We were lucky enough to spend time at Victoria University to unpick some of the common misconceptions industry may have about working with academia.

This is very important so that in the future we can collaborate more effectively when it comes to R&D to advance our NZ metals industry.

And the benefits of building relationships like this could be endless! While there, getting a sneak peak into some of the research in new materials Professor Dr Jim Johnston, Post Doctoral Research Fellow Dr Michelle Cook, and Inhibit Coatings CEO Dr Eldon Tate are exploring that have potential to disrupt our metals industry for the better. In particular how their R&D could improve steel’s performance capabilities with antimicrobial and antifouling coatings. Or, enhance how metallic metals interact with water by finding inspiration from nature through biomimicry.