The University of Chicago’s Energy Technologies Initiative, a partnership between the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Growth and the UChicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (UChicago PME), is collaborating with Gachon University’s Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation to advance the future of battery technology.
“Gachon is helping to create the next generation of battery technologies through a robust research program and educational curriculum to shape future leadership in this sector,” says Shirley Meng, director of UChicago’s new Energy Technologies Initiative and the Liew Family Professor in Molecular Engineering at UChicago PME. “Their mission and approach is very similar to our own at the University of Chicago, based on collaborations with industry and deep exploration and testing of innovative ideas. We look forward to working together to exchange insights and expertise and advance the state of knowledge around battery technologies.”
Gachon Advanced Battery Research Institute launched last month, with the former vice president and chief technology officer of LG Energy Solution, Youngjun Shin, as its director. The Institute comes after Gachon University admitted its first undergraduate class of Battery Engineering majors in 2023.
“Through our ‘Double-Up’ roadmap, we aim to double our graduate programs and industry collaboration by 2030 with strong global partnerships,” says Dr. Youngjun Shin, director of the Gachon Advanced Battery Research Institute.
Under the new partnership, the two institutions plan to engage in collaborative research through a wide range of activities, including through: joint workshops to identify key areas of interest and facilitate the exchange of information and data; cooperation in basic science-related research and development that will leverage each institution’s shared expertise in cutting-edge technologies; organization of joint research programs, co-authored publications, and joint applications for research funding; and exchange of graduate students and scholars.
“Humanity needs game-changing ideas to address increasing energy demands, and it’s not enough to do this individually or in a vacuum,” says Nadya Mason, Dean of UChicago PME and Interim Vice President for Science, Innovation, and Partnerships. “We can only solve these problems by working together, and by bringing together the best of academia around the world.”
The partnership reflects the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Growth’s broader effort to establish infrastructure and relationships across countries central to the global climate and growth challenge as well as countries leading in confronting the challenge. It also reflects the robust interdisciplinary approach driven by UChicago PME.
“Both institutions are poised to lead advanced battery technologies into the future. This partnership underscores the Institute’s ruthless and relentless search for the best partners to help produce ideas that help the world better balance the dual goals of managing climate change and the need for growth.”
Michael Greenstone, director of the Institute for Climate and Sustainable Growth and the Milton Friedman Distinguished Service Professor in Economics.
—Article originally appeared on the Energy Technologies Initiative website.