EDI and Essent will closely cooperate on knowledge transfer in the field of energy, with a focus on natural gas. In exchange for a financial contribution Essent as associated partner will have a seat in EDI's programme council and in the various advisory boards of EDI's training programmes. Essent will also be part of EDI's international knowledge network that comprises EDI's partners and (inter)national organisations and knowledge institutes. Furthermore, together with universities affiliated to EDI new, top-of-the bill training programmes will be developed. In addition, associated partners contribute to the content of the various programmes and will receive a discount when participating in EDI's courses.

Michiel Boersma (CEO Essent) states: "as the largest energy company in the , we are very pleased to join this international knowledge network. This way our employees can share their experiences with other colleagues from the energy sector, whilst stayin up to date of the most recent market developments. Furthermore, we emphasize our presence in Dutch society. According to EDI's President George Verberg the international network of EDI is importantly extended, while this new form of partnerships gives EDI extra opportunities to offer its training programmes in the energy market.

EDI already had another form of cooperation, namely that of strategic partners. Those are N.V. Nederlandse Gasunie, GasTerra B.V., OAO Gazprom, Shell, RWE and the University of Groningen.
Essent has signed a contract with EDI to become EDI's associated partner. This cooperation gives the role of the as knowledge hub on natural gas an important impulse. At the end of 2007, Electrabel Suez was the first company to become an associated partner.