The UK’s battery technology and research organisation The Faraday Institution has signalled a new commercialisation strategy and announced a £22.6m commitment to build on its four key research challenge of extending battery life, battery modelling, recycling and reuse and solid-state batteries.
“The Faraday Institution has been operating as a vibrant successful start-up organisation, growing rapidly and achieving a great deal,” commented Professor Pam Thomas, CEO, Faraday Institution. “With our projects maturing and now delivering scientific discoveries we have bolstered our commercialisation team and capability and strengthened our commercialisation strategy. In doing so we are directing even more effort towards those areas of battery research that offer the maximum potential of delivering commercial, societal and environment impact for the UK.”
Launched three years ago, the institution has convened a research community of over 450 researchers across 21 universities and a set of 50 industry partners to work on energy storage technologies with the greatest potential to transform the UK energy landscape from transportation to grid.
The Faraday Institution’s commercialisation team, under the leadership of the soon to be announced Head of Commercialisation, will work with research leaders to identify and target market opportunities that the UK is in a strong position to capitalise upon. The team will also convene and formalise industrial collaborations as a route to commercialise breakthrough science emerging from research programmes, seeding the UK battery supply chain where appropriate; develop and deliver technology roadmaps; source resources, facilities, personnel and funding; and strengthen intellectual portfolio planning.
Minister for Investment Gerry Grimstone said, “The Faraday Institution’s research into energy storage is pivotal for meeting our net-zero commitments, particularly as we shift to low-emissions transport on our roads and in our skies. I’m delighted that we’re continuing to support their valuable work as part of our commitment to strengthen the UK’s science and research sector.”
