Zaghib Karim

ZAGHIB Karim

Professor of Chemical and Materials Engineering, CEO of the "Electrifying Society" Initiative Concordia University, Canada

Background & Education

Karim Zaghib is an Algerian-Canadian electrochemist and materials scientist, born in 1963 in Constantine, Algeria. His academic journey is marked by excellence and an early specialization in the promising field of electrochemistry.

He obtained his master's degree (DEA) in 1987 and his PhD in electrochemistry in 1990 from the Grenoble Institute of Technology, under the supervision of Professor Bernadette Nguyen. During his doctoral studies, he developed aluminum-manganese-lithium alloys in molten salts as negative electrodes for lithium-ion batteries and studied the displacement reaction of copper and zinc.

In 2002, his scientific expertise was recognized with the obtainment of a habilitation in physics from Pierre and Marie Curie University (Paris VI), consolidating his position as an expert in an interdisciplinary field between chemistry and physics.

Scientific Career

Karim Zaghib's career is characterized by a rich path at the interface between academia and industry. From 1990 to 1992, he was a postdoctoral researcher at CNRS and Saft, where he studied the chemical lithiation of graphite and carbon fibers. From 1992 to 1995, he continued his research as a visiting researcher at the Ministry of International Trade and Industry of Japan, at the Osaka National Research Institute, focusing on lithium-ion batteries.

In 1995, he joined the Hydro-Québec Research Institute, where he played a key role in introducing lithium-ion technology within the company. His expertise and leadership led him to be promoted to director of the energy storage and conversion division of Hydro-Québec in 2007. In 2017, he founded the Center of Excellence in Transportation Electrification and Energy Storage at Hydro-Québec, demonstrating his strategic vision in a future-oriented sector.

His entrepreneurial spirit manifested in 2014 when he co-founded Esstalion Technologies, a joint venture between Sony and Hydro-Québec, aimed at developing large-scale energy storage systems for power grids. From 2020 to 2021, he put his expertise to work at Investissement Québec as a strategic advisor, working on establishing a complete battery sector from mining to electric vehicles. Concurrently, he was a professor of practice at McGill University in the Department of Mining and Materials Engineering.

In 2022, Karim Zaghib joined Concordia University as a professor of chemical and materials engineering. His career reached a new pinnacle in 2023 when he was appointed CEO of Concordia University's "Electrifying Society" initiative, an ambitious program supported by a record $123 million research grant from the Canadian government, the largest in the university's history. The goal of this visionary program is to develop technologies and solutions for the electrification of society and the decarbonization of communities.

Distinctions & Recognition

The excellence of Karim Zaghib's scientific work has been recognized by numerous prestigious distinctions. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada (FRSC), an honor awarded to the country's most eminent scientists. He is also a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering (FCAE), testifying to his exceptional contribution to the field of engineering.

Throughout his career, he has received numerous awards and distinctions for his scientific contributions and leadership in the field of energy, confirming his position as a world-renowned expert in the field of batteries and energy storage.

Impact & Influence

Karim Zaghib's impact in the field of energy storage is considerable. His research primarily focuses on rechargeable batteries, electrochromic devices, and the electrochemistry of carbon-based materials. His work has significantly contributed to the development of lithium-ion batteries and the adoption of large-scale energy storage technologies.

His vision is to promote energy transition and transportation electrification through innovative and sustainable technologies. This vision guides his academic work and strategic initiatives, with a concrete impact on the industry and energy policies.

The "Electrifying Society" initiative he leads at Concordia University is a perfect example of how he brings this vision to life. This ambitious program aims to develop technological solutions to address the challenges of energy transition and the fight against climate change, demonstrating his commitment to a more sustainable future.

Learn More

To deepen your knowledge of Professor Karim Zaghib's work, you can consult his scientific publications in specialized journals in electrochemistry and materials science. The websites of Concordia University and the "Electrifying Society" initiative also provide information on his current projects and contributions to the energy transition. Furthermore, his collaborations with Hydro-Québec have resulted in several patents and technological innovations that are worth exploring to fully understand the extent of his impact in the field of energy storage.