The strategic research collaboration aims to deliver products that are safe, responsible, resource-sensitive, and environmentally considerate.
The collaboration will accelerate research into speciality chemicals used in fuel, performance chemicals (personal care, home care, agrochemicals), and oilfield services.
The University of Birmingham has entered into a strategic research collaboration with global specialty chemical company Innospec, to accelerate research into speciality chemicals used in fuel, performance chemicals (personal care, home care, agrochemicals), and oilfield services.
The collaboration will focus on the development of surface active chemicals that could be used in agrochemicals, construction, fuel, home and personal care products, and aims to deliver products that are safe, responsible, resource-sensitive, and environmentally considerate. It echoes the core pillars of Research, Engagement and Impact, and Sustainability identified in the University of Birmingham’s 2030 Strategic Framework.
Scientists at the University of Birmingham are at the cutting edge of formulation engineering, and this type of collaboration, which focusses academic expertise on solving industrial scale problems, typically yields entirely novel technologies.
Scientists from the University’s Centre for Formulation Engineering at the School of Chemical Engineering, who have extensive expertise in colloids, surfaces, and interfaces, are forefronted in the collaboration, and recently met a delegation from Innospec, who came over to mark the start of the multi-year research collaboration.
The Innospec delegation included Dr Ian McRobbie, Chief Technology Officer and Senior Vice President, who said “I am delighted to sign the agreement that signals our serious commitment to work with the exceptional experts in the field. As a global specialty chemical company, our aim is to provide innovative ground-breaking products, for which academic partnership with the right institution is essential”
Professor Mark Sterling, Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Head of Birmingham’s College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, said: “Scientists at the University of Birmingham are at the cutting edge of formulation engineering, and this type of collaboration, which focusses academic expertise on solving industrial scale problems, typically yields entirely novel technologies.”
Professor Zhenyu Jason Zhang, whose research focusses on how soft matter (surfactants, polymers, and colloids) ‘behave’ at surfaces and interfaces, said: “We are very much encouraged that our research competence and scientific expertise have been recognised by Innospec. Working closely with our industrial partners to address grand challenges such as sustainability has been the core element of Formulation Engineering at University of Birmingham, and we look forward to strengthening and expanding the portfolio of the collaboration.
For media enquiries please contact Ruth Ashton, University of Birmingham Enterprise, email: r.c.ashton@bham.ac.uk
About the University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is ranked amongst the world’s top 100 institutions. Its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers, teachers and more than 6,500 international students from over 150 countries.
The Centre for Formulation Engineering develops solutions to problems facing the food, pharmaceutical, biotechnological, fast moving consumer goods and speciality products sectors. It has research groups focussing on bioprocess engineering, food, microstructure, nutrition & safety, product microstructure engineering, and particle and multiphase processes.
Professor of Soft Matter Engineering
Staff profile for Dr Zhenyu J Zhang, Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham.
