What if batteries could be safer, last longer, and accelerate the shift to clean energy? At VUB’s Battery Innovation Centre (BIC), cutting-edge research is turning this vision into reality. By tackling key challenges in battery performance, manufacturing, and sustainability, BIC is helping power the global transition to electric mobility and smart energy systems.
The challenge: Batteries must do more, and last longer
The transition to clean energy depends on advanced batteries, but today’s technologies face critical limitations. Batteries must remain safe and reliable over many years, while manufacturers must rapidly adapt to new generations of materials and designs.
Yet predicting how batteries age or perform under stress remains difficult. Limited data and insufficient modelling tools slow down innovation, increase costs, and hinder large-scale adoption of electric vehicles and energy storage systems.
The solution: From chemistry to real-world performance
VUB’s Battery Innovation Centre (BIC), part of the MOBI research group, offers a unique, end-to-end approach to battery innovation — covering the full lifecycle from material development to system management.
The centre combines two core strengths. First, it advances next-generation battery manufacturing through specialised facilities, including a state-of-the-art dry room, enabling the development of scalable production processes for technologies such as solid-state and beyond lithium-ion batteries. At the same time, BIC pioneers direct recycling methods to recover and reuse valuable materials within the battery value chain.
Second, BIC uses advanced testing and characterisation tools to analyse battery degradation in detail. This data feeds into sophisticated models and smart management systems that can accurately predict battery ageing, optimise performance, and enhance safety in real-world conditions.
The impact: Accelerating Europe’s energy transition
BIC’s expertise is directly supporting Europe’s clean energy ambitions. Through major EU-funded projects such as BATMACHINE, AM4BAT and PHOENIX, the centre contributes to building a sustainable and competitive battery value chain — reducing reliance on critical raw materials and advancing recycling technologies.
Furthermore, BIC's advanced modelling and testing capabilities also play a key role in EU-funded projects like NEMO, THOR and REBORN, helping optimise electric vehicle performance, extend battery lifespan, and enable second-life applications.
Beyond research, BIC collaborates closely with industry, providing infrastructure for testing, simulation, and prototyping. In doing so, it acts as a catalyst for innovation, helping bring safer, more efficient, and more sustainable battery solutions to market.
From lab to lifecycle, BIC is powering a smarter and more sustainable energy future.
