On March 6, 2026, Technische Universität Braunschweig officially opened three new research facilities at its Battery Labfactory Braunschweig (BLB) centre. Supported by more than ten million euros in funding from the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space, these installations bolster BLB+ (Braunschweig Labfactories for Batteries and more) as a hub for industry-oriented research into sustainable, circular battery production.
Lower Saxony’s Minister of Science and Culture, Falko Mohrs, and Dr. Stefan Jung of the federal ministry attended the inauguration. Mohrs noted that strong collaboration between research institutions, start-ups and industry is essential for reducing dependency on external suppliers and preserving domestic value creation. “Our research activities here contribute directly to Germany’s technological sovereignty and economic competitiveness,” he said.
TU Braunschweig President Angela Ittel highlighted the university’s long-standing role in battery technology research. “Since 2007, we have advanced cell production methods, and the growth of local companies demonstrates our success in building a vibrant battery ecosystem,” she remarked.
The new facilities include:
- A pilot plant for dry coating, featuring a dedicated drying room and laboratory support. Dry coating offers cost, energy and environmental benefits compared to traditional wet processes.
- A tandem wet coating plant designed for circular battery cell production. This system supports multiple production cycles with sustainable drying methods and works alongside an existing recycling line to enable closed-loop material research.
- A 3D printing plant for solid-state electrodes, focusing on developing next-generation, high-performance electrode structures.
Professor Arno Kwade, Vice President for Transfer and Innovation and spokesperson for the BLB Executive Board, emphasized the strategic importance of the combined infrastructure. “These three facilities create a unique research environment in Germany, allowing us to advance innovations from basic science through industrial demonstration,” he explained. Kwade added that the expansion will help position Braunschweig and Lower Saxony as leading centres for the circular production of energy storage and conversion devices.
BLB+ unites TU Braunschweig with the Centre for Circular Production of Next Batteries and Fuel Cells and the Fraunhofer Centre for Energy Storage and Systems. Together, these partners collaborate on everything from data-driven electrode design to optimized recycling processes, driving progress toward closed material cycles for a range of battery and fuel-cell technologies.
Source: TU Braunschweig Magazin
