Open call to promote electromobility
The competition is aimed at R&D centers, universities, SMEs, startups and developing initiatives that have proposals that promote electromobility and stationary energy storage.
Applications will be open from September 27 to October 24, 2021 through the Open Innspiral website , and there is a total prize of USD 100 to be shared among the top three places.
Commitment to clean energy and carbon neutrality
Promoting clean and renewable energy responds to current environmental challenges and the growing public interest in tackling climate change and moving towards a more sustainable future.
In this context, SQM has made it a priority to contribute to carbon neutrality, consolidating itself as a global supplier of sustainable lithium.
“More Lithium, less footprint”: the new call for Open Innovation
SQM, historically recognized for its innovative spirit and leadership in lithium production, launched the Open Innovation call “More Lithium, Less Footprint” , which seeks solutions that bring electromobility and energy storage closer to people.
This initiative is part of SQM's sustainability plan, presented in 2020, which includes specific goals such as:
Reduce continental water consumption by 40% by 2030 and by 65% by 2040.
Reduce brine extraction from the Atacama Salt Flat by 50% by 2030 , starting with an immediate reduction of 20%.
Achieve carbon neutrality by 2040 for all its products, and by 2030 for Lithium, Potassium Chloride and Iodine.
SQM statement on the drive towards new solutions
Regarding this announcement, Pablo Altimiras, Senior Vice President of Lithium and Iodine Business at SQM, stated:
“For SQM, it is very important to contribute to the country's sustainable development and improve the quality of life of Chileans. That is the fundamental reason why we are promoting innovation in the use of lithium-ion technologies through this call for proposals, which contemplates and seeks to discover new paths related to electromobility and storage systems, particularly those that tend to solve situations of scarcity in communities or extreme conditions.”
Who can apply and what kind of projects are being sought?
The call, made in conjunction with INNSPIRAL , is aimed at organizations and ventures that develop solutions with social and environmental impact.
The proposals must address challenges in two major areas:
- Electromobility: Projects that promote its development in Chile, focusing on remote, isolated or vulnerable sectors, and that contribute to more accessible and energy-efficient transportation.
- Stationary energy storage: Initiatives that extend the use of storage technologies in communities without stable access to the electricity grid or with intermittent supply, promoting self-generation and self-consumption.
Prizes and support for the winning projects
The applicants will compete for USD 100 , distributed as follows:
$50 USD for first place
$30 USD for second place
$20 for third place
In addition, the winning project will receive support for the development of a pilot project and executive mentoring with SQM experts.
Applications and guidelines
- The application guidelines and forms are available at openinnspiral.com/maslitiomenoshuella.
- The call for applications will be open between September 27 and October 24, 2021.
