October 26, 2023, North Carolina, USA: The University of North Carolina Greensboro (UNCG) has announced the establishment of the Battery Research Innovation and next-Gen energy Harvesting Technologies (BRIGHT) Institute. The institute aims to advance battery research, develop energy technologies, and prepare students for related jobs in North Carolina.
The BRIGHT Institute will collaborate with over 100 partners from academia, industry, national laboratories, nonprofits, and government entities.
Hemali Rathnayake, a UNCG nanoscience professor, will lead the center, focusing on sustainable lithium harvesting.
The institute will leverage UNCG's expertise in nanoscience, chemistry, geography, and business.
Toyota Tsusho America Inc. is providing logistics and supply chain management services to the new Toyota Battery Manufacturing North Carolina plant in Liberty.
Several companies are investing in battery-related operations in North Carolina, including Epsilon Advanced Materials, Forge Nano, John Deere Electric Powertrain, and Fujihatsu and Toyotsu.