Partnership with Ceres to boost clean energy research collaborations

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The University of Liverpool has signed a Memorandum of Intent (MoI) with Ceres, a leading developer of clean energy technology, to formalise their partnership and expand research and innovation collaborations across advanced materials research areas in support of net zero.

The MoI, Ceres’ first with a North West university, reflects the company’s commitment to fostering research partnerships that help to deliver clean energy solutions at scale and at speed.

The relationship between Ceres and the University of Liverpool started in 2014 and has resulted in numerous collaborations covering technology programmes within the field of materials chemistry and manufacturing.

Two recent University successes supported by Ceres include the new EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Digital and Automated Materials Chemistry, and the UK’s flagship £12M Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Chemistry Hub with Imperial College London.

The new agreement will expand interactions across a number of research disciplines in fields synergistic to Ceres’ mission to help sustain a clean, and sustainable planet through its research and development of fuel cell technologies for power generation and electrolysers for green hydrogen.

Both organisations will work together to further catalyse the development of key technologies and will seek funding opportunities for new large-scale collaborative projects, centres and programmes as well as smaller-scale proof of concept initiatives.

Professor Wiebe Van Der Hoek, University Executive Pro-Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Science and Engineering, and Dr Subhasish Mukerjee, Chief Scientific Officer at Ceres, signed the agreement during a celebratory event at the University’s Materials Innovation Factory, a state-of-the-art facility dedicated to the research and development of advanced materials.

Professor Ronan McGrath, University Associate Pro-Vice Chancellor for Infrastructure and Partnerships, Faculty of Science and Engineering, said: “The signing of the MoI marks an important milestone in the ongoing collaboration between Ceres and the University of Liverpool, and formalises our shared vision to conduct world-leading research, and achieve real-world impact through translation and commercialisation.”

Dr Subhasish Mukerjee, Chief Scientific Officer, Ceres, said: “We are really excited to strengthen our collaboration with the University of Liverpool and look forward to working together to develop cutting-edge energy technology solutions. This relationship reflects Ceres' ongoing commitment to innovation and the value we place on fostering research partnerships that help to deliver clean energy at scale and pace.”

The formation of this partnership was supported by the University of Liverpool’s Research, Partnerships and Innovation Teams with support from Dr Steve McBride, Head of the Knowledge Centre for Materials Chemistry (KCMC), who played a prominent role in assisting the University’s engagement with Ceres over the past ten years.