Innovate UK

Battery Caffè Podcast Episode 10: Critical Minerals

This podcast episode focuses on critical minerals in the battery supply chain and is hosted by Nikoleta Piperidou, Cross-Sector Battery Systems Innovation Network Lead at Innovate UK KTN and Dr Sheena Hindocha, Knowledge Transfer Manager for Materials Chemistry at Innovate UK KTN with special guest Olimpia Pilch, International Partnerships and Business Manager at Critical Minerals Association United Kingdom (CMA UK).

Nikoleta and Sheena talk about the economic and technological importance of critical minerals and why we should collaborate with global industry partners to build a more resilient energy supply that accelerates the growth of the UK’s domestic capabilities.

Throughout this conversation, the supply and demand of critical minerals for batteries as we transition to net zero in the UK is discussed at length. The 2035 UK Battery Recycling Industry Vision highlights that there is a major opportunity to secure the supply of critical batteries for minerals through recycling. Battery development can adopt a circular economy approach whereby battery materials are separated, recycled, then re-manufactured into new batteries all within the UK which would allow for significantly more of a battery’s economic value to be kept within the UK’s economy while also reducing the UK’s dependency on other countries for critical minerals.

Read the podcast transcript here.

Silent Designers Episode 1 - Anna Wilson, 52 North

Redefining Design Boundaries: Join us for the inaugural episode of 'Silent Designers' as Anna Wilson takes us on a captivating journey into the world of design. With a fresh and innovative approach, Anna showcases the true essence of design in its purest form, while also sharing her unexpected path into process design. Reflecting on her experiences, Anna reveals, "This doesn't work so well, let's come back to the drawing board and try to improve that. My main learning is that it's an iterative process and actually, it is never finished." Trained as a vet and now Head of Operations at 52North, a Cambridge-based Health Tech start-up, Anna is transforming triage for neutropenic sepsis, a critical complication of cancer chemotherapy. Additionally, as the founder of Tortoise, a digital health solution, she aims to support people in their recovery journey after injury. Discover the limitless possibilities of design as Anna shares her unique insights and challenges faced along the way. Tune in to be inspired by her multifaceted use of design. As part of our commitment to empowering innovators, we invite you to join the Design In Innovation Network (DIIN), a vibrant community of cross-sector innovators who are passionate about driving innovation outcomes. Our online platform serves as a collaborative hub, connecting you with sector experts and fostering meaningful engagements. Discover the vast potential of design and uncover new pathways to embed it into your own innovation journey. Join the community: https://designinnovationnetwork.ktn-uk.org/ Meet our hosts for the "Silent Designers" series Steve Welch Steve is half-engineer, half-scientist … all innovation! After a lengthy career in systems engineering applied to Spacecraft projects, he is now director of Innovate UK KTN’s activities in Knowledge Transfer, Place and Design. Steve has long appreciated the overlap between engineering and design and is always delighted by fresh ideas—especially the fresh ideas that pay-off: and that’s where this series comes from. Katherine Wildman Katherine is a B2B copywriter working with multinational businesses on projects that can involve anything from video scripts and tone of voice development to marketing campaigns and case studies. Katherine is interested where innovative ideas come from. What was the actual problem our guests identified and how they went about solving the challenge they faced?

Battery Caffè Podcast Episode 9: Anodes

Hosted by Debra Jones and Juan Maria Gonzalez Carballo, Chemistry Knowledge Transfer Managers at Innovate UK KTN, with special guest Alex Groombridge, Chief Technology Officer & Cofounder at Echion Technologies.

This episode focuses on different chemistries for anodes and the challenges of scaling up manufacturing. Juan and Debra talk about the UK's battery anode and cathode capabilities, the desired properties of these materials and the production as well as commercialisation of this emerging technology to supply anode grade niobium oxides.

Read the podcast transcript here.

Battery Caffè Podcast Episode 8: The UK battery investment landscape

This podcast episode focuses on the funding landscape and specifically discusses opportunities and challenges within the UK battery ecosystem. We also discuss the insights and findings from the Electric Vehicle Battery Tech in the UK 2022 report that Faraday Battery Challenge has recently partnered with DealRoom to deliver with contributions from Innovate UK KTN. This report outlines how the industry is going to scale up with more investment in scaling innovative battery technology companies.

This podcast is hosted by Nikoleta Piperidou, Cross-Sector Battery Systems Innovation Network Lead at Innovate UK KTN, and Jordan Fletcher, Knowledge Transfer Manager for Net Zero Investor Communities at Innovate UK KTN, and features special guests Jim Totty, Managing Partner at Virdis Capital and Ian Whiting, Commercial Director at the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC).

Read the podcast transcript here.

Maritime Innovation Sound Waves - Episode 5: Future Sustainable Ports

Matthew Moss, the Maritime Knowledge Transfer Manager at Innovate UK KTN is joined by Debra Jones, Knowledge Transfer Manager - Chemistry to talk about Future Sustainable Ports.

During this podcast conversation, Matt and Debra discuss making vessels and port machinery sustainable by using renewable electric power or alternative fuels including biofuels, or hydrogen, ammonia and methanol. They also discuss specific examples of use cases of this technology such as hydrogen or battery powered ferries.

