdar, and the conference will be addressed by Ban Ki Moon, UN Secretary General, and Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao. He will also sign an agreement with Masdar, to work together to deliver tangible clean energy projects. – TradeArabia News Service