The University of Münster has secured approximately €700,000 in funding from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) to launch “BATTERY PIONEERS: Global Green Mobility Talent in Battery Research.” Running from June 2026 through December 2029, the project is financed under DAAD’s “Academic Horizons – Attracting Global Minds” programme and was jointly proposed by the university’s International Office and the International Graduate School BACCARA (Battery Chemistry, Characterisation, Analysis, Recycling and Application).
BATTERY PIONEERS is designed to recruit highly qualified Master’s graduates in materials science, chemistry, physics, and electrical and energy engineering from the European Union, the United Kingdom, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea and North America. A core objective is to increase the proportion of women doctoral candidates in battery research.
The initiative is structured around three pillars:
- Recruitment: an annual introductory week for prospective doctoral researchers and the development of a digital outreach platform.
- Careers and Retention: a modular career-development programme, including a science communication lab that helps participants craft and present their research under professional guidance.
- Arrival and Integration: a digital onboarding hub offering AI-assisted advisory services and personalized support with housing, contracts and other administrative matters.
A dedicated support programme for female researchers will further enhance visibility, career progression and networking opportunities. All measures are intended for sustainable implementation across organizational boundaries, ensuring long-term impact.
Dr. Astrid Burgbacher of the International Office noted that the project’s innovative design, coupled with the strategic strengths of the “Battery City Münster” innovation network, was instrumental in obtaining DAAD support. That network encompasses the MEET Battery Research Centre, the Departments of Chemistry and Pharmacy, BACCARA, the Helmholtz Institute Münster, the Fraunhofer Research Institution for Battery Cell Production, Münster University of Applied Sciences and numerous local companies and startups.
Project leaders Prof. Martin Winter and Prof. Frank Glorius emphasize that diverse, international teams are essential to solving the major challenges in energy storage. The DAAD funding forms part of the German Federal Government’s 1,000 Talents Initiative, which aims to attract outstanding international researchers in key technologies by supporting recruitment, integration and career-development activities at German universities.
Source: University of Münster News
