Other partnerships

Internationally engaged

Kyoto University iCeMS

In early 2021 we signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Kyoto University's Institute for Integrated Cell-Materials Sciences (iCeMS) and in November 2021 Kyoto University opened an on-site lab in Wellington, operated jointly with the MacDiarmid Institute. A particular focus of the collaboration is solar photovoltaics (PVs) and other materials that respond to light, including developing algorithms for how well new molecules would work as PV materials. A delegation from iCeMS visited Wellington in February 2024 for a joint iCeMS/MacDiarmid Institute symposium. 

MacDiarmid Institute-iCeMS symposium, February 2024.

NIMS

We’ve been collaborating with the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) in Japan for many years, initially informally but with an MOU with MANA (which is one of the NIMS’ nine research centres) since 2016. A delegation from the Institute visited NIMS in 2023 and signed an MOU with the full NIMS. Dr Tomonobu Nakayama, Director, Div. of International Collaborations and Public Relations at NIMS has been on our International Science Advisory Board (ISAB) for several years and is a good friend of the Institute, most recently in New Zealand for our ISAB meeting in May 2024.

MacDiarmid Institute delegation and NIMS representatives following the signing of NIMS-MI MOU in 2023.

MacDiarmid Institute delegation in front of the New Zealand flag at NIMS in Japan, 2023.

FLEET

In 2019 we established a new partnership with the Monash University- based Centre of Excellence in Future Low-Energy Electronics Technologies (FLEET) to search for future low-energy electronics via the development of novel materials and devices. Partnering with FLEET allows our researchers to combine their nanoscale materials expertise with the Australians’ knowledge of advanced electronics design. In February 2023 the FLEET outreach team joined our outreach programme alongside AMN10, and together we delivered science outreach workshops to 320 Rotorua school students as part of the recent AMN10 conference.

Hydrogen alliance

We supported a bid to establish a German-NZ green hydrogen alliance and centre, led by Principal Investigator Professor Sally Brooker (University of Otago) on the NZ side and Dr Paul Jerabek (Helmholtz Zentrum Hereon) on the German side, in partnership with Ngai Tahu and with NZ-wide buy-in. This bid was successful, gaining both German (BMBF) and NZ (Catalyst, MBIE) funding 2021-2026. Work on the physical centre of this virtual NZ-wide hydrogen alliance with Germany is underway, and the gifting of the name He Honoka Hauwai by Ngai Tahu was celebrated at NZHS-1, NZ’s inaugural hydrogen symposium, 1-3 February 2023.  

Subsequently, 3 German-NZ green hydrogen research grants (2022-2025) have also been awarded (by BMBF on the German, and MBIE on the NZ, side):

• “Safe, low cost, hydrogen storage materials from NZ resources” (HZH press release 4 August 2022; Otago Uni press release 17 August 2022; ODT 17 August 2022; EnergyCentral 17 August 2022) hosted at the University of Otago but with an NZ wide team (University of Otago, Ngai Tahu, NZ Hydrogen Council, University of Canterbury, Victoria University of Wellington, University of Auckland, Unitec/Te Pukenga) plus our partners at Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon (near Hamburg, Germany). Co-leaders Principal Investigators Professor Sally Brooker (Otago) and Dr Paul Jerabek (Hereon). Key researchers Associate Professor Jonathan Lever (Unitec), Professor Peng Cao (UoA), Professor Chris Bumby (VUW), Associate Professor Alex Yip (UoC), Associate Professors Anna Garden, Nigel Lucas and Michael Jack (Otago), Drs Claudio Pistidda, Klaus Taube, Thomas Klassen and Julian Jepsen (Hereon), with Dr Linda Wright (NZ Hydrogen Council) and Aimee Kaio (Ngai Tahu).
• “Investigating ways of producing low-cost green hydrogen” (led by Principal Investigator Professor Aaron Marshall), hosted at the University of Canterbury (Canterbury Unipress release 17 August 2022), with NZ (University of Auckland, Victoria University Wellington) and German (Frauenhofer IFAM and University of Bayreuth) partners.
• “Creation of a New Zealand-German platform for green hydrogen integration” (led by Drs Jannik Haas and Rebecca Peer), hosted at the University of Canterbury (Canterbury Unipress release 17 August 2022), with NZ (University of Auckland) and German (DLR) partners.

Other

We have formal Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) with the Australian National Fabrication Facility and the Centre for Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology in Australia.

We have several other MoUs in the pipeline. All MacDiarmid Institute researchers have strong and ongoing collaborations with international partners, including with members of our International Science Advisory Board, many of whom are based at Ivy League universities and top research colleges and institutions around the world.

Domestic collaborations

Ara Ake

MacDiarmid Institute researchers have been closely involved in the establishment of Ara Ake, including as part of the Steering and Advisory Groups. The Institute was one of the three initial shareholders of the Centre.

We see a valuable role for Ara Ake in strengthening connections between research /innovation, and the commercialisation of new energy technology.

Outside of our shareholding role, the MacDiarmid Institute looks forward to working closely with Ara Ake in our capacity as energy researchers, including -

• pitching our new and emerging new energy technologies (printable solar photovoltaics, innovative battery technologies  and materials for efficient green hydrogen generation etc.) to the right audience – looking for early partnerships, investors, or at least critical feedback and being nurtured in a pipeline of future opportunities
• working through the Centre to facilitate prototyping or pilot projects – the scale and scope of such projects in the energy sector generally exceed our resources, and
• offering our technical expertise and advise to other existing projects – helping government and industry understand the technical constraints and future trajectories of new energy technologies.

Conflict of Interest Statement: Our involvement in the Steering and Advisory Groups has come to an end with the incorporation and launch of Ara Ake in July 2020. As an initial shareholder of the centre, we will work to support the Centre through providing technical expertise and advice, and we will support our researchers to engage with the pipeline of support it offers. However we will not have any control over the research and technologies chosen by the Centre for pilot projects or further support.

Infratec MOU - Accelerating low-carbon research

Our MOU with Infratec seeks to enhance research and education within New Zealand in the areas of low carbon technology, the social science of energy, energy saving and energy storage. A particular focus will be placed on technologies relating closely to MacDiarmid Institute research, including photovoltaic materials, and electrical energy storage. It also seeks to help accelerate the industrial application of New Zealand research into novel energy technology and products.

NZ Product Accelerator MOU

Our MOU with NZ Product Accelerator (NZPA) is for the purpose of identifying joint opportunities to provide support for a wide portfolio of commercial R&D projects, where scientific skills impart new IP, processes and technology adoption into companies to enhance their commercial performance. As a result, this will further enhance our strategic interest in innovation in NZ and in the economic and social and environmental value it will bring to the country.