Trilateral partnership to drive solar-to-hydrogen research

A multinational Swiss-ASEAN proposal involving the Centre for Net-Zero Technology has been funded under the Leading House Asia Pacific, University of Zurich (UZH) Funding Call 2025 (Research Network Grant).

Titled "NEXUS: A Trilateral Swiss-ASEAN Network for Next-Generation Solar-to-Hydrogen Innovation and Energy Decarbonisation" this research will be led by Dr Artur Braun (Empa, Switzerland) as Principal Investigator, with this international initiative establishing a strategic trilateral research network connecting three institutions (Empa – Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Monash University Malaysia, De La Salle University, Manila)

The network will bring together complementary expertise in advanced materials development, mechanistic and operando characterisation, environmental assessment, and techno-economic analysis to accelerate the development of next-generation solar-to-hydrogen technologies for energy decarbonisation.

At Monash University Malaysia, Professor Meng Nan Chong and CNZT will contribute expertise in multi-metallic heterostructure fabrication, electrochemical materials engineering, and life cycle sustainability assessment. Through close collaboration with our Swiss and Philippine partners, the project aims to establish a circular innovation ecosystem that bridges fundamental science, technology development, and real-world deployment pathways.

This funding success reflects the growing importance of international collaboration in addressing global energy and climate challenges and provides an exciting platform for researcher exchange, knowledge transfer, and the co-creation of sustainable hydrogen solutions across the Asia-Pacific region.

Congratulations to Dr Artur Braun, Professor Meng Nan Chong, Professor Joey D. Ocon, Ph.D., Dr. Wen Cai Ng, Dr. DJ Donn Matienzo, and all collaborators involved in this successful proposal. We look forward to the impactful research, partnerships, and innovations that will emerge from this network.

Contact: Prof Chong Meng Nan

Email: chong.meng.nan@monash.edu