An agreement between Britishvolt, the UK’s ‘foremost investor’ in lithium-ion battery cell technologies, and three of the North East’s leading Universities, will provide ‘support in education and R&D to enhance innovation’. The company has entered into an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Durham, Newcastle and Northumbria universities.

The MoU will see the three universities providing Britishvolt with support in R&D and innovation with the view to ‘becoming the educational providers of choice moving forward’.

Allan Paterson, Britishvolt’s chief technology officer, said: “We are delighted to enter into this partnership with three of the North East’s leading universities, helping us to explore collaborative R&D opportunities looking at future technology advancement and assisting in building out the required skills needed to further the UK’s battery industry.

“Alongside the universities we are hoping to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers by enabling them to familiarise themselves with battery technology and the www.britishvolt.com Britishvolt project.”

Chris Day, the vice-chancellor and president of Newcastle University, said: “Newcastle University carries out internationally leading battery research in everything from fundamental material science, through battery recycling and safety, to energy systems integration.

“This vital research into energy storage is pivotal for meeting the country’s ‘net zero’ commitments and I am delighted that with these strengths in science and research we are working with Britishvolt to ensure they can access the skills required to build the UK’s first battery Gigaplant here in the North East.”

The announcement of the MoU came as Universities UK highlighted the economic impact of Universities in the North East as part of (hashtag)GettingResults. This campaign, which aims to put universities at the heart of the economic and social recovery, comes with a renewed commitment from universities to do even more to reach out to new partners locally and nationally and deliver even greater impact than currently estimated.

Britishvolt remains on track to begin construction of its Gigaplant in Northumberland later this year, with production of battery cells due to begin at the end of 2023.