Fraunhofer ZESS strengthens technology transfer and sustainable energy storage research in Germany
On 5 October 2026, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft officially opened the new Fraunhofer Centre for Energy Storage and Systems (ZESS) building in Braunschweig with a ceremony. The German federal government and the state of Niedersachsen have invested around 49.85 million euros in the research facility. Spanning approximately 3,300 square metres, including around 1,750 square metres of laboratory space and a 450-square-metre drying room, the facility offers researchers state-of-the-art infrastructure for the development of next-generation solid-state batteries and innovative hydrogen technologies.
In his welcome address to the approximately 100 guests from the worlds of politics, business and science, Prof. Constantin Häfner, Executive Board Member for Research and Transfer at the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, emphasised the strategic importance of the new centre within the Fraunhofer research landscape: “High-performance battery and hydrogen technologies are crucial to the energy and mobility transition – and to the competitiveness of our industry. With Fraunhofer ZESS, we are turning inventions into industrial innovations, thereby strengthening value creation and technological sovereignty in Germany and Europe.”
Federal Minister for Research Dorothee Bär praised the centre as a key building block for Germany’s capacity for innovation: “The development of high-performance battery and hydrogen technologies will play a decisive role in determining how competitive and self-reliant Germany and Europe will be in the coming decades. With Fraunhofer ZESS, we are making a targeted investment in a research infrastructure that combines cutting-edge research with industrial implementation. This strengthens Germany’s international position in key technology sectors, entirely in line with our ‘High-Tech Agenda for Germany’.”
Niedersachsen’s Minister for Science, Falko Mohrs, also emphasised the strategic importance of the new centre: “In Niedersachsen, we are focusing specifically on future technologies that secure value creation, innovation and skilled jobs. The investment in Fraunhofer ZESS is an excellent example of this. The new site complements Niedersachsen’s battery and hydrogen ecosystem and creates the ideal conditions for translating research findings into industrial applications more quickly. In doing so, we are establishing excellent framework conditions for science, technology transfer and economic development.”
Prof. Anja Hesse, Head of the Department of Culture and Science for the City of Braunschweig, emphasised: “Fraunhofer ZESS exemplifies the innovative strength of the Braunschweig region, which ranks among Europe’s leading research regions. The new research building provides a significant boost to Braunschweig as a centre for science and innovation and sends a strong signal regarding the future viability of our region.”
Prof. Angela Ittel, President of Technische Universität Braunschweig, added: “With Fraunhofer ZESS, our internationally renowned battery research gains a strong partner on the path to industrial application. Together with our Battery LabFactory and the Centre for Circular Production of Next Batteries and Fuel Cells (CPC), we will drive forward resource-efficient technologies from which we here in the region and far beyond will benefit.”
Prof. Christoph Herrmann, Director of Fraunhofer IST and Spokesperson for Fraunhofer ZESS, also emphasised the close links with Technische Universität Braunschweig, within the Fraunhofer Society and with industry partners: “At Fraunhofer ZESS, we consider the entire process chain – from new materials and production technologies right through to sustainability and the circular economy. By pooling complementary expertise, we create the ideal conditions for the targeted further development of key technologies such as solid-state batteries and hydrogen technologies for industrial scaling and application.”
During a panel session, experts discussed the future prospects of battery and hydrogen technologies. They emphasised that scientific excellence across the entire value chain, speed in development and technology transfer, and consideration of economic and environmental conditions are key factors for success.
The combination of technological innovation and sustainability is one of the guiding principles at Fraunhofer ZESS. This applies not only to the research work, facilities and equipment, but also to the building itself. Guests were able to see this for themselves during the subsequent tour. The research building was constructed as a timber-hybrid structure with reduced use of concrete. Photovoltaic systems on the roof and façade, green roofs, an energy-efficient building design and flexible research spaces combine state-of-the-art research conditions with a holistic approach to sustainability. The open hall structure also allows for long-term adaptation to future research requirements, making the building a research infrastructure that is both future-proof and resource-efficient.
About Fraunhofer ZESS
At the Fraunhofer Centre for Energy Storage and Systems (ZESS) in Braunschweig, the Fraunhofer Institute for Thin Film and Surface Technology (IST), the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Applied Materials Research (IFAM) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems (IKTS) pool their expertise to develop sustainable, safe battery and hydrogen technologies. Fraunhofer ZESS is a centre of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, one of Germany’s leading organisations for application-oriented research.