Useful links and additional information

• The Maritime & Ports Innovation Network is a community that collates knowledge from the maritime and ports sector to solve challenges and share industry opportunities to succeed in the transition to a Net Zero future through building innovative maritime solutions.
• Contact Innovate UK KTN’s Infrastructure team.
• Contact Innovate UK KTN’s Transport team.
• Read the Maritime Innovation Podcast Episode 5 Transcript.

Battery Caffè Podcast Episode 7: Advanced Materials for Batteries

This episode centres around the advantages of having graphene and nanomaterials in batteries, the most exciting commercial opportunities in the future, and the technological challenges of using these advanced materials.

During this podcast episode, Nikoleta Piperidou and Neelam Mughal from Innovate UK KTN were joined by James Baker, CEO at Graphene@Manchester.

Maritime Innovation Sound Waves - Podcast Episode 4: Green Ports

Episode 4 of the Maritime Innovation Sound Waves Podcast from the Maritime and Ports Innovation Network has drifted ashore. This podcast series is dedicated to discussing and exploring technologies as well as solutions developed and used in the Ports and Maritime sector to meet the UK’s Net Zero targets.

In this episode, Matthew Moss, the Maritime Knowledge Transfer Manager at Innovate UK KTN is joined by guests Elly Howe, Environmental and Sustainability Coordinator at Portsmouth International Port & Jerry Clarke, Marine Pilot at Portsmouth International Port and Marlene Mitchell, Commercial Manager from the Port of Aberdeen, exploring the topic of Green Ports.

During this podcast discussion, they discuss port decarbonisation initiatives and the large transformational projects that are enabling the UK to adopt sustainable technologies.

Read the Maritime Innovation Podcast Episode 4 Transcript.

Maritime Innovation Sound Waves - Episode 3: Shore Powered Ports

Episode 3 of the Maritime Innovation Sound Waves Podcast from the Maritime and Ports Innovation Network has arrived at the docks. This podcast series is dedicated to discussing and exploring technologies as well as solutions developed and used in the Ports and Maritime sector to meet the UK’s Net Zero targets.

In this episode, we explore how ports are supplying electricity to vessels allowing them to switch off their diesel engines in the harbour and recharge their energy storage systems and electrical equipment.

Topics of conversation also include the UK’s first ship to store a large-scale commercial power system, the advantages of private investment as well as public funding for your research and development of shore power projects, delivering UK port electric charging energy networks, furthering the development of shore power technologies for generating and storing shore powered clean electricity such as AI controlled battery storage and green hydrogen electrolyser.

This podcast episode is hosted by Mark Wray with special guests Sarah Fear, Project and Knowledge Exchange Manager for Plymouth's Marine e-charging Living Lab at the University of Plymouth, David Hibbert, Technical Superintendent at Marine Services, Orkney Islands Council & Dr Jonathan Williams, CEO of MSE International.

Read the Maritime Innovation Podcast Episode 3 Transcript.

Battery Caffè Podcast Episode 6: Quantum for Batteries

The Battery Caffè is back and better than ever. During this episode, our podcast hosts discuss how advancements in quantum technologies can enable the development of innovative battery applications that will benefit all consumers. We also delve into a deep conversation about future commercial quantum and battery projects that will improve transportation, energy infrastructure, electronics, and online computing capabilities.

This episode was hosted by Nikoleta Piperidou who is the Cross-Sector Battery Systems Innovation Network Lead at Innovate UK KTN as well as Dr Najwa Sidqi, Quantum Technologies Knowledge Transfer Manager at Innovate UK KTN who were joined by special guests Hallam Davies, Senior Electrochemist at AMTE power & Michal Krompiec, Scientific Project Manager at Quantinuum.

Please note that since this podcast episode was recorded, Cambridge Quantum has become Quantinuum.

Read the podcast transcript here.

Maritime Innovation Sound Waves - Episode 2: Connected Ports

Episode 2 of the Maritime Innovation Sound Waves Podcast from the Maritime and Ports Innovation Network has sailed into the harbour. This podcast series is dedicated to discussing and exploring technologies as well as solutions developed and used in the Ports and Maritime sector to meet the UK’s Net Zero targets.

How are ports becoming better connected to their industrial and maritime ecosystems through emerging 5G enabled technology?

We answer this question in detail and explore how cutting edge technology like 5G and the Internet of Things are enabling the creation of more connected ports. This podcast episode is hosted by Mark Wray and Richard Foggie with special guests John Chaplin, Director of Special Projects at Bristol Port, John Harrison, IT Director at Bristol Port and Simon Parry, CTO Global Enterprises at Nokia (Plymouth).

Useful links and additional information

• The Maritime & Ports Innovation Network is a community that collates knowledge from the maritime and ports sector to solve challenges and share industry opportunities to succeed in the transition to a Net Zero future through building innovative maritime solutions.
• Contact Innovate UK KTN’s Infrastructure team.
• Contact Innovate UK KTN’s Transport team.
• Explore Bristol Port and Nokia.

Click here for the Maritime Innovation Podcast Episode 2 Transcript.