Network and connection amongst international researchers are important in advancing emerging science and technologies. Epidemics and pandemics may be restricted within borders, but innovation and breakthroughs may be achieved beyond frontiers.

To create a strong collaborative research network to promote science and technology beyond borders, Professor Adarsh Kumar Pandey from the Research Centre for Nano-Materials and Energy Technology (RCNMET), School of Engineering and Technology at Sunway University initiated a joint research network on advanced energy storage materials under the “International Research Networks Grant Scheme (IRNGS). This initiative is also supported by the Jeffrey Cheah Foundation. IRNGS aims at harnessing scientific excellence in clean and affordable energy (SDG7) and meeting global climate change challenges (SDG13) through advanced energy storage materials by supporting Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 10-10 MySTIE.

The IRNGS brings together interdisciplinary expertise from Sunway University with top external collaborators. Besides Professor Adarsh, other internal team members from the University include Professor Saidur Rahman (Head, RCNMET), Dr. Tan Kim Han (RCNMET), and Professor Yap Kian Meng (Research Centre for Human-Machine Collaboration). The external collaborators include Dr. Ir. Krismadinata (Universitas Negeri Padang, Indonesia), Dr. P Abdul Salam (Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand), Dr. Kinnaleth Vongchanh, and Dr. Sarin Chan, (Institute of Technology of Cambodia, Cambodia), Dr. Nguyen Van Cong (Can Tho University, Vietnam), Dr. Vineet V. Tyagi (Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, India), Dr. Jamal Uddin Ahamed (Chittagong University of Engineering & Technology, Bangladesh), and Dr. Dranreb Earl Juanico (Technological Institute of the Philippines (T.I.P.), Philippines).

In the first phase of the IRNGS, the team successfully conducted and contributed to activities like organising a seminar on “Nanomaterials and Energy Storage” with participants from around the world, while collaborating and utilising each other’s research facilities to carry out high-impact research as well as publishing joint research papers. Members also signed MoU, obtained joint research grants, established new collaborating partners, and conducted online meetings to discuss further strategies for the next phase.

Currently, the IRGNS is in its second phase (IRNGS2.0) which targets to expand the team comprising new researchers with expertise in real-time case studies to ensure self-sustainability. Other targets include organizing joint seminars/workshops/international conferences and lecture series, publishing high-quality joint research articles, having joint supervision of Ph.D. and Master’s students, submitting international and industry research grants, and visiting partner countries and host partner institutes to further strengthen the research network.

Further, in IRGNS2.0, the team expands with the addition of Dr. Yogeshwar Nath Mishra (NASA-Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California), Professor Yogendra Kumar Mishra (Smart Materials Group SDU NANOSYD, Denmark), Dr. S.K. Tyagi (Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, India), Dr. Zafar Said (University of Sharjah, UAE), Professor Zhenjun Ma (University of Wollongong NSW, Australia), Dr. Jeyraj Selvaraj (University of Malaya, Malaysia), Dr. Mahendran Samykano (University Malaysia Pahang, Malaysia), Professor Kamal Sharma (GLA University, India), Dr. Belqasem Aljafari (Najran University, Saudi Arabia), and Dr. V. Ashok Kumar (Chulalongkorn University, Thailand).

These researchers are expected to work on novel nanoparticles and phase change materials for enhanced thermal energy storage focusing on application towards battery thermal management, solar photovoltaic and thermal systems for electronic cooling units, aerospace industries, refrigeration, and heating and cooling for buildings.

The collaboration avails platforms for learning beyond the classroom, to transform students to be curious, research-oriented, innovative, and responsive to societal needs as well as to foster greater collaborative efforts between Sunway University and partner institutions.

Professor Dr Adarsh Kumar Pandey
School of Engineering and Technology
Email: @email