“There is no other research center like this, not just in Germany but across the whole of Europe. And with that, we have an opportunity to really lead the pack in a cutting-edge technology of the future. I would like to explicitly acknowledge that what you are doing here and what we are supporting financially is moving things in the right direction so we can keep up on technologies of the future like this and maybe even be at the forefront of technological advances and developments. Battery production will be a crucial factor in keeping Germany competitive as a place to do business. I have high hopes for what you are doing here, because you embody the transition between research and development and production. And that is exactly what we often find ourselves lacking here in Germany. We’re wonderful at basic research. We all know what is possible, but when it comes to execution, and when it comes to production and when it comes to industrial manufacturing, we have not been good enough at that. And this interface is where you do your work. Thank you for what you do. I wish you every success,” Merz said during his visit.
Hendrik Wüst, Minister-President of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, also commented: “In North Rhine-Westphalia, research, development and industrial application all go hand in hand. Fraunhofer FFB in Münster is an outstanding example. Advanced battery technologies are a driver of innovation and competitiveness while also forming the basis for new value chains, the energy transition and the transportation of tomorrow. As a link between science, research and industry, Fraunhofer FFB in Münster makes a crucial contribution for Germany and Europe as a whole so we can remain a strong industrial location with good, secure jobs now and into the future.”
“Fraunhofer FFB pools Fraunhofer expertise in an open, cross-manufacturer research and production environment that is geared toward the needs of industry. From materials to pilot and mass production at the gigawatt-hour scale, we bring together knowledge, systems, equipment and data. This is how we close the gap between research and application, accelerate innovation, lower industrialization risks and make the location where we operate a more competitive one to do business,” said Constantin Häfner, Executive Board Member for Research and Transfer of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. “As the leading innovation ecosystem in Europe, we link industry, medium-sized businesses, start-ups and the research sector while working hand in hand with the German federal government and industry. Batteries are the key to the transportation and energy transition as well as robotics and stationary storage systems. In the realm of defense, they are crucial anywhere that quiet operation, mobility, autonomy and a resilient energy supply are needed. We would like to thank the German federal government, especially the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space, and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia for their support and vision.”
Research and development platform for battery cells made in Germany
During the visit, Häfner and the two institute directors of Fraunhofer FFB, Jens Tübke and Simon Lux, first presented the unit’s tasks and areas of research focus. Fraunhofer FFB’s mission is to operate as an open research and development platform, making a crucial contribution to advancing the industrial production of battery cells made in Germany, so it works on topics ranging from new battery technologies, certification of new battery types and production process optimization to application and battery recycling. It plays an important role in serving the growing demand from international markets while also safeguarding Germany’s competitive position as a technological powerhouse in the long term.
Tübke, Executive Director of Fraunhofer FFB, commented: “Excellence in research and rapid transfers of innovations are the key to tapping into the full potential of battery cell production in Germany and Europe. The Chancellor’s visit underscores the federal government’s commitment to strengthening Germany as a hub of research, development and application on the international scene, along with the central importance of battery cell production in these efforts.”
Cutting-edge research in #BatteryCityMünster
In collaboration with Münster Electrochemical Energy Technology (MEET), the University of Münster, the Helmholtz Institute Münster, Forschungszentrum Jülich and other research partners in Aachen and across Germany, #BatteryCityMünster is emerging as a key hub of industrial and technological activity in Germany and Europe as a whole, garnering international acclaim for its advances.
Financial support from the German federal government and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia
Fraunhofer FFB is supported by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The federal government is providing up to 500 million euros for research equipment, systems and projects, and the state has pledged as much as 320 million euros for land and new construction. The Fraunhofer Research Institution for Battery Cell Production FFB forms part of a wider BMFTR initiative in which funding for battery technology research is distributed to a number of different competence centers and clusters in Germany.
Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft
