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Partnership_

Academic partners

A better future by connecting nanoscale science at the global scale
It is our mission to inspire and empower a global academic nano community through global partnerships. By building a nano community, we are on a quest to increase our knowledge, support fundamental discoveries and accelerate research translation that solves major world challenges.

We are proud of our partnerships with research institutions around the world which enable us to increase our knowledge while supporting research on a global scale to find real-world applications for nanoscience in our everyday lives.

Current Partnerships

IIT Italy

Sydney Nano has strategically established a formal partnership with the Fondazione Instituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Italy. The partnership aims to build and promote research collaborations on joint grant applications and reciprocal research-intensive visits, as well as develop teaching and research content in nanotechnology in medicine, the environment (including space), and more. 

NETWORK 4 SUSTAINABLE NANOTECHNOLOGY

Sydney Nano is a founding member of the International Network for Sustainable Nanotechnologya consortium of leading organisations in the field of nanotechnology, representing institutes, universities, non-profit and governmental agencies. The main function of the Network is the promotion of nanotechnology advancement and applications as a key mechanism for sustainability to bring positive and impactful solutions to society, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

BINA

Nano-enabled, safe and societally beneficial nanotechnologies. Our partnership with Bar-Ilan University, Institute of nanotechnology and Advanced Materials (BINA) explores fundamental aspects of material design, magnetism and photonic phenomena and centres around the development of clean technologies, materials for more effective energy storage, and new medical devices.

WIN

Sustainability of nanotechnology. In the partnership with the Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology (WIN) we are committed to real-world innovation and our activities centre around the development of smart and functional materials, sensors and theranostics that address global challenges faced by our society.

NIMS

Sydney Nano has established a formal partnership with the International Center for Materials Nanoarchitectonics (WPI-MANA) at the National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS), located in Tsukuba, Japan. The partnership aims to build and promote research collaborations in the area of “Adaptive Nanosystems”, including intelligent nanosystems with neuro-functionality and bio-nanosystems.

PNU

Bio-Medical Global Educational Program. Sydney Nano established a partnership with College of Nanoscience & Nanotechnology, Pusan National University and developed Bio-Medical Global Educational Program with financial support from the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare.

IIT Bombay

With Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) we are establishing a research program that focuses on sensing technologies for the detection of pollution in air and water as well as on nanotechnologies for air and water purification and decontamination. Furthermore, we are currently developing virucidal coatings and functional self-cleaning nanomaterials.

Furthermore, Sydney Nano supports jointly funded collaboration with strategic partners of the University of Sydney.

OGE Grants

Chief Investigators: Benjamin Eggleton, Zdenka Kuncic

Partner Investigator: Aloysius Soon, Yonsei Universtiy

Materials at the nanoscale for optics and quantum science

Chief Investigator: Wojciech Chrzanowski

Partner Investigator: Carlos Eduardo Vergani, FAPESP

The project combines the use of an innovative immobilisation technology with novel anti-infectious molecules and nanostructured materials to combat infections/biofilm formation for biomaterials. The combination of our linker-free immobilisation technology and new antimicrobial compounds is the major advance. 

Chief Investigators: Xiaoke Yi, Yonghui Li

Partner Investigator: Taeyoon Lee, Yonsei University

Implantable artificial electronic skin for an ubiquitous healthcare system

Chief Investigators: Catherine StampflAlejandro Montoya

Partner Investigator: Aloysius Soon, Yonsei University

Multi-scale modeling of reactive materials

Chief Investigator: Thomas Maschmeyer

Partner Investigator: Frank Osterloh, UC Davis

Advanced semiconductor materials system for solar hydrogen generation

Chief Investigator: Cameron Kepert

Partner Investigator: Louise Berben, UC Davis

Our work of designing and producing porous materials containing redox-active components and supported by carbon electrodes, will lay the groundwork for a carbon neutral, or carbon negative economy where the only inputs required for fuel producation are CO2 and electricity derived from renewable recourses. Redox-active components supplied by UC Davis will be synthesized into porous materials by U Sydney and characterization and catalysis will be explored in a collaboration between UC Davis and U Sydney. This grant will support travel of Berben for sabbatical stays in Sydney and support travel of Sydney CI's to the United States. Student exchanges will also occur.

Chief Investigator: Jun Huang

Partner Investigator: Keving C.W. Wu, National Taiwan University

This collaboration project synthesises energy-efficient and cost effective catalysts to reduce CO2 with CH4 to form syngas which is an important intermediate to readily produce value added liquid hydrocarbons. to adress growing concerns about greenhouse gas emissions.

Chief Investigator: Wojciech Chrzanowski

Partner Investigator: Marca Wauben, Utrecht University

This project pioneers extracellular vesicles-based technology to reduce inflammation and promote lung tissue regeneration. The team investigates whether aerosolisation of anti-inflammatory EVs derived from human milk and placental stem cells can be used for delivery to lungs. 

Chief Investigator: Marcela Bilek

Partner Investigator: Wim Hennink, Utrecht University

The project aims on the application of a novel strategy in the surface engineering of 3D printed porous titanium scaffolds to create a big step forward in the development of a new class of bone implantable devices.

Chief Investigator: Xiaoke Yi

Partner Investigator: Marko Loncar, Harvard University

The collaborative project aims on breakthoughs on nanowaveguides for signal processing and sensing.

Chief Investigator: Arne Grimsmo

Partner Investigator: Ferdinand Kuemmeth, University of Copenhagen

The largest investments in quantum technology  are currently going towards electronics based on quantum nanotechnology. The project brings together expert teams in quantum theory and quantum nanotech  to take quantum nanotechnology to the next level. 

Chief Investigator: Matthew Cleary

Partner Investigator: Santanu De, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur

Emerging Applications of Liquid Sprays in Flames: from Precision Firefighting to Nanoparticle Synthesis

Chief Investigator: Jun Huang

Partner Investigator: Bruce C. Gates, UC Davis

This collaboration project targets the development of leading-edge trans-disciplinary innovations in advanced chemical processes for selective CO2 conversion to valuable chemicals and clean fuels utilising new classes of single atom catalysts.

Chief Investigator: Lin Ye

Partner Investigator: Bintang Yang, Shanghai Jiao Tong University

The purpose of this project is to develop wearable sensor technologies for automated continuous health condition monitoring, integrating the signals of heart pulse, tissue blood pressure and iron level with the methodology of the traditional Chinese pulse diagnosis using artificial neural network algorithms for automated continuous health condition monitoring. 

Chief Investigator: Zongwen Liu

Partner Investigator: Shunai Che, Shanghai Jiao Tong University

The project studies the growth mechanism of TiO2 nanoparticles with a curved surface by observing the crystal growth in solution directly inside of a transmission electron microscope (TEM) employing a uniquely designed TEM holder that allows specimens suspended in a liquid to be seen and analysed. 

Chief Investigator: Li Chang

Partner Investigator: Dae-Eun Kim, Yonsei University

The project aims on the development of high wear resistant, multifunctional polymer composites manufactured by using 3D printers which provides insights into the design and fabrication of 3D- printed composite parts for various applications.

Chief Investigator: Marcela Bilek

Partner Investigator: Johannes (Jos) Malda, Utrecht University

The team elucidates the mechanisms of how atmospheric pressure plasma can dramatically improve the biocompatibility of polymer surfaces and activate them for covalent immobilization of biomolecules. 

Chief Investigator: Hien Duong

Partner Investigator: Shui Yee Leung, The Chinese University of Hong Kong

This project aims to develop a novel nano-in-micro formulation technology which can overcome antibiotic resistance and facilitate the treatment for chronic infections. The novelty of this nanotechnology lies in the delivery of triple hits (bacteriophages, antibiotics and nitric oxide) to biofilm-related chronic infections. This formulation is expected to be much more effective than the conventional single-entity treatment. While this formulation could be useful for the treatment of various infections, the ultimate goal for this project is to develop an inhaled nano-in-microparticle formulation for lung infection treatment.

Chief Investigator: Elizabeth New

Partner Investigator: Wee Han Ang, National Universtiy of Singapore

This project harnesses the potential of combining fluorescent sensors for the detection of Pt-based anticancer compounds  to better study the activity of platinum (IV) prodrugs. 

Chief Investigator: Vincent Gomes

Partner Investigator: Shobha Shukla, Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay

Advanced 3D printing technology, enabled via a new approach with multi-photon stereolithography, will be applied for developing fluorescent microneedles based on two-photon active carbon quantum dots for enhanced cancer therapeutic delivery with real-time monitoring. 

