Funded Projects

• Purpose and Necessity

As the urgency of addressing climate change grows, carbon neutrality has become a global priority, emphasized in the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The transition to green energy, with e-mobility at its core, is essential for reducing carbon emissions, and advanced energy storage technologies are key to enabling this shift.

While significant research and investment in battery technology are underway in both Korea and Europe, collaboration between academia, industry, and research across the two regions remains limited. With Korea’s leading battery manufacturers and Europe’s prominent automobile producers, the industrial value chain offers substantial potential for collaboration and synergy. However, a systematic network to facilitate this cooperation has yet to be established.

This exchange meeting aims to foster effective collaboration by sharing the latest research developments and building personal networks. Such efforts are expected to catalyze joint projects and provide strategic insights into the rapidly evolving battery market. For instance, shifts in material preferences, such as the resurgence of natural graphite or the focus on mid-nickel cathodes, reflect market and policy dynamics. By aligning through collaboration, Korea and Europe can adapt research directions to market changes with greater agility and impact.

Understanding each region's research trends and industrial approaches, while leveraging their respective strengths, is anticipated to significantly enhance research effectiveness and drive innovation in battery technology.

• Action Plans

Upon project selection, a steering committee comprising domestic and international organizers will be established. This committee will oversee project operations in collaboration with the Korean Scientists and Engineers Association in Germany, KEMST, and EK-DeBatt. It will facilitate online sessions, such as presentations and panel discussions, enabling indirect interaction between domestic researchers and international members.

The committee will efficiently coordinate schedules for overseas speakers and domestic participants, providing support with visas and administrative requirements to ensure smooth visits to Korea. Additionally, it will align group discussion topics, such as AI-assisted data analysis, with current battery research trends and invite domestic experts to deliver special lectures to enrich the discussions.

• Impact

By incorporating online components, the research and work of domestic participants can be effectively shared with the Korea Scientists and Engineers Association in Germany and related organizations. This approach is expected to facilitate active exchanges between Korean and European battery experts and increase the potential for international collaboration, supported by organizations like KIAT and KOTRA operating in Europe.

The event aims to enhance participants' understanding of battery research trends in Korea and Europe, as well as the interconnected relationship between industry, academia, and research in battery development. Most importantly, it seeks to establish a sustainable network community to foster more strategic and proactive research capabilities.

• Purpose

The project aims to establish a comprehensive database of battery science and technology experts, with a focus on emerging leaders in the field (Young Battery Professionals, YBP). Its goals include fostering robust networks and exchanges, enhancing collaboration among Korean scientists and engineers, and creating opportunities for talent cultivation and knowledge sharing. By leveraging these connections, the initiative seeks to drive technological innovation and advance global cooperation in battery research and development.

• Necessity

This project seeks to create an effective network by building a database (DB) that focuses on individual expertise rather than basic personal information, enabling targeted collaboration opportunities.

Examples of Key European Battery Networks:
UK: The Faraday Institution fosters collaboration through partnerships.
Germany: The Batterie 2020 initiative and K-LiB project integrate industry, academia, and research.

The DB will focus on Young Battery Professionals (YBP) and include Korean experts in Europe (EK-DeBatt) and in Korea (EKO-Batt) as well as international battery experts, enhancing mentorship and collaboration. The initiative will establish adaptable research clusters, promote multidisciplinary solutions, and empower future leaders to drive innovation and strengthen the Europe-Korea battery R&D environment.

• Key Initiatives

1. Flexible Online Infrastructure
   Develop an online platform by 2024-2025 to support systematic database (DB) management, including member registration, data integration, communication tools, and event promotion.

2. Expert DB for Talent Development
   Systematically compile a database of next-generation leaders and experts in battery technology to guide future collaboration projects.
   Use the DB to implement mentoring and coaching programs for Young Battery Professionals (YBP), fostering their growth as leaders.

3. Enhanced Europe-Korea Collaboration
   Facilitate practical exchanges between industry, academia, and research through online seminars, offline meetings, and international academic conferences to promote industrial applications of research.
   
   

• Impact

1. Short-term: Establish a systematic data collection framework and solidify collaboration among battery experts.

2. Long-term: Build a sustainable ecosystem for Europe-Korea collaboration, fostering global leadership and advancements in battery technology.

• Purpose

K-DeBatt has successfully established a robust framework for systematic operations through its Steering Committee. In collaboration with German and Korean institutions and companies, it has developed mutually beneficial programs and functions. The network currently includes 33 members in Germany and has built a specialized human resource pool. Recognizing that global environmental challenges and battery research transcend national borders—and in light of significant EU investments in joint research projects in the battery sector—K-DeBatt aims to expand its network from Germany to encompass all of Europe.

• Key Initiatives

1. By leveraging the network, collaborative research among members can be significantly enhanced. For instance, specific experiments requiring specialized equipment can be conducted jointly, fostering partnerships between research institutes and companies. With members distributed across Germany and key European countries, the network facilitates both direct and indirect access to critical research information.

2. An online platform could further streamline collaboration by briefly showcasing members' research areas. This would allow companies to identify areas of interest, contact relevant members through the EK-DeBatt network, and efficiently initiate collaborative projects. The platform could also serve as an effective hub for connecting job seekers with hiring companies.

3. Joint seminars involving Korean academia and industry would promote information exchange and pave the way for collaborative research and exchanges of researchers between Korea and Europe. Additionally, experts in the network can analyze battery and energy storage trends in Europe, utilizing their expertise to generate valuable intellectual property.
   
   

• Impact

1. Short-term
   Enhanced collaborative research: Facilitates joint experiments and partnerships among network members, promoting immediate collaboration between research institutes and companies.

2. Long-term
   Creation of intellectual property: Enables the generation of valuable patents and insights from expert analyses of European research trends, strengthening innovation and competitiveness in the battery field.

• Purpose

With the growing global importance of battery research and industry, including in Germany and Korea, the demand for greater and more active Korea-Germany collaboration is rising across industry, academia, and research. To encourage this exchange, the Korean Battery Experts Association in Germany (K-DeBatt) has been established as a platform for technological and research cooperation between the two nations.

• Plan

A steering committee will be formed to activate the meeting and build up an online collaboration platform using Slack, which facilitates efficient communication and teamwork. Events will primarily operate online, with offline participation limited to the steering committee and K-DeBatt members. Simultaneous online streaming will enable broader and easier participation.

• Impact

1. Concrete Establishment of K-DeBatt Organization
   Solidify the foundation of K-DeBatt and attract new members to strengthen the network.

2. Creation of an Online Collaboration Platform
   Develop a Slack-based platform to facilitate effective communication and collaboration among members.

3. Enhanced Collaboration with VeKNI Alumni
   Foster practical exchanges across industry, academia, and research between Germany and Korea, leveraging the *VeKNI alumni network.
   (*VeKNI: Verein Koreanischer Naturwissenschaftler und Ingenieure in der BRD e.V. - The Korean Scientists and Engineers Association in the FRG)