Exterior of the UNIST Research Center for Seawater Resources Technology. Photo courtesy of UNIST
The Research Center for Seawater Resources Technology on the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) is partnering with 4 startups to commercialize direct recycling expertise for spent Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries. The objective is to strengthen the worldwide competitiveness of Korea’s secondary battery trade by establishing a full-cycle round platform, from separating and recovering used batteries to manufacturing and evaluating recycled cells.
The UNIST Research Center for Seawater Resources Technology introduced on the eighth that it has secured a complete of ₩6 billion in undertaking funding over 4 years after being chosen for the ‘2026 University Research Lab & Startup Joint Innovation R&D Support Project.’ It will function considered one of two nationwide hub analysis facilities on this startup-intensive R&D undertaking, promoted by the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Commercializations Promotion Agency for R&D Outcomes (COMPA).
The undertaking is a commercialization-linked program centered on college analysis labs, connecting joint R&D with startups to discovering shopper firms and attracting funding. It is designed to make sure that analysis achievements don’t stay within the lab however lead to product and repair growth and market validation.
Diagram of the UNIST LFP battery direct recycling full-cycle round platform. Photo courtesy of UNIST
The undertaking UNIST will undertake is titled ‘Establishment of a Full-Cycle Circular Platform for Direct Recycling of LFP Batteries.’ It will set up a technological framework that connects the separation and restoration of helpful sources from spent batteries to the manufacturing and efficiency analysis of recycled cells. Four UNIST resident firms—EasyMining, Poseidon Battery, Deckers Solution, and Korea Battery Safety—will take part as joint R&D companions.
The core of the undertaking is to transition LFP spent battery recycling expertise from the analysis stage to the commercialization stage. UNIST plans to present shut help all through your complete R&D and demonstration course of, serving to taking part startups advance the core applied sciences wanted for market entry and guaranteeing their applied sciences are realized as services.
The UNIST Industry-Academia Cooperation Foundation will help subsequent commercialization. It will present custom-made applications equivalent to enterprise mannequin (BM) development and advertising, and leverage its community and commercialization infrastructure to assist uncover shoppers and join with traders. The technique is to decrease the technological hurdles for taking part firms and speed up their market entry.
“The direct recycling process for LFP batteries will become a core competency needed for the domestic secondary battery industry to enter the global market,” mentioned Kang Seok-ju, head of the UNIST Research Center for Seawater Resources Technology.
(*4*) mentioned UNIST President Park Jong-rae. “We will develop UNIST into an industry-academia cooperation platform where tangible technological innovation is possible.”
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