Canada, with its legacy of innovation and substantial investments in cell production, is uniquely positioned to be a global battery technology leader. However, competition has intensified, with jurisdictions like China, the United States, the European Union, Korea, and Japan advancing their domestic industries through deliberate strategies. A strategic and collaborative approach is essential for Canada to continue to compete effectively.
Key Highlights of the Battery Innovation Roadmap:
Strategic Investments: The roadmap proposes a $3 billion investment in battery innovation, creating a financial working group to enhance funding mechanisms, and expanding Canada’s battery R&D centers with increased NRC funding. New research centers and demonstration facilities would also be established.
National Battery Alliance: Central to the strategy is a National Battery Alliance, a public-private partnership to synchronize efforts and support ongoing strategic advancement. This alliance would unite key government, industry, and academia players to drive Canada’s battery technology initiatives.
Workforce Development: The plan aims to train over 10,000 skilled professionals by 2035 through skill mapping, international and educational partnerships, training programs, and research fellowships.
Economic and Security Resilience: The roadmap aims to increase the number of Canadian-owned battery firms, establish production clusters, and develop a Battery Ecosystem Dashboard. Reducing dependency on foreign imports by enhancing our domestic battery technology capacity and supply chains strengthens Canada’s national security and economic resilience.
Intellectual Property (IP) Strategy: The strategy includes IP education, support for start-ups, a fast-tracked IP strategy, and encourages patent sharing to safeguard Canadian innovations.
International Collaboration and Innovation Network: The roadmap proposes international research partnerships, a manufacturing innovation network, a meaningful demonstration fund, start-up partnerships, and streamlined regulatory processes.
Standards and Policy Integration: The roadmap calls for developing new battery material standards, integrating programs into policy, tailoring EDC programs for exports, and supporting recycling innovation centers and research on advanced materials and chemistries.
The immediate priority is establishing the National Battery Alliance, uniting key players from government, industry, and academia. This alliance will drive the implementation of the roadmap, ensuring that Canada capitalizes on its strengths and seizes the opportunity to become a global leader in battery technology.
The Canadian Battery Innovation Roadmap
For more information and to access the roadmap follow this link. An online tool is available to navigate the specific policies and supports that will foster a successful and competitive battery innovation ecosystem in Canada. visit bir.acceleratezev.ca to access this tool.
The development of Canada’s Battery Innovation Roadmap was supported through funding from Natural Resources Canada.
Quotes:
“The global battery competition is intensifying, and it’s clear that countries that make strategic investments in battery innovation, technology and supply chains are the ones that will benefit,” said Matthew Fortier, CEO of Accelerate. “On the other hand, countries that fail to seize this moment will continue to depend on foreign technologies and production and miss out on the economic benefits that come with innovation, intellectual property development, commercialization, and human capital development. The Battery Innovation Roadmap has been created to help Canada to seize our opportunity.”
“The Battery Innovation Roadmap is an important resource to support industry and other partners in identifying and pursuing economic opportunities in the battery supply chain — including in electric vehicle manufacturing and critical minerals processing. The Government of Canada is pleased to support this important work.”
– The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources
About Accelerate:
Accelerate is Canada’s Zero Emission Vehicle Industry Alliance, dedicated to fostering innovation and collaboration to achieve a sustainable, zero-emission future.
Media Contact:
Carrie Croft, Senior Director,
Temple Scott Associates
613-406-4986
ccroft@tsa.ca
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