Korea successfully conducts the 4th joint research workshop on batteries between South Korea and Canada, organized by KIER.
The Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER) recently hosted the 4th Korea-Canada Battery R&D Workshop in Montreal, Canada, marking another step forward in the collaborative research and development of battery technologies between the two countries.
During the two-day event, held on July 29 and 30, 2025, Kim Young-sik, Chairperson of the National Research Council of Science & Technology (NST), emphasised the importance of diversifying supply chains for battery minerals and strengthening international cooperation. This focus reflects the growing need for sustainable and reliable sources of key minerals essential for battery production, such as lithium, with Canada emerging as a major alternative supply source.
The workshop's scope encompassed a wide range of topics, including lithium-ion battery anode materials, solid-state batteries, recycling technologies, and the critical mineral supply chain. Participants, which included representatives from 18 key institutions from industry, academia, and research, also discussed opportunities for collaboration in full-cycle hydrogen demonstration and evaluation technology development.
Han Seong Ok, Vice President of KIER, stated that KIER has significantly contributed to shaping bilateral policy agendas through the Korea-Canada Battery R&D Workshop. As a testament to this cooperation, KIER and the National Research Council of Canada's Clean Energy Innovation Center (NRC CEI) signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) for joint research.
Furthermore, meetings were held between KIER and NRC and NRCan to discuss the feasibility of establishing a Korea-Canada Joint Research Center for Battery Technology. This centre, if established, would aim to advance battery technology through collaborative research and development, with a focus on improving battery performance, reliability, and recycling.
During the Hydrogen Energy Technology Session, major Canadian institutions shared research outcomes on hydrogen production, storage, and utilization technologies. The NRC CEI also expressed its intention to promote international joint research and personnel exchanges with KIER in the fields of hydrogen and batteries.
Looking ahead, while specific expansion details have not been disclosed, the consistent hosting of workshops and the involvement of leading research institutes like KIER suggest an ongoing commitment to expanding technical cooperation, exploring cutting-edge battery innovations, and possibly scaling joint projects, including manufacturing and recycling technologies. The future will likely emphasise sustainable battery production and the development of next-generation batteries suitable for grid storage and electric vehicles.
KIER has been holding the battery technology-focused workshop annually since 2022, and the 4th edition in Montreal was co-hosted with the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM) on July 30, 2025. The Korea-Canada Battery R&D Workshop serves as a platform for sharing research outcomes, fostering collaborative research, and promoting international cooperation in battery and hydrogen energy technology, ensuring a sustainable and innovative future for these critical technologies.
- The collaboration in battery technologies between Korea and Canada extends beyond research and development, as the importance of diversifying supply chains for battery minerals such as lithium has led to Canada emerging as a major alternative supply source, contributing to the environmental-science and business sectors.
- The Korea-Canada Battery R&D Workshop, hosted by the Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER), also involves discussions on full-cycle hydrogen demonstration and evaluation technology development, with participation from key institutions in industry, academia, and research, reflecting the intersection of science, finance, technology, education-and-self-development, and environmental-science.
- The future of the battery technology sector could see an increased focus on sustainable production methods and the development of next-generation batteries suitable for grid storage and electric vehicles, as the ongoing commitment to expanding technical cooperation suggests, with China potentially scaling joint projects, including manufacturing and recycling technologies.
