Welcome to The Innovation Platform Issue 17, featuring expert analysis on electric vehicles, critical minerals, clean energy, sustainability, innovative technologies, and much more.
Already, 2024 looks set to be an eventful year marked by geopolitical tensions, technological advancements, and climate action.
A wet and windy start to the year has the UK on track to break climate records, while COP28 late last year served as a sobering reminder of the challenge ahead in meeting the targets of the Paris Agreement.
The spotlight on climate issues is shining, but ongoing conflict and rising concerns about advanced technologies may still pose a threat to collaborative action and solutions.
Electric vehicles and battery development
With many innovative technologies now coming to fruition, attention is turning toward the practicalities of their implementation. Devin Arthur of the EV Society shares his thoughts in this edition’s Foreword. He reflects on the incredible growth of the electric vehicle (EV) industry in the last few years, the next steps in presenting EVs as a viable alternative, and the significance of maintaining this momentum if we are to meet global targets.
Disruption to supply chains remains a challenge, and our Battery Research and Development section has a particular focus on diversifying the North American supply chains in the US and Canada. Kickstarting this focus, the U.S. Department of Energy delves into the potential for the Salton Sea region in California to transform the US into a global lithium leader able to meet demand.
Sean De Vries, Executive Director of the Battery Metals Association of Canada, details its plans to develop Canada’s processing abilities, filling the gap that is currently disrupting its battery metals supply chain.
We also hear from Québec’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, who elaborate on Quebec’s role in Canada’s national strategy and the initiatives that aim to support the mining sector.
Across the globe, Olimpia Pilch, Co-Founder, and Senior Advisor of the Critical Minerals Association Australia updates us on the critical materials strategy down under and its emphasis on international cooperation.
Of course, this global effort is partly fuelled by the transition to electric vehicles. As such, we also discuss some of the latest developments in the transport sector, with Sunil Buhdheo of Coventry City Council and the IET considering the benefits and feasibilities of autonomous vehicles.
Clean energy
Following our detailed battery metals focus, our energy section features a range of expert opinions and commentary from major players dedicated to securing and advocating for alternative energy sources.
Ocean Energy Europe discusses the largest untapped renewable energy source and its efforts in accelerating ocean energy industries worldwide.
Elaborating on the substantial appetite for hydrogen applications across industries, we also hear from Celia Greaves, CEO of the UK Hydrogen Energy Association, who considers room for improvement and areas of focus.
Environmental sustainability
With attention firmly on decarbonisation, sustainability has become a hot topic across a variety of industries, with many reevaluating objectives and inner workings around environmentally friendly practices.
Head of Space Sustainability at the UK Space Agency, Ray Fielding, speaks to us about the Agency’s recent reshuffle to prioritise sustainability and initiatives to tackle space debris. With a similar focus on the green transition, the European Commission outlines the importance of sustainability within agriculture and the progress of biodiversity strategies throughout Europe in particular.
Research and innovation
It is becoming increasingly clear that global collaboration will be key to solving some of the world’s most pressing challenges. This theme is central to this issue, which includes an extensive focus on the Canada and Horizon Europe collaboration.
Expert commentary from the Canadian Government’s Department of Industry, Science and Economic Development details the recent agreement and its potential for research and innovation across a multitude of sectors.
This is only a snapshot of the thought-provoking subjects covered in the 17th edition of The Innovation Platform. I hope you enjoy the issue!
Maddie Hall
Editor
The Innovation Platform
