SOFI is pleased to announce that we recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the Methanol Institute (MI) establishing a Strategic Partnership between the two organizations to collaborate on areas of mutual interest.

The Methanol Institute (MI) serves as the global trade association for one of the world’s most vibrant and innovative industries. Founded in 1989, MI represents methanol producers, distributors, and technology providers around the globe. The global methanol demand in 2016 was 75 million tons, yielding a $25 billion industry. MI is headquartered in Singapore and has regional offices in Washington, D.C., Brussels, and Beijing. MI and its members dedicate significant resources to developing best practices for the safe handling, transportation, and diverse use of methanol.

SOFI is excited about the Strategic Partnership with MI to focus on the development of renewable methanol and small-scale technologies. The expertise of MI and its members provide significant partnership opportunities for SOFI and our members to enter the methanol and methanol-derived chemicals markets. SOFI’s extended global network of experts and researchers, in return, can offer MI and its members promising technologies that are ready for further development.

SOFI co-founder Jon Schneider will be among the featured panelists at MI’s June 13 Washington Methanol Policy Forum, where he will discuss SOFI’s efforts in assembling an international public-private network to accelerate the progress towards renewable fuels.

SOFI’s partnership with MI does not mean SOFI is betting the house on methanol. Methanol is one of the many pathways to a carbon-neutral solar fuel (potentially a major one in our opinion), and we are motivated to support and accelerate the commercialization of all solar fuels and carbon utilization technologies.

Do you have a technology that might be of interest to MI or its members? Reach out to the SOFI team, and we look forward to hearing from you!