A memorandum of understanding has been signed by battery research centres in Australia and Indonesia, with the aim to strengthen collaboration in energy storage research, technology and innovation between the two nations.
Australia’s Future Battery Industries Cooperative Research Centre (FBICRC) and Indonesia’s National Battery Research Institute (NBRI) have entered into the agreement to collaborate on capacity building; education and training; developing the battery ecosystem; and battery standardisation.
The FBICRC was established in 2019 through the Federal Government’s Cooperative Research Centre Program. It brings together 73 participants across 15 research projects and is the largest partnership of industry, government and researchers focused on battery industries in Australia.
FBICRC projects are valued at $120 million and span the value chain from mining through to processing, manufacturing, services, recycling and reuse of batteries.
It is currently participating in a trade mission to Indonesia, comprising 130 representatives across industry and government with the aim of diversifying Western Australia’s economy across the sectors of energy transition; creative industries and the digital economy; international education; primary industries; and tourism.
The Australian and Indonesian governments are committed to ongoing engagement with the FBICRC to grasp the research skills and industry expertise required to support future battery and critical minerals supply chains.
“Australia and Indonesia have great potential to accelerate the global energy transition,” says FBICRC CEO Shannon O’Rourke (pictured, above right).
“This collaboration with NBRI is a practical demonstration of turning intent into tangible action. We very much look forward to working together.”
The NBRI was established in 2020 by Professor Evvy Kartini (pictured, above left) as an independent institute for electrochemical energy storage science and technology, supporting research, training and education.
“I would like to express my appreciation to the Western Australian Government and FBICRC for this opportunity to learn from Australian experts and help Indonesia become a global player in the battery market,” she says.