Dr. Ismael Saadoune, a Full Professor at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, completed his academic journey with a French PhD from the University of Bordeaux in 1992 and a Moroccan PhD from the University Cadi Ayyad UCA-Marrakech in 1996. His dual doctoral pursuits centered on advancing Active Materials for Lithium and Sodium-ion Batteries, offering promising solutions for energy storage challenges.

In 2002, Dr. Saadoune established the Laboratory of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, where he mentored over 100 graduate and 40 Master students. Guiding the research endeavors of 25 PhD candidates, all now active in industry or research laboratories, Dr. Saadoune has left an indelible mark on academic and industrial landscapes.

As the principal investigator, he spearheaded 19 national and 23 international research projects on Battery Materials, demonstrating his commitment to advancing energy storage technologies. His contributions extend beyond academia, as he played pivotal roles in two European Master ERASMUS MUNDUS programs: 'Materials for Energy Storage and Conversion' and 'Functionalized Advanced Materials and Engineering'.

Currently, Dr. Saadoune leads the 'Electrochemical Energy Storage & Conversion' unit within ACER/UM6P, focusing on collaborative initiatives with UM6P ecosystem:

• Development of Battery Materials utilizing African Mineral Resources (P, F, V, Co, Mn).
• Recovery of strategic minerals for energy transition via the recycling of End-of-Life Lithium-ion Batteries.
• Implementation of semi-pilot demonstrators for Lithium-ion Battery production using the 'Pouch Cell' configuration.
• Establishment of rural (Off-grid) and Urban (Electric vehicle) Living Labs, leveraging efficient batteries in projects like the European initiative: Smart Energy Solution for Africa (SESA: https://sesa-euafrica.eu).

Dr. Saadoune's expertise has been sought after globally, with invitations to prestigious universities and research centers including Uppsala University (Sweden), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (Germany), ICMM-CSIC (Spain), Jilin University (China), and Bordeaux University (France). His prolific academic output encompasses over 160 articles, conference papers, and project reports, underscoring his significant contributions to the field of electrochemical energy storage and conversion.