Canada invests in battery innovation advancement at Dalhousie University

HALIFAX, N.S. — Dalhousie University’s Metzger, Yang, Dahn Research Group has secured a $10.15 million investment from the Government of Canada to establish the Canadian Battery Innovation Centre (CBIC). The announcement was made by Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, during a visit to the university’s battery laboratory on July 31. Lena Metlege Diab, Member of Parliament for Halifax West, also attended the event.

Led by Dalhousie battery scientists Drs. Michael Metzger and Chongyin Yang, the CIBC will facilitate the development of innovations from Canada’s top battery research laboratories by creating next-generation battery cells.

The CIBC, set to open in the fall of 2025, will be a shared space for researchers across Canada, working on high-end battery prototyping, and will provide critical industry-oriented training in battery cell manufacturing to support the specialized workforce needed in Canada’s growing battery sector.

“When it comes to the clean economy, Canada’s competitors are increasingly making strategic investments to get ahead,” said Wilkinson. “Investing in domestic battery production is one of many ways Canada is supporting innovation-led commercial growth to create long-term economic benefits for Canada while cementing its place in the global battery and minerals sectors. I am pleased to support initiatives that help advance Canadian energy innovation as we deliver on our vision of a net-zero economy.”