AUT innovators named as finalists in Kiw
Two AUT innovators whose research and entrepreneurship resulted in the development and global breakthrough of a sustainable surfactant technology have been named finalists in the 12th annual KiwiNet Research Commercialisation Awards.
Dr Jack Chen from the School of Science and Dr Abi Thampi from AUT Ventures are among the 18 finalists at the awards ceremony, which celebrates outstanding innovators who are transforming scientific discoveries into new technologies, businesses and real-world solutions.
Dr Chen is being recognised in the Sprout Agritech Breakthrough Innovator category for the work of his start-up company, Spherelose®, which aims to advance the global surfactant industry through the creation of a sustainable surfactant from cellulose particles. Their goal is to produce a scalable, renewable, biodegradable, and safe alternative to the 20 million tonnes of mostly petrochemical-derived surfactants used each year that end up in our oceans and soil.
Dr Thampi’s work in leading the commercialisation of Spherelose® and in managing nine other projects that have received KiwiNet funding has seen the AUT Ventures consultant emerge as a key player in the New Zealand commercialisation sector. Abi’s nomination in the Commercialisation Rising Star category recognises his ability to accelerate innovative products and services to market.
Dr Chen said the collaboration with Dr Thampi and the team at AUT Ventures has opened the door for Spherelose® to disrupt the US$45 billion global surfactant industry with more eco-friendly solutions.
“I don’t think of myself as an entrepreneur, I still think of myself primarily as a scientist; I’m always curious about how things work and the blue-sky problems,” says Dr Chen.
“However, it was the opportunity to partner with AUT Ventures that provided the opportunity to take this scientific discovery and transform it into something with real-world impact. To be recognised with Dr Thampi for this work really does highlight the excellent integration of research and innovation at AUT.”
The 2024 KiwiNet Award winners will be announced at a reception on 9 October in Auckland.
Meet the finalists
Sprout Agritech Breakthrough Innovator finalist
Dr Jack Chen
Dr Jack Chen, a senior lecturer in chemistry at AUT, is making waves in the surfactant industry with Spherelose® — a groundbreaking technology platform derived from wood pulp cellulose.
Jack’s innovation journey began with his research on turning gold nanoparticles into Janus particles, unique particles with two distinct surfaces that interact differently with oil and water.
Recognising the limitations of using gold, Jack pivoted to cellulose, a more abundant and eco-friendly material sourced from wood pulp. In 2019, he secured seed funding from the National Science Challenge as a Science for Technological Innovation (SfTI) project, which led to the creation of Spherelose® — a revolutionary cellulose-based surfactant that is sustainable, safe, biodegradable and scalable. This research has since received support from the MBIE Endeavour Fund and the MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology.
In 2021, Jack took a strategic approach to protecting the IP behind making cellulose Janus particles, with the support of AUT Ventures. He also secured SfTI Impact Acceleration funding in 2021 and KiwiNet Preseed Accelerator Funding (PSAF) in 2022 — alongside funding from the SfTI National Science Challenge and MBIE Smart Ideas — to support the commercialisation of his research through further testing, market validation, and engagement with industry experts.
In April 2024, spinout company Spherelose® was founded to scale the technology from lab development to full-scale production. Spherelose® is on a mission to disrupt the US$45 billion global surfactant industry with its greener alternative. The start-up is actively seeking venture capital to accelerate this transition.
KCA Commercialisation Rising Star
Dr Abi Thampi – AUT Ventures
Since joining AUT Ventures, Dr Abi Thampi has rapidly emerged as a key player in commercialisation. Abi has managed over 15 separate projects, nine of which have received KiwiNet funding, with his current portfolio including two significant innovations that are being spun out into companies in 2024.
The first of these is Grappl, a software tool for visualising code in 3D. Under Abi’s stewardship, this project has evolved from a research concept to a promising spin-out poised for external investment. His strategic acquisition of funding at critical stages has been instrumental in achieving key milestones. With two new hires on board, Grappl is now embarking on the KiwiNet Spin-out Programme.
Similarly, Abi has played a pivotal role in commercialising Spherelose®. Initially joining the Spherelose® project in a support role, Abi is now leading its commercialisation, including leveraging external expertise to drive the project forward. The largest project in AUT Ventures’ history, Spherelose® is set for tremendous impact as its sustainable surfactants offer an alternative to those traditionally made from petroleum-based sources.
Beyond Grappl and Spherelose®, Abi is managing a portfolio of five other projects spanning the medical, sports and sustainable fashion categories.
Abi’s success is a testament to his work ethic, passion, IP management expertise and ability to build relationships. Strong analytical skills combined with an interdisciplinary science background enable him to quickly grasp and leverage new technologies.
Abi’s work is accelerating innovative products and services to market while also laying the groundwork for future success. His proactive approach to building a robust project pipeline ensures he is positioned to achieve even greater impact.