Concordia professor brings the International Meeting on Lithium Batteries 2026 to Montreal
Karim Zaghib joined Concordia’s Gina Cody School of Engineering and Computer Science this winter — and he’s already getting noticed.
Zaghib, professor in the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, was recently named president of the International Meeting on Lithium Batteries (IMLB) 2026. He is the main force behind the successful bid to host the upcoming global meeting in Montreal.
“I was extremely pleased with the news,” Zaghib says. “This conference will help broaden the reach of the Quebec and Canadian lithium battery ecosystem. It is exciting that we can promote the emphasis Concordia is putting on the green circular economy, sustainability and research to a global audience.”
An innovative mind
Zaghib is no stranger to success.
Before joining Concordia, his research contributed to Quebec’s globally recognized reputation as a pioneer of batteries and lithium-ions innovation. He has already received several awards and achievements throughout his career:
- Elected fellow of the Electrochemical Society (2011)
- Elected fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering (2017)
- Recipient of the Lionel-Boulet Award, the highest distinction conferred by the Government of Quebec to a person with a remarkable career in research in the industrial field (2019)
- Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (2021)
- Recipient of the Kalev Pugi Award from the Society of Chemical Industry Canada (2022)
Zaghib conducted research in Japan, exploring batteries and energy storage in collaboration with organizations such as the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology and Sony.
After arriving in Canada in 1995, he joined Hydro-Québec’s Research Institute as the director of research and made the first strides in the use of lithium-ion phosphate on the planet. He was the strategic advisor for Investissement Québec’s Management Committee until 2021.
Zaghib studied electrochemistry at Sétif University in Algeria and later earned his doctorate from the Institut polytechnique de Grenoble in France in 1990. He received the habilitation degree in physics (materials science) from Université Pierre-et-Marie-Curie (Paris VI) in France in 2002.
All-in on lithium batteries
The IMLB is the leading international conference on lithium battery science and technology. The Palais des congrès in downtown Montreal will host the 2026 event, which will feature talks by industry experts on developments in lithium batteries for energy storage and conversion.
The conference also addresses current and future applications of lithium-ion technologies in transportation, commercial, aerospace, biomedical and other industries. It is expected to generate more than $4 million in tourism revenue for the province, attracting more than 1,600 researchers and students globally. Montreal last played host to the conference in 2010.
Lithium batteries are becoming a mainstay of electrical appliances and electronics, since they have the best electrochemical potential compared to other battery types — they are lightweight, rechargeable and long lasting. They are a widely used energy source, powering anything from laptop computers, mobile phones and power tools to telecommunication systems and electric vehicles.
CME’s commitment to sustainability
Concordia’s Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering is equally focused on researching next-generation batteries for a sustainable future. Its dedication to exploring electrochemical engineering in a post-carbon world will help contribute to the 2026 IMLB.
Xia Li, assistant professor of chemical and materials engineering and Concordia University Research Chair in High Energy Rechargeable Batteries (New Scholar), will also represent the university as a member of the local organizing committee.
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