Franco-German project HIPOBAT officially kicked off in Paris
Paris, France, 26.11.- 27.11.2024
The Franco-German project HIPOBAT- High Power Batteries- was officially kicked off by a two-day event in Paris. Following the invitation of Jean-Marie Tarascon, more than 90 participants met at the prestigious Collège de France in Paris to exchange ideas, present first results and to express their vision for this highly collaborative project. Representatives of the supporting ministries (MESR in France and BMBF in Germany) highlighted the importance of this interdisciplinary and bilateral project on high-power solid-state batteries for an independent and sustainable battery value chain in the EU. The focus of the HIPOBAT project involving six German and six French partner institutes is on the development of high-power solid-state batteries that can reduce the ecological, geopolitical and economic pressure in the field of electrochemical energy storage. More than 30 early career researchers from both countries presented their research plans.
The HIPOBAT kick-off meeting was complemented by an evening at the residence of the ambassador of Germany to France, Stephan Steinlein. His welcome address followed by a speech given by the ambassador of France to Germany, François Delattre, via video emphasized the crucial role of batteries for a decarbonized energy future and the great potential of the Franco-German collaboration in science for our energy transition. A panel discussion involving HIPOBAT battery experts highlighted the challenges and opportunities related to current and next-generation battery technologies. Next to the HIPOBAT consortium members, invited journalists, other distinguished researchers, members of think tanks, industry representatives and students took part in the event at the Hôtel Beauharnais
The HIPOBAT project is coordinated by Olivier Guillon (Forschungszentrum Jülich) and Mathieu Morcrette (Laboratoire de Réactivité et Chimie des Solides in Amiens). It will run for three years and will include an exchange program for early career researchers which will enable them to visit different laboratories involved in the HIPOBAT project. The consortium of active researchers is complemented by an industry advisory board consisting of ten representatives of five German and five French companies who attended the kick-off meeting. The regular exchange between HIPOBAT members and the industry advisory board will ensure the swift transfer of the research results to the battery industry.