Purpose

• The growing global significance of battery research, particularly in Europe and Korea, has heightened the demand for increased collaboration between the two regions across industry, academia, and research institutes. To encourage this exchange, EK-DeBatt was established as a group of Korean battery experts in Europe, serving as a platform for technological and research cooperation between Korea and Europe.

• Recognizing the limitations of email-based communication, EK-DeBatt was developed through a mix of online and offline events hosted by VeKNI, an organization with 860 members in Germany and extensive experience in facilitating industry-academia-institute projects. The initiative will leverage VeKNI’s alumni network in Korea to create opportunities for meaningful online exchanges. Participation will be open to both VeKNI members and non-members.

Vision

1. Building a meaningful and effective network across Europe: The primary goal of this network extends beyond fostering simple friendships; it aims to cultivate meaningful and impactful relationships among members. By ensuring a balanced representation of industry, academia, and research, the network facilitates robust knowledge exchange and collaboration. Additionally, it serves as a platform for sharing information on human resource opportunities, such as finding doctoral/postdoc positions, exchanging researchers, seeking internships, recruiting, and employment.
   By identifying areas where members can complement one another's strengths and weaknesses, the network can enable joint research initiatives and the development of collaborative projects, enhancing overall effectiveness and innovation.
   
   

2. Discovering the next generation of technology leaders: The network also systematically manages human resources by organizing a comprehensive database. This database not only serves as a tool for discovering collaboration opportunities but also provides the foundation for implementing mentoring and coaching programs. These programs are designed to support the growth of the next generation, equipping them to become future leaders in science and technology. Through this multifaceted approach, the network seeks to maximize the synergy of collaboration and drive meaningful advancements in the field.
   
   

3. A bridge between Korea and Europe: Europe hosts numerous automobile manufacturers, while Korea is renowned for its leading battery producers, presenting significant potential for collaboration and synergy within the industry’s value chain. However, a systematic network or collaboration development has yet to be established. This network seeks to address this gap by enhancing effective collaborative projects and sharing the latest research trends from participating organizations.