The University of Auckland Joins Partnership

The University of Auckland Joins Partnership

10 May 2012

The MacDiarmid Institute's network is growing, with an official partnership with the University of Auckland announced this week. The new arrangement builds on a long-standing relationship between the two institutions, and will facilitate more in-depth collaboration and sharing of resources, while strengthening reputations on both sides.

"This is a really big deal for us," says MacDiarmid Institute Director Professor Kate McGrath, "It allows us to become a truly national institution, bringing together New Zealand's leading scientists in our area."

"The University of Auckland is an exceptional university, with great people and extensive infrastructure. We're thrilled to have them coming on board as a full Partner."

Four Principal Investigators and five Associate Investigators are currently based at The University of Auckland. The new agreement will broaden their access to MacDiarmid Institute resources and formally acknowledges their important role as full members of the MacDiarmid Institute, it also paves the way for greater access to MacDiarmid Institute funds including for captial equipment.

"This is a formal recognition of our involvement in the MacDiarmid Institute," says University of Auckland Professor of Chemistry and Principal Investigator David Williams.

"The University of Auckland benefits from its association with the MacDiarmid Institute name. The MacDiarmid Institute is internationally recognised as a leading player in materials science and nanotechnology in a way that the individual partners are not.".

"Our real competition is not ourselves but the rest of the world. If we want to be serious, and make a serious contribution to a science-led economy," Williams explains, "we have to use all the brains and capability we have collaboratively."

"I'm really pleased at the way in which the MacDiarmid Institute is working to bring about a vision of a 'whole greater than the sum of the parts'."

As part of the new agreement, the University of Auckland gains a seat on the MacDiarmid Institute's Governance Board, which will give it a say in the MacDiarmid Institute's future development. Investigators throughout the MacDiarmid Institute will gain access to resources at the University of Auckland. Research collaborations across the MacDiarmid Institute network will also benefit from the University's strengths in materials science, engineering and chemistry, as well as its experience with commercialisation.

Several MacDiarmid Institute events, including the latest in its international conference series, AMN-6, will be held in Auckland next year in recognition of the new partnership. The aim will be to strengthen existing ties and facilitate new connections for students and staff.

"Over time, we expect to see the benefits of increased collaboration broadening out into the wider science community," says Director Kate McGrath. "We've seen first-hand the effectiveness gained when we work to break down institutional barriers, while ensuring institutional identities are maintained."

The University of Auckland will join six current partner organisations: Victoria University of Wellington, (the host University), University of Canterbury, Massey University, University of Otago, Industrial Research Limited and GNS Science.

ENDS

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