Bridging the gap between fundamental research and product development requires a substantial, risk-moderated investment that is not only possible but necessary, according to materials scientist Professor Jose Alarco.
Alarco is an expert in the complex world of batteries — everything from energy-dense materials, storage and life cycle to improved safety through the development of ceramic-coated separators and battery pack design.
Batteries are essential to the future of transportation, portable electronics, and the storage and efficient use of renewable energy, but market demand is outstripping the speed of science, which often requires proof of concept and pilot-scale results to prove commercial viability.
However, Alarco says there is a shortcut proven to attract industry investment.
“Fundamental research is essential, but big funding has to come from commercial activities — from profitable companies that can afford to invest back into research,” Alarco said.
“So, researchers will increasingly look to industry for funding, but commercial enterprises will look for ways to make money when deciding on good investments.
“Focusing on fundamental research with an immediate or near-future market application will help researchers attract industry investment.
“If researchers are going to have an impact on funding, we need to demonstrate the viability of our fundamental research with experimentation that gets us as close as possible to the real product, for which there is an existing market.
“We also need to have viable, preliminary cost projections that indicate potential returns on investment for the developed product.
“The best way to accelerate the answers is to combine experimental and theoretical work, addressing all the practical product requirements specified by the industry.”
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