Working as a team is complex, yet essential to achieving our goals. Today, the questions science seeks to answer are so challenging that conducting research in isolation is practically impossible. Science advances through collaboration, sharing of findings, and mutual trust. Remember? We’re able to see only because we’re standing on the shoulders of giants!
At ASTERISK, we understand the importance of teamwork. That’s why, in this blogpost, we wanted to introduce each and everyone of our partners and explain their role within the project.
University of Galway, Ireland
Honestly, they are the glue that holds the team together.
Our partners in Galway not only take care of project management, ensuring that we stay on track and meet our goals step by step, — they also find time to carry out top-quality research.
They lead Work Package 1, dedicated to seawater treatment, where the goal is to find efficient ways to clean seawater before using it for electrolysis. They also contribute to the development of new catalyst materials that accelerate chemical reactions (WP2) and to the scaling-up of the electrolyser (WP4). Their involvement ensures that our design works both in the lab and in future industrial applications.
Industrie De Nora, Italy
De Nora researchers contribute to the synthesis of new catalysts for our electrolyser (WP2) and is responsible for testing the scalability of our design is (WP4) to ensure it meets quality and performance requirements.
As one of our key industrial partners, De Nora also takes the lead on an essential aspect of ASTERISK – ensuring the recyclability and longevity of the materials we use. Their expertise will help us understand how long our electrolyser components can last and how to reuse and recover them to increase sustainability. With their support, we’ll ensure that all developed materials work reliably together.
Technion, Israel
Technion brings deep expertise in membrane technology.
Membranes (WP2) are structures that allow the selective passage of ions, electrically charged particles. In an electrolyser, semi-permeable membranes separate oxygen and hydrogen. Thanks to Technion’s leadership, we’ll design non-toxic membranes using the latest advances in materials science, improving stability and preventing oxidation at higher temperatures.
They will also contribute to WP4, helping scale up the electrolyser technology, and playing a key role in determining the safe concentration limits of contaminants (such as biological residues, organic matter, or microplastics) in the seawater we use.
Technische Universität Berlin, Germany
Our colleagues in Berlin are true experts in electrolyser design. They lead WP2, developing advanced electrocatalysts, ionomers, and membranes that make hydrogen and oxygen separation more efficient.
They also play a central role in WP3, where they design and test electrochemical cells, and use powerful techniques like X-ray spectroscopy to understand and improve our systems’ performance. Their contribution ensures that the different components of our device work seamlessly together.
LEITAT, Spain
When it comes to sustainability, LEITAT is at the forefront.
LEITAT also works with other partners on WP7 and WP8, analysing the environmental and socio-economic impact of our technology. Their work ensures that every stage of the project, from water treatment to hydrogen production, aligns with environmental best practices.
University of Newcastle, United Kingdom
The researchers in Newcastle bring a broad, multidisciplinary perspective that enriches many areas of ASTERISK.
They contribute to several key stages, including the scaling of our system (WP4) and the analysis of seawater composition (WP1). With more than 15 years of experience in catalyst and membrane development, their expertise strengthens the project’s foundation.
The team in Newcastle will also explore ways to recover ions and salts from seawater after electrolysis – a crucial element that makes ASTERISK stand out from other initiatives in green hydrogen production.
Jožef Stefan Institute, Slovenia
Although we already know a lot about the technology behind ASTERISK, we still need to understand the processes happening at the microscopic level. That’s where JSI comes in.
Their team provides insights into what happens inside catalysts using advanced computational modelling (known Density Functional Theory, or DFT). They also bring extensive expertise in developing PGM-free catalysts — catalysts that don’t rely on expensive precious metals — one of ASTERISK’s core goals.
In addition, JSI contributes to the scalability work in WP4, ensuring that our theoretical understanding translates into practical solutions.
ACSA, Obras e Infraestructuras, Spain
ASTERISK brings together partners from academia, industry, and SMEs – and ACSA bridges all three worlds.
Their role focuses on developing membranes that remove impurities from seawater (WP1), allowing electrolysis to take place under optimal conditions. They also participate in WP5, working on brine recovery to ensure valuable resources are not wasted.
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Switzerland
EPFL leads two of ASTERISK’s most ambitious work packages: WP3, focused on the development of the electrolyser stack, and WP6, dedicated to integrating all components into a fully functional system.
Their team will fine-tune different prototypes until reaching a 10-cell, 5 kWe seawater stack, and conduct extensive durability tests under realistic conditions. With EPFL’s leadership, we’ll move from laboratory experiments to real-world performance.
Haute École Spécialisée de Suisse Occidentale (HES·SO), Switzerland
For us, research isn’t just about discovery – t’s about solving real problems responsibly.
That’s why HES·SO leads the life cycle analysis (LCA) of our electrolyser and its components, assessing their environmental impact and comparing our results with existing technologies.
Together with LEITAT, they’ll also evaluate the useful life and recyclability of our materials, helping us ensure that ASTERISK’s technology is as sustainable as it is innovative.
NovaMea, Switzerland
Having industrial partners like NovaMea keeps us grounded in reality, as they help us understand what’s truly feasible beyond theoretical models.
Their main task is to scale up membrane production and adapt laboratory processes for larger-scale manufacturing (WP4), making sure we maintain performance and efficiency. NovaMea also participates in WP5, contributing to the recovery and reuse of valuable compounds from seawater.
Their work ensures that ASTERISK makes the most of every resource, from water purification to brine recovery.
Agata Communications, UK
Nobel Prize winner Gabriel García Márquez once said, “What is not communicated does not exist.” We couldn’t agree more!
That’s why AGATA leads our communication and dissemination activities (WP9 and WP10). Their team of science communicators makes sure that our work and research reach everyone, through blogposts like this, engaging videos, animations, and social media.
Thanks to AGATA, our science goes beyond the lab, becoming accessible, understandable, and, above all, inspiring.
More than a project
ASTERISK could not exist without its partners. Each of us contributes invaluable experience and knowledge, from developing non-polluting materials to performing complex numerical calculations. We focus on sustainability and share our progress with the world.
ASTERISK is more than just a project; it’s a world of its own, where innovation, ethics, and commitment are our cornerstones.