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BattFutur – Young Investigator Groups in Battery Research (BMBF Programme)

  1. Programme goal. BattFutur strengthens excellent early-career researchers in battery technologies, qualifying them for leadership in academia or industry and accelerating transfer into an EU-competitive, circular battery value chain. Projects may be application-oriented basic research with clear industrial relevance or scaling research up to TRL 8 (especially with ties to FFB Münster and German pilot lines).

What is funded. Single-group projects at German universities or non-university research institutes that address materials, processes, production, recycling, digitisation/scaling, or promising next-gen battery tech. Funding can include personnel (group lead, postdoc, up to three PhD candidates, one technician), consumables, travel (incl. international stays), limited equipment in justified cases, and measures for science communication. Extra allocations are possible: up to €250,000 for scaling at FFB/pilot lines (material needs) and up to €40,000 for pre-spin-off support after a positive mid-term review.

Who can apply. Host institutions in Germany (universities / non-university research organisations). The grant is person-bound to the junior group leader. Companies are not eligible as applicants (they may act as industry patrons/advisors).

Key eligibility conditions (high-importance):

  • PhD completed; ideally ~2 years postdoc; usually ≤5 years since PhD (documented exceptions for childcare/caregiving).

  • Proven ability for independent research and group leadership; international research experience.

  • Preferably not hosted at the PhD institution (needs strong justification otherwise).

  • Mandatory: letter from host institution guaranteeing space/support; mandatory: letter of intent from at least one industry patron (advisory role; demonstrates application relevance).

  • Results must be used in Germany/EWR/Switzerland; collaborations encouraged; Open Access expected.

  • All proposal documents in German; foreign applicants may submit in English plus a German summary.

  • Application via easy-Online; two-stage procedure (sketch → full proposal upon invitation).

Deadlines / submission: Two-stage with multiple cut-offs for project short proposals: 15 Nov 2025, 15 Nov 2026, .... (electronic submission via easy-Online). Programme valid until 31 Dec 2034.

Expected Outcome

  • Build a technologically sovereign, competitive and sustainable battery value chain in Germany and Europe (supports the BMBF Battery Research Umbrella Concept).

  • Improve career prospects of excellent young scientists in battery R&D, including non-academic paths and entrepreneurship (founding spin-offs).

  • Act as innovation drivers for products, processes and services, strengthening Germany’s research & technology base and accelerating industry transfer.

  • Foster internationalisation via cooperation and mobility, attract returnees and foreign talent to Germany.

Scope

  • Project type: Single junior research groups at German research organisations; application-oriented research with industrial relevance or scaling research towards higher TRL (up to 8).

  • Thematic fields (aligned with Battery Research Umbrella Concept, Action Fields 1–4):
    a) Materials & production process research;
    b) Scaling & digitalisation;
    c) Resource-efficient circular battery cycles (incl. recycling);
    d) Promising future technology variants (incl. alternatives to Li-ion).

  • Application areas: e-mobility, stationary systems, and other industrial uses.

  • Transfer instruments: industry patronage or advisory boards; proximity to FFB Münster/pilot lines encouraged.

  • Exclusions: purely theoretical/desk studies, non-innovative work, projects not beyond state of the art, pure basic research without application pathway are excluded from funding

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