Concordia’s Shawinigan campus to host an innovation hub on battery research
In partnership with the National Research Council of Canada (NRC), Concordia is advancing the development of an innovation hub focused on battery research at its Shawinigan campus.
This initiative is backed by a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Concordia and the NRC, aimed at fostering scientific collaboration in the clean energy sector.
The hub will support research on critical minerals and advanced battery materials, helping Quebec and Canada achieve its net-zero goals. Additionally, the collaboration will focus on knowledge and technology transfer to enhance electrification infrastructure, energy storage systems and clean transportation solutions.
“This partnership reflects Concordia’s unwavering dedication to driving sustainable research and innovation,” says Graham Carr, Concordia’s president and vice-chancellor. “Our collaboration with the NRC, the City of Shawinigan, and the Centre National en Électrochimie et en Technologies Environnementales (CNETE) of the CÉGEP de Shawinigan, will help position Quebec and Canada as a leader in clean energy and address the global challenges of climate change.”
At the event, from left: Karim Zaghib, Patrick Bouchard, François-Philippe Champagne, Mitch Davies, Graham Carr, Michel Angers, Faye Diamantoudi, Nancy Déziel and Marie-Louise Tardif.
In addition to these advancements, Concordia’s thematic campus in Shawinigan continues to progress with the support of a $3 million seed fund over two years, provided by Concordia’s Volt-Age electrification research program. The campus will enable Concordia researchers and their students to lead pilot projects in collaboration with the CNETE and local businesses, focusing on energy storage and transport electrification.
Patrick Bouchard has been appointed as the campus’ general director to ensure leadership on-site. A recognized expert in lithium battery technologies, Bouchard brings over 25 years of experience in research and process development. Prior to joining Concordia, he led research teams and directed projects in battery production and recycling at Hydro-Québec’s Laboratoire des technologies de l’énergie in Shawinigan.
As a member of Concordia’s Centre for Collaborative Energy and its Transition (C²ET), Bouchard will oversee the campus’ research activities and partnerships with CNETE and industrial collaborators.
The Shawinigan campus, hosted by CNETE, focuses on applied research and innovation, driving regional economic growth through projects aimed at renewable energy storage and transport electrification.
This collaboration spans all stages of technological development, from research to commercialization. By leveraging these partnerships, the campus will play a key role in Canada’s energy transition and contribute to the sustainable development of the region.
Learn more about Volt-Age, Concordia’s electrification research program.
