The University of Queensland and the University of Tokyo have signed another Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to expand on 25 years of collaborative research.
The MOU has increasingly broadened its scope towards Queensland’s renewable energy industries, particularly hydrogen and biofuel.
Minister for Trade and Investment, Cameron Dick, said that Queensland is transitioning to a new power super grid to reach 80 per cent renewable energy by 2035.
“To reach this target, the Palaszczuk Government’s budget includes a $19 billion capital investment over the next four years to deliver the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan,” he said.
“This important research partnership provides invaluable support to reach our renewable energy goals.”
The extended MOU signed on Friday will focus on collaboration between University of Tokyo’s Research Centre for Advanced Science and Technology (RCAST) and UQ’s Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology.
The collaboration is expected to lead to larger-scale research, demonstration, and social implementation projects.
RCAST is led by distinguished Professor Masakazu Sugiyama, who himself has made a significant contribution to the development of Queensland’s hydrogen industry.
University of Queensland’s Principal Research Fellow, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, Associate Professor Esteban Marcellin Saldana, said the need to identify and harness sustainable energy sources is paramount.
“We have an opportunity to change the way we’re producing fuels and chemicals to lesson our dependence on finite fossil fuel resources,” he said.
“At the AIBN, our activity exploring the role of synthetic biology in advancing the biomanufacturing sector is just one of the many areas in which we look forward to collaborating with RCAST.”
Queensland Trade and Investment Commissioner for Japan, Tak Adachi, said it’s wonderful to see the partnership continue.
“Japan and Queensland have much to offer each other as it relates to our shared renewable energy future,” he said.
“We are working daily to identify opportunities for ongoing investment and information exchange.”