The Berlin Battery Lab, a new research platform aimed at accelerating the development and commercialisation of next-generation battery technologies has been officially inaugurated by Germany’s Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM), Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB) and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (HU).
The facility brings together expertise across materials science, cell development and safety testing, with a particular focus on sodium-based systems such as sodium-ion batteries. The partners said the initiative is designed to bridge the gap between laboratory research and industrial application by integrating the full development chain at a single location.
Berlin Battery Lab will support work on new materials, cell chemistries and prototype development, while also offering access to its research infrastructure for external partners from academia and industry. The aim is to enable faster transfer of innovations into practical applications, particularly for start-ups and technology-focused companies.
Berlin has emerged as a key hub for battery research in recent years, with growing interest in alternatives to lithium-ion technologies. Sodium-ion and lithium-sulfur batteries are among the chemistries attracting increased attention due to their potential for improved sustainability and reduced reliance on critical raw materials.
Within the new lab, BAM contributes expertise in battery safety and advanced energy materials, while HU brings strengths in sodium-ion research. HZB adds capabilities in lithium-sulfur systems and advanced characterisation, including access to its BESSY II synchrotron facility, which enables detailed analysis of electrochemical processes.
Speaking at the inauguration, Berlin’s Senator for Science, Health and Care, Ina Czyborra, said the initiative demonstrates the city’s ability to align research capabilities with industrial needs. She added that battery technologies are a key element of Germany’s high-tech strategy and that strengthening domestic expertise will be critical to improving supply chain resilience and reducing dependence on imported materials.
Berlin Battery Lab supported by ERDF
Berlin Battery Lab is supported by €2.4 million in funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) for the period 2026–2028.
BAM President Ulrich Panne said the facility is intended to address a persistent challenge in the German battery sector. “Many new battery technologies are being developed in Germany, but they are not reaching application quickly enough,” he said. “Here, we bring together research, development and cell manufacturing, while integrating safety considerations and regulatory requirements to help transfer sustainable innovations into practice.”
HU President Julia von Blumenthal added that the lab consolidates expertise across institutions and will help accelerate the transition from research to real-world deployment. HZB Scientific Director Bernd Rech said the centre will also include a new pouch-cell laboratory for sodium-ion batteries alongside advanced analytical capabilities.
During the inauguration, Philipp Adelhelm of HU – one of the lab’s three scientific directors – was awarded a Wilhelm-Ostwald Fellowship by BAM in recognition of his work in battery chemistry, particularly in sodium-ion systems.
Photo (L-R): Prof. Bernd Rech, Prof. Julia von Blumenthal, Dr. Ina Czyborra, Prof. Philipp Adelhelm, Prof. Ulrich Panne, Saskia Vormfelde, Dr. Tim Fellinger, Prof. Yan Lu. Source: BAM