Chief Investigator: Yixiang Gan

Partner Investigator: Leong Hien Poh, National University of Singapore

This project aims on the development of new design methods for fabricating metal and polymeric foams, demonstrate and optimise their potential in infrastructure protection applications, and establish their probabilistic structural properties.

Chief Investigator: Hala Zreiqat

Partner Investigator: Prem B. Bisht, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras

The collaborative project aims to design multiphoton excitable photosensitizers for targeted photodynamic therapy, based on chiral gold nanoparticles of various morphologies (cube, octopods, trisoctahedron). This project will focus on the design, engineering and biological evaluation of these nanoparticle-based photosensitizers, and will be the first study following such strategy. The development of the proposed biocompatible nanoparticle-based photosensitizers would address the tissue penetration depth issue in photodynamic therapy and make it more feasible to apply for treatments of deep-tissue cancers and cardiovascular diseases. This project also offers significant opportunity for the development of intellectual property and invention.

Chief Investigators: Simon Ringer, Rongkun Zheng

Partner Investigator: Xudong Yang, Shanghai Jiao Tong University

The project aims to understand the origin and mechanism of degradation of high-efficiency and low-cost perovskite solar cells by correlating the microstructural changes at atomic-scale, optoelectronic property change at nano-scale. This helps the local and global energy sector transition to sustainable energy and so benefit both the economy and the environment.
 

Chief Investigators: Stephen Bartlett, Wei-Wei Zhang

Partner Investigator: Xianmin Jin, Shanghai Jiao Tong University

 The project aims at discovering new topological quantum physics using an integrated photonic chip, as well as exploring applications for quantum information processing.

Chief Investigator: Jiao Jiao Li

Partner Investigator: Xianting Ding, Shanghai Jiao Tong University

This project develops a highly novel implant that will address current challenges encountered in the clinical treatment of joint injuries through the combination of a novel implant with a growth factor gradient to restore damaged osteochondral tissue and an innovative Feedback System Control (FSC) technique.
 

Chief Investigator: Jun Huang

Partner Investigator: Qingyu Zhang, Zhejiang University

The collaboration project combines research in environmental evaluation/pollution control with nanocatalysis development and characterization to control exhaust emission, one of the main factors of urban haze. 

Chief Investigator: Mark Gillies, Ling Zhu

Partner Investigator: Xiaohui Fan, Zhejiang University

The project aims to characterise an unique human explant culture which preserve key features of the macula using “Single Cell RNA Sequencing”  as well as identifying the specific genes in human macula which respond to stress and potentiate macular degenration to better understand this disease.

Chief Investigator: Ivan Kassal

Partner Investigator:  Joel Yuen-Zhou, UC San Diego

This project follows a radically new approach to utilise accurate computational tools to simulate light-induced chemical processes to develop design principles for engineering new artificial light-harvesting architectures.
 

Chief Investigator: Wojciech Chrzanowski

Partner Investigator: Kyunghwan Oh, Yonsei University

This proposal aims to predict and develop novel catalysts for using carbon dioxide (CO2) as a renewable carbon feedstock combining state-of-the-art first-principles computation with experimental research.

Chief Investigator: Catherine Stampfl

Partner Investigator: Aloysius Soon, Yonsei University

The collaboration project combines research strengths in environmental evaluation/pollution control with nanocatalysis development and characterisation to develop an emmision restoration technology to increase urban air quality.  

Chief Investigators: Elizabeth New, Margaret Sunde

Partner Investigator: Marc Vendrell, University of Edinburgh

The project involves developing and screeningof new protein aggregate-specific fluorescent probes for super-resolution microscopy, and application of these systems to imaging distinct proteinopathies associated with neurodegenerative disease.

Chief Investigator: Catherine Stampfl

Partner Investigator: Weidong Luo, Shanghai Jiao Tong University

This project aims at searching for innovative 2D layered structures which possess metallic AFM character and show exciting potential applications in spintronic and nano-magnetic devices. Starting with the known material NbSe2, Nb will be replaced with a range of different magnetic elements.

Chief Investigator: Ling Zhu

Partner Investigator: Xiaodong Sun, Shanghai Jiao Tong University

The team cooperates on the translation of a unique human macular explant system that is complementary to a transgenic mouse model to study the pathogenesis of a retinal disease, called Bietti’s Crystalline Dystrophy (BCD).