The Tin Innovations Network (TIN) was launched in January 2007 as a major new initiative by ITRI aimed at bringing together research communities from around the world to focus on tin innovations. Through increased communication and cooperation, the network will optimise research funding strategies and decrease time to market.

ITRI, formerly the International Tin Research Institute, has been at the forefront of tin research for more than 70 years, pioneering developments in continuous bronze casting, organotins and tinplate testing, for example. More recently tin has become a major replacement technology for lead in wine capsules, ammunition and solders.

“This initiative ensures that ITRI remains at the heart of global tin research,” comments David Bishop, ITRI Managing Director. “TIN will leverage our leading expertise and information systems to maximise the market impact of new tin innovations.”

In today's world, global cooperation has become both possible and desirable. However, although significant funding inputs are made by governments, research bodies and industry to develop new tin-based products, until now there has been no mechanism for collective, synergistic action. TIN represents an investment by the world's tin producers towards making this happen.

Using its unique expertise and knowledge base in tin technologies, ITRI has evaluated key global technology drivers to create a strategic research agenda with a set of aligned tin innovations. Portfolios include Sustainability, Energy and Functional Materials.

Within the TIN network, ITRI will work to set up new research infrastructures, with website and communications support, focused on chosen priority innovation topics. Initial technologies will include ion exchange materials, biofuels, and multilayer alloy coatings.

A particular focus of TIN will be promotion of research in tin producing countries - China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and South America. Collaborative programmes, including secondments to ITRI's UK laboratories, are already underway including, for example, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Department of Minerals and Geoscience (Malaysia), TekMIRA (Indonesia) and LIPI, Research Centre for Metallurgy (Indonesia).

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