SK ecoplant announced on the 30th that it will implement a specialized program called ‘Battery Open Innovation’ to foster growth in the battery recycling industry.
On the same day, SK ecoplant signed a business agreement at Pohang City Hall to establish and implement the Battery Open Innovation program. The event was attended by representatives from SK ecoplant, Pohang City, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang Metal Materials Industry Promotion Agency, Pohang Technopark, and Gyeonggi Center for Creative Economy & Innovation, among others.
The ‘Battery Open Innovation Program’ is a specialized battery recycling industry program newly launched this year based on SK ecoplant’s technology innovation platform ‘Eco Open Platform,’ which began last year. It aims to create a sustainable industrial ecosystem in the battery recycling sector by establishing a cooperative system with related local governments, research institutions, and academia.
SK ecoplant will oversee the overall operation of the program. It will also conduct joint research and development on battery recycling technologies with its environmental subsidiary Renewus, POSTECH, and startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) possessing relevant technologies. Key research topics include reducing wastewater and waste from recycling processes, automation of dismantling, and recycling management solutions. To discover startups and SMEs for joint R&D participation, SK ecoplant will actively utilize innovation technology contests such as ‘Tech Open Collaboration’ and ‘ConTech Meetup Day’ that it is currently conducting. After technology development, commercialization will be pursued through SK ecoplant’s IT asset disposition service (ITAD) and its electronic waste recycling specialized subsidiary SK Tess.
Pohang City will be responsible for coordinating support institutions and providing government funding for research and development. Pohang has been focusing on fostering the battery recycling industry, having been designated as a ‘National Advanced Strategic Industry Secondary Battery Specialized Complex’ in July last year. Pohang Metal Materials Industry Promotion Agency, Pohang Technopark, and Gyeonggi Center for Creative Economy & Innovation will also support technology discovery, funding linkage, and commercialization.
Through this program, SK ecoplant plans to discover innovative battery recycling technologies to proactively respond to the rapidly increasing global demand for battery recycling, as well as to contribute to the creation and acceleration of the industrial ecosystem.
Park Kyung-il, CEO of SK ecoplant, stated, “We expect growth in the battery recycling industry through the implementation of this program,” adding, “We will continue comprehensive cooperation and support to accelerate industrial development.”
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