REQUEST # 6332357
Development Partner for CO2 and/or H2O Separation Membrane
RESPONSE DUE DATE: February 6, 2017
MANAGER: Y. Ishida
Opportunity
Joint / Contract Development, Licensing, Device Supply
*Production volume at full market penetration: 10,000s per year
SOLUTION PROVIDER HELP DESK
EMAIL: [email protected]
PHONE: +1-216-283-3901
Timeline
Phase 1 – Proof Of Concept (POC): 6-12 months
Phase 2 – Solution development & Commercialization: 2-3 years
Financials
To be discussed according to proposer’s solution and their value
chain focus
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL DESCRIPTION
NineSigma, representing a Japanese leading
energy company, seeks a development partner
to achieve ultra-high-performance CO2 and/or
H2O gas separation membrane module.
Welcomed are proposers that are distinguished in
both the membrane and the module/solution
development, or either of them.
Supplied Gas Condition
 Mixture Ratio: H2O 60%, H2 25%, CO2 15%,
CO 5%
 Pressure: 120 kPa (abs)
 Flow rate: ≥70 NL/min
 Other operation conditions: Sweep gas, such
as air, is introduced as necessary
Development Goal
 Required performance as a gas separation
module (based on a single membrane or be a
combination of multiple membrane):
○ Gas Separation Performance
- CO2: ≥ 50% and/or
- H2O gas: ≥ 70%.
○ Leakage rate: ≤ 2% as total H2 and CO
amount
○ Pressure drop: ≤ 5 kPa at the nonpermeable side
 Expected performance as a separation
membrane depending its functionality:
○ α(CO2/H2) > 70,
○ α(H2O/H2) > 70,
○ α(CO2/CO) > 7, or
○ α(H2O/CO) > 7.
 Valid operation temperature range depending
on the functionality of a membrane
○ H2O separation: 100°C to 650°C,
○ CO2 separation: room temperature to
650°C, or
○ H2O and CO2 separation: 100°C to
650°C.
 Durability: ≥ 5 years
 Whole module size: ≤ 20 L
Capability to develop gas separation module
products by the proposer itself is not mandatory.
Promising proposers will be expected to provide
gas separation module prototype. Collaborative
proposals with third parties having complementary
capability is more than welcomed.
BACKGROUND
This client of NineSigma has a future vision to
make stationary fuel cell systems widely used in
their market. To stay ahead and sustain their
competitive advantage in such an era, they seek
ultra-high-performance CO2 and/or H2O separation
membranes/modules/solutions.
CO2 separation/recovery technology is considered
as one of the hottest next-generation technology,
thus many organizations are involved in the
research and development of CO2 separation
Offices: Cleveland - USA, Tokyo - Japan, Leuven – Belgium, Melbourne – Australia, Seoul – South Korea
RFP format and graphics© Copyright 2017 NineSigma, Inc
NineSigma Request # 6332357
Development Partner for CO2 and/or H2O Separation Module
membranes and/or modules. The technology
under request will be one of the important enabling
technologies sustaining their energy business in
the mid- to long-term. Therefore, this client try to
find the best in class development and/or business
partner throughout the world.
POSSIBLE APPROACHES
Anticipated technology examples include but are
not limited to the following:
 CO2 separation membrane and/or module
○ Polymer membrane module with amino
substrate
○ Zeolite membrane module
○ Other polymer membrane module
 H2O separation membrane and/or module
○ SiC based membrane module
○ Zeolite membrane module
○ Polymer membrane module
ANTICIPATED PROJECT PHASES OR PROJECT PLAN
The proposing organization is required to submit
proposals using the attached Response Template.
The client will review submitted proposals and in
some cases ask additional questions to proposers
then select suitable candidates to explore
collaboration possibilities. After the selection
process, the client may execute non-disclosure
agreements (NDA) with selected respondents,
seek further information disclosure, and discuss
specific development target or potential
opportunities. The client will execute necessary
agreement(s) with the selected respondent(s) and
move to the project execution phase. Specifics of
any collaboration will be determined through
consultation with the concerned parties.
ITEMS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE PROPOSAL
Responses will use the Proposal Template which
is linked to the “attachments“ shown at the bottom
of the link <https://ninesights.ninesigma.com/rfps//rfp-portlet/rfpViewer/3323> and include the
following items:
 Category of proposal
○ Scope of technology: Membrane / module
/ system
○ Target gas: CO2, H2O, Both
 Overview of technology (principle and
membrane, module or system configuration)
 Unique selling point (competitive advantages)
 Development stage: Concept development,
Verification in the lab / Implemented in
practical use
NineSigma, Inc.
Page 2
 Sample provision possibility: Possible as a
module/possible as a membrane/impossible
 Targeted application so far and track record
 Current performance (Describe only the
items you can provide at this moment)
○ Separation performance and leakage rate
○ Presumed gas condition
○ Valid Operation temperature range
○ Duration/life time
○ Membrane and/or module size
○ Preliminary cost projection (in cases
10,000/100,000 units per year)
 Challenges and development plans toward
the goal
 Anticipated form of collaboration and any
requests concerning the collaboration
SUBMITTING A RESPONSE
All proposals should be submitted online at
NineSights, the NineSigma open innovation
community, according to the instructions in the
Proposal Template. Supplemental files may be
submitted in addition to the proposal document.
For assistance, please contact the Solution
Provider Help Desk ([email protected]).
REQUEST GUIDELINES
Non-Confidential Disclosure
By submitting a response you represent that the response
does not and will not be deemed to contain any
confidential information of any kind whatsoever.
Response Evaluation
NineSigma’s client will evaluate the response using the
following criteria:





Overall scientific and technical merit of the proposed
approach
Approach to proof of concept or performance
Potential for proprietary position (i.e., is the
technology novel or protectable)
Economic potential of concept
Respondent’s capabilities and related experience
 Realism of the proposed plan and cost estimates
NineSights.com
NineSigma Request # 6332357
Development Partner for CO2 and/or H2O Separation Module
Page 3
Response Selection
By submitting a response, you acknowledge that
NineSigma’s client reserves the sole and absolute right
and discretion to select for award all, some, or none of the
responses received for this announcement. NineSigma’s
client also may choose to select only specific tasks within a
proposal for award. NineSigma's client has the sole and
absolute discretion to determine all award amounts.
NineSigma will contact respondents with highly responsive
proposals for next steps, or the client may contact
respondents directly.
NineSigma, Inc.
NineSights.com