Florence School of Regulation

At the Florence School of Regulation (FSR), we explore the crossroads of research, policy, and education, translating insights into real-world impact. At the heart of the energy transition, we are sharing ideas to support regulators, policymakers, and industries in addressing climate change and shaping a sustainable future for all. The FSR is a unique combination of a university research group, a think tank and an executive education institute, working to improve policy and regulation in Europe and worldwide. Our work spans the critical sectors of energy, transport, water, and waste, with a strong emphasis on climate across all domains. **Our story** The FSR was established in 2003 at the European University Institute’s Schuman Centre, as a cooperation between the EUI, the Council of European Energy Regulators and the European Commission with the objective of promoting good regulation in Europe via training, research, and policy dialogue. What began in **2004** as a small but ambitious training initiative in Florence has, over two decades, grown into a vibrant centre of regulatory innovation with global reach. In its first year, the FSR opened its doors with the **Annual Training on the Regulation of Energy Utilities**, bringing together professionals driven by a shared purpose to shape the future of energy regulation in Europe. From that moment, momentum built rapidly: by **2008**, leadership under Jean?Michel Glachant and the establishment of the **Loyola de Palacio Chair** set a tone of academic excellence and policy relevance. As the world’s regulatory challenges expanded, so did the FSR’s horizons. The **2010s** saw the launch of new areas — from Transport & Communications to Climate and Water & Waste — each reflecting emerging priorities in sustainable infrastructure and environmental stewardship. In **2014**, the School pioneered its first **online courses**, extending its reach beyond Florence and training thousands of professionals worldwide. Embracing digital innovation in **2015**, FSR transformed its activities to thrive online, a strategic shift that proved prescient during the global disruptions of **2020**, when it launched #DigitalSolidarity scholarships and virtual learning that kept its community connected. Initiatives like [**Lights on Women**](https://lightsonwomen.eu/), launched in **2017**, underscored the School’s commitment to inclusivity, while the **Global area** expanded FSR’s impact across continents — even contributing to the birth of an independent regulatory school in India. More recent years have deepened these global ties, from founding the [**African School of Regulation**](https://africanschoolregulation.org/) in **2022** to celebrating alumni and community milestones in **2023**. Each of these milestones is more than a date on a timeline — they are stories of people, partnerships, and a shared belief in regulation’s power to advance sustainable and equitable futures