Southern Gold’s (ASX:SAU) battery technology subsidiary IonDrive Technologies (IDT) is now the key partner in a newly battery recycling training centre inAdelaide, South Australia.
IonDrive will partner with the University of Adelaide (UoA) for the Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Battery Recycling, which has been awarded by the Australian Research Council (ARC).
Southern Gold, which has an $8.266 million market capitalisation, says this centre is a ‘ground-breaking initiative’ and will be led by Professor Shizhang Qiao at the UoA to revolutionise Australia’s battery and resources industry by establishing advanced manufacturing capabilities for recycling mixed battery materials.
The university is expected to receive $5 million in funding from ARC, with a portion of the contributed funding expected to be dedicated to advancing IonDrive’s Direct Solvent Extraction (DES) battery recycling technology for expedited commercialisation.
Under this strategic partnership, IDT has exclusively licensed 3 next-generation battery material technologies from the university and is expected to contribute up to $200,000 cash per year for 5 years. The company will also offer in-kind contributions of $100,000 per year.
These payments comprise support for research projects, hosting higher-degree research students, mentoring and training for researchers, and active participation in centre committees and knowledge-sharing activities.
This ARC battery recycling centre positions both UoA and IDT at the forefront of battery recycling research in Australia, targeting transformative solutions in the area of battery recycling.
Commenting on the funding, Southern Gold Managing Director Robert Smillie says: “The establishment of the ARC Training Centre for Battery Recycling signifies a vital step forward in Australia’s pursuit of a cleaner, more sustainable energy future. Through partnerships, innovation, and research excellence, IonDrive is proud to play a central role in shaping this transformative journey as we begin the push towards several strategic initiatives to deliver commercialisation.
“The establishment of the ARC Training Centre for Battery Recycling signifies a vital step forward in Australia’s pursuit of a cleaner, more sustainable energy future”
SAU congratulates The University of Adelaide on this award and establishment of the Centre, further validation of their world-leading research in Battery Recycling. The acquisition of IDT is already proving to be [a] transformative decision by SAU. Our experience, recent team additions and track record in South Korea, we believe, will assist further the fast-track commercialisation of these technologies.”
Announcing the funding in July, ARC Chief Executive Officer Judi Zielke PSM said at the time the funding will provide innovative research benefits, new products and commercial opportunities for Australia.
“These new ARC Industrial Transformation Training Centres and Research Hubs will allow Australia’s best researchers to engage with critical industry partners to address current and future challenges faced by industrial sectors.
“They will also facilitate outstanding Higher Degree by Research and Postdoctoral training to equip an industry-ready workforce, strengthening Australia’s wider research capability nationally and internationally.”
Universities and industry organisations will also provide over $227 million in additional funding for the new ARC Training Centres, as well as over $78 million for the new ARC Research Hubs, which will help increase collaboration between innovative researchers and industries vital to Australia’s social and economic future.
Southern Gold is an ASX-listed mineral explorer and battery technology commercialisation group which currently holds a 100% interest in a ‘substantial’ portfolio of rare earth element (REE), lithium (Li) and precious metals exploration projects in South Korea.
Write to Adam Drought at Mining.com.au
Images: Southern Gold Ltd
