As a link between science, research and industry, the Fraunhofer FFB aims to establish a research infrastructure for efficient, sustainable and resource-saving battery cell production at the Hansa BusinessPark in Münster, which is unique in Europe. In February 2023, the state of North Rhine-Westphalia handed over the “FFB PreFab” to the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. Since then, the Fraunhofer FFB has been gradually taking up research operations and installing user equipment.  Just a stone's throw away, the second construction phase, the “FFB Fab”, will bring production to an industrial scale. It is designed to accelerate the innovation and commercialization process of production technologies for existing and future cell formats. In the future, the FFB Fab will have a theoretical production capacity of 7 gigawatt-hours per year. This will not be possible without partners. 

For years, the Technologieförderung Münster has contributed to the successful development of the technology and innovation sector in Münster by providing companies with advice, space and contacts. In view of the rapidly increasing dynamics in the energy sector, its new role as a technology driver is focusing on growth-oriented key technologies. Against this background, Fraunhofer FFB and TFM can complement each other very well.

Dr. Florian Degen, Division Director ”Strategy and Corporate Development” at Fraunhofer FFB, explains: “By working together, we want to join forces for joint projects and events in the field of battery systems and create bilateral access to each other's competencies, know-how and contacts.”

TFM Managing Director Matthias Günnewig said: ”TFM has supported the FFB stakeholders in many ways from the very beginning, for example by providing and arranging office and experimental space.”

Münster as European battery center 

In recent months, the US specialty chemicals company “Cabot” and the Singaporean battery recycling specialist “Green Li-ion” have announced their settlement in the city. As a result, the #BatteryCityMünster is developing into a leading partner for national and international companies along the entire value chain. To this end, TFM initiates and supports joint projects and cooperations. For the past six months, Cluster Manager Battery Systems, Yves Preibisch, has been driving forward the strategic management of activities and players. At the same time, delegation visits, such as to Münster's partner city Kristiansand, are being used to establish contacts for possible joint initiatives and research projects at the European level. “In this way, we can also demonstrate the efficiency of #BatteryCityMünster on an international level and increase our visibility”, says Preibisch, who will coordinate the cooperation with Fraunhofer FFB.

In addition to carrying out joint projects, the representatives of Fraunhofer FFB and TFM plan to focus on identifying additional project partners and funding programs. Dr. Thomas Paulsen, Group Manager Business Development at Fraunhofer FFB, adds: “Together, TFM and Fraunhofer FFB have the necessary competencies and resources to further advance national and international networking in the business and scientific communities.” Among other things, the partners plan to establish a start-up ecosystem for battery systems that will further boost the dynamics in the battery hotspot of Münster with knowledge and visions.

Setting the course for the technology location Münster

In the coming years, TFM intends to invest a mid-double-digit million sum in the building infrastructure around the Technologiehof. “We want to take advantage of the momentum at the location and are willing to make the necessary investments: We are investing almost 50 million euros to promote key technologies and provide the necessary space for collaborative research, start-ups and spin-offs”, says Günnewig.