Teesside University strengthens international research ties through Royal Society award

A pioneering research collaboration between Teesside University and a leading Greek research institute is set to explore innovative technologies for direct air carbon capture, as part of a prestigious Royal Society International Exchange Award.

Dr Faizan Ahmad, Associate Professor in Chemical Engineering in Teesside University’s School of Computing, Engineering & Digital Technologies, has secured the award in partnership with Dr Evangelos P. Favvas from the National Center for Scientific Research "Demokritos" in Greece.

The two-year project, Direct Air Capture by Thin Film Composite Membranes, begins in August 2025 and will investigate next-generation membrane technologies to remove carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere – a critical strategy in the fight against climate change.

The award, funded by the Royal Society, enables UK-based researchers to establish and develop long-term collaborations with scientists around the world. In this case, it supports the synergy between Teesside University’s expertise in sustainable engineering and Demokritos’ advanced materials research.

Direct Air Capture (DAC) is emerging as a vital technology for achieving global net zero targets. The research will focus on novel composite membrane materials that could enhance the efficiency, scalability, and sustainability of DAC systems.

Dr Ahmad said: 'As a University dedicated to our utilising our pioneering research to power the green industrial revolution, we are honoured to receive this award and to work alongside one of Europe’s most renowned research centres.

'This collaboration allows us to jointly tackle one of the most pressing challenges of our time—reducing atmospheric CO2—and to build solutions that could have long-term global impact.'

Dr Evangelos P. Favvas, Research Director at Demokritos and co-investigator on the project, added: 'This collaboration marks a significant step forward in aligning European scientific efforts to address climate change. By combining our expertise in membrane science with Teesside University’s strengths on environmental engineering, we hope to develop novel and promising solutions for carbon dioxide removal. 'We are excited to collaborate and to contribute to scientific knowledge with real-world applications.'

The project builds on Teesside University’s commitment to environmental innovation and sustainability through its £13.1m Net Zero Industry Innovation Centre (NZIIC), which is positioning the region at the forefront of the UK’s green industrial transition.

This award is a testament to the University’s growing global profile in climate-focused research and highlights its dedication to driving forward practical, scalable technologies to achieve a cleaner, greener future.

---

• Net Zero