Dr Ehsan Rezaei

The university-industry axis of interaction is a natural and robust element of stakeholder engagement, particularly in an innovation context. Universities serve as sources of new talent and ideas for corporations. Academic-industry collaborations can serve as lynchpins for businesses seeking to open up new avenues of engagement with the broader innovation ecosystem.

As such, we continue our interview series with FlowPhotoChem industry partners. For this case study, we spoke with Dr Ehsan Rezaei, the Head of Research & Development at SoHHytec, (https://www.sohhytec.com/about). SoHHytec SA is a Swiss cleantech company with unique technology for the onsite and cost-effective production of solar hydrogen while co-generating oxygen, electricity and heat, without any CO2 emissions and with unprecedented solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency, requiring minimal maintenance. SoHHytec’s innovative patented technology is based on a novel integrated photo-electrochemical (PEC) device working with concentrated solar irradiation.

What primary business goals drive SoHHytec’s university partnerships?

SoHHytec's primary business goals driving our university partnerships are twofold: first, the development and enhancement of our innovative hydrogen production system, which originally stemmed from university research and lab testing. Second, we aim to foster collaboration with universities to explore new solutions and ideas, facilitating continuous innovation in the renewable energy sector.

 

How is FlowPhotoChem aligned with SoHHytec’s business goals?

FlowPhotoChem is closely aligned with our business goals by serving as a valuable platform for connecting with experts in the field of renewable energy systems. This collaboration enables us to perform tests on our hydrogen production system, whether independently or as a subsystem of the integrated FlowPhotoChem reactor, thereby generating crucial data for the continuous enhancement of our PEC reactor.

 

By what criteria do you use to choose your university partnerships?

We select our university partnerships based on their alignment with our business goals and their capacity to offer high-quality research capabilities, access to resources, and expertise relevant to our field.

 

How can collaboration formats be designed to match your research topics and business goals?

Creating an ecosystem that fosters synergies among startups, research institutions, and investors can optimize the design process and facilitate the connection of various perspectives, expertise, and resources, ultimately leading to project topics that are not only appealing to the market but also demand innovative solutions.

 

What organizational structures, people and processes support the business goals of your partnerships?

Project management processes help facilitate effective collaboration while ensuring that the partnership remains aligned with our strategic objectives. The advisory board also can ensure the overall strategic direction and provide additional networking during the project.

 

What are some of the KPIs that most usefully evaluate your university partnerships?

KPIs such as the impact of research findings on product development, and the expansion of our intellectual property portfolio. Additionally, measures of cost-effectiveness and return on investment in these partnerships are essential for assessing their overall value to our business.

Learn more about our partner SoHHytec in their video: