Our structure

Advanced manufacturing technologies

IRL's activities supporting the manufacturing sector are served by four science groups. These serve a wide range of New Zealand's existing manufacturing capabilities and additionally, in the case of the Superconductivity and Energy group, provide the growth engine for new industries.

Advanced Materials group

The Advanced Materials group focuses on the design, preparation and application of advanced materials for the development of novel products for the industrial, energy and infrastructure sectors. Its work spans the fields of advanced ceramics and cementing systems, to emerging technologies such as photonics. Read more >>

Intelligent Machines and Devices group

The Intelligent Machines and Devices group performs internationally recognised R&D in cognitive radio, advanced sonar technologies, holographic audio, blind source separation, machine vision technologies, robotics and automation. Read more >>

Medical Device Technology group

The Medical Device Technology group is focused on supporting and helping grow New Zealand’s emerging medical device industry through the development of niche quality medical devices that meet health needs and growth markets. Read more >>

Superconductivity and Energy group

The Superconductivity and Energy group is focused on technology innovation and application to address key issues associated with transforming the way we obtain and utilise energy. This includes helping New Zealand manufacturers of equipment based on High Temperature Superconductors (HTS^[?]) and the wider power systems sector to grow. Read more >>

Industrial biotechnologies

The industrial biotechnology cluster leverages both IRL's world-leading expertise in the field of carbohydrate chemistry to develop active pharmaceutical ingredients and some of the many and varied properties found in New Zealand's wealth of unique biodiversity, which our Integrated Bioactive Technologies group extracts to develop pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals and cosmeceuticals. 

Carbohydrate Chemistry group

The Carbohydrate Chemistry group specialises in the rational design and synthesis of carbohydrate-based drug candidates and in the isolation and characterisation of carbohydrate-containing products from natural sources. The group also provides high-quality, fast-paced drug discovery and bench-level synthesis of organic compounds to global clients. Read more >>

Integrated Bioactive Technologies group

The Integrated Bioactive Technologies group discovers and develops pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals and cosmeceuticals based on lipids and other natural products. Our research and development services include processing, extraction, identification and enzymatic/chemical modifications of natural compounds. We are recognised as the southern hemisphere’s leader in supercritical fluid extraction technology. Read more >>

GlycoSyn

GlycoSyn works closely with biotechnology clients around the globe to ensure high-quality and fast-paced development of high-value small molecules. Drawing upon world-class people, skills, facilities and equipment, GlycoSyn is your first-choice partner for the development and production of complex active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) for pre-clinical and clinical drug development programmes. View the GlycoSyn website.

Measurement standards

Measurement Standards Laboratory

The Measurement Standards Laboratory of New Zealand (MSL^[?]) is New Zealand's national metrology institute, operating within IRL under the authority of the Measurement Standards Act 1992. MSL ensures that New Zealand's units of measurement are consistent with the International System of Units, the SI, and provides clients with the most accurate calibration service in the country for a wide range of instruments and artefacts. Read more >>