ARC Training Centre for Battery Recycling Marks a Strong Year of Progress – 2025 Achievements

The ARC Training Centre for Battery Recycling completed its first year of operations in 2025, establishing key structures and making solid progress across research, governance, industry engagement, and training.

A major milestone was the official launch of the Centre on 22 July 2025. The event brought together more than 60 participants from government, academia, and industry, and provided an opportunity to present the Centre’s objectives, research program, and partnerships.

Progress was made in establishing the research program. Nine major projects and 29 sub-projects were approved, with 16 sub-projects active across partner universities. These projects focus on key challenges in lithium-ion battery recycling and resource recovery. While most projects are at an early stage, nine research papers were published or under review during 2025.

The Centre also achieved success in securing competitive funding and research recognition. This includes an ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) awarded to Dr Gemeng Liang and an ARC Early Career Industry Fellowship awarded to Dr Jingxiu Wang. Centre members also contributed to successful ARC grants, including:

• ARC Discovery Project: Prof Dewei Chu (UNSW)
• ARC LIEF Grant (2026): A/Prof Jianfeng Mao (Flinders University, Co-CI)
• ARC Centre of Excellence for Renewable Fuels (2025): Dr Emma Lovell (UNSW, CI, as part of a national collaboration)

Research excellence was recognised through several national and international rankings and awards. Multiple members were named Highly Cited Researchers (Clarivate, 2025), including Prof Shizhang Qiao, Prof Zaiping Guo, A/Prof Jianfeng Mao, and Dr Chao Ye. Several members were also included in the Stanford University Top 2% Scientist Rankings, including Prof Shizhang Qiao, Prof Volker Hessel, and Prof Zaiping Guo. Professor Shizhang Qiao was also elected Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering.

Governance structures were established, with all committees operational and providing oversight of the Centre’s activities. Reporting and financial management processes were implemented across partner institutions, supporting coordination and accountability. Regular reporting, including bi-monthly and annual reports, has been maintained.

Industry engagement progressed through the execution of project agreements with partners and the development of industry placement guidelines. These support collaboration and provide practical training opportunities for students and researchers.

The Centre supported professional development through regular seminars, workshops, and site visits. These activities covered research skills, career development, and industry engagement.

Outreach and communication activities were undertaken throughout the year. Centre members participated in conferences, industry events, and exhibitions. Communication with stakeholders was maintained through emails, meetings, LinkedIn, and the Centre website. Media coverage, including radio interviews and news articles, supported visibility of the Centre’s activities.

Overall, the Centre has established a strong foundation in its first year. Core structures are in place, the research program is underway, and engagement with industry and partners has been initiated. The Centre is well positioned to build on this progress in the coming years.