Inspenet, May 7, 2023
With the international seminar “Creating the foundations for the sustainable development of lithium in Chile”, Lithium I+D+i was officially presented: Center for Research, Development and Innovation in Lithium Batteries, an initiative formed in 2022 at the Catholic University of the North (UCN) with the purpose of carrying out scientific research on technological innovation throughout the value chain of lithium batteries.
The center, financed by the company SQM, world leader in the production of lithium with high added value, seeks to become a benchmark technological development center at the national level and in Latin America, for its contribution to strengthening the innovation ecosystem around lithium batteries in the country.
In this regard, the rector of the Universidad Católica del Norte, Dr. Rodrigo Alda Varas, said that “this is an unprecedented event at UCN, since it allows us to establish a shared work itinerary with the company and advance in everything that means the value chain of lithium batteries, addressing the requirements of this industry with strategic alliances in international centers of excellence and, in this way, strengthening human capacities within the Institution”.
For his part, José Miguel Berguño, Vice President of Corporate Services at SQM, highlighted: “We are very proud to be part of an unprecedented alliance for the region that seeks to contribute to research, innovation, technological development and human capital training. As world leaders in the production of lithium and with specific sustainability goals such as being carbon neutral in the case of lithium in 2030, we could not ignore the request that is key to contributing to value one of the strategic resources for the region” .
The Lithium I+D+i launch ceremony was attended by various authorities as well as UCN authorities and SQM executives. The activity began with the words of Rector Alda and SQM Vice President of Corporate Services, José Miguel Berguño. The presentation of the Center was in charge of the dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Geological Sciences (FICG) of UCN, Dr. Hernán Cáceres.
The day continued with an international seminar in which two leading international experts in lithium development presented: Andreas Bittner, Executive Director of the European Lithium Institute and Head of New Business Development at Fraunhofer ISC, and Nian Liu, Assistant Professor at the University Georgia Tech, a specialist in materials and nanotechnology for high-energy batteries.
After each keynote talk, discussion panels were held with the participation of the regional governor of Antofagasta, Ricardo Díaz; the rector of the Universidad Católica del Norte, Rodrigo Alda; SQM Vice President of Corporate Services, José Miguel Berguño; SQM’s Innovation and Development Manager, the Lithium and Salt Flats advisor for the Ministry of Mining, Gonzalo Gutiérrez; and the leader of Lithium I+D+i, Hernán Cáceres.
SQM donated USD 8 million to the Universidad Católica del Norte
The Lithium I+D+i Center: Center for Research, Development and Innovation in Lithium Batteries, was born in the Faculty of Engineering and Geological Sciences of the Universidad Católica del Norte, thanks to a donation of USD 8 million delivered by the company SQM to the University, with the aim of promoting a first level research center in the northern part of the country.
The center was created “with the aim of creating a research and development pole for the delivery of technological solutions to multiple challenges related to lithium-based storage systems”, as explained by Hernán Cáceres, dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Sciences. Geological Sciences of the UCN and director of the Center.
Fuente y Foto: https://www.redimin.cl/universidad-catolica-del-norte-presenta-lithium-idi-nuevo-centro-de-investigacion-en-baterias-de-litio/
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