Another link in the chain between industry and the Parker Centre was added recently with the signing of a memorandum of understanding with Perth company HiTec Energy Ltd. The Centre had previously assisted HiTec Energy with demonstrating a hydrometallurgy process the company has developed for producing electrolytic manganese dioxide (EMD). The Centre and HiTech Energy will now collaborate on establishing an EMD Research Centre. Research on understanding EMD crystal formation to improve the product has already started.