The Batteries Event is one of the leading international gatherings for the battery industry. From 16 to 18 November 2026, the event in Lyon will bring together international experts, OEMs, suppliers, industry partners and research institutions to discuss the latest developments in batteries, electrification and energy storage.
The AIT Austrian Institute of Technology will be represented at the Batteries Event 2026 and will present its current research priorities for high-performance, safe, long-lasting and sustainable batteries. This year’s focus will include, amongst other things, innovative methods of interfacial analysis as well as sensor technology for determining the state of the battery.
Sustainable batteries as a key technology
Batteries are a key technology for climate-friendly mobility, renewable energy systems and an increasingly electrified industry. AIT is therefore working on battery concepts that meet the growing demands in terms of technical performance, cost, service life, safety and sustainability.
A key objective is to reduce the use of critical raw materials, develop more environmentally friendly manufacturing processes and focus more closely on the entire life cycle of batteries – from the materials used, through production and use, to reuse and recycling.
From new materials to pilot production
In order to continue to meet growing demands in the future, AIT has been conducting research into new battery materials and alternative cell technologies for many years. These include, amongst others, solid-state electrolyte systems, sodium-ion and magnesium-ion technologies, as well as other battery concepts that do not rely on critical raw materials. These research activities are making a significant contribution to making batteries safer, more cost-effective and less reliant on critical raw materials.
Whether and to what extent these technologies will be used in the future depends largely on their scalability. That is why AIT has been manufacturing battery cells on an industry-relevant pilot scale since 2019. The capabilities of this infrastructure were demonstrated, amongst other things, in the SENSE project: there, cells manufactured at AIT achieved a volumetric energy density of 750 Wh L⁻¹.
Smart Cells and integrated sensor technology
Another key area for the future is so-called ‘smart cells’: battery cells and modules equipped with sensors that provide information about their current state. Such data can be used to further improve battery management, safety, service life and performance.
This integrated sensor technology is also particularly relevant for new cell and structural designs. As batteries become more deeply integrated into technical systems – such as vehicle or aircraft structures – precise condition monitoring, safety assessment and data-driven diagnostics become even more important.
Test, understand, optimise
In addition to materials and process development, the AIT possesses extensive expertise in the characterisation, testing and evaluation of batteries. This includes battery testing, electrochemical analyses, ageing studies, safety assessments and the development of data-driven methods for diagnosis and condition assessment.
This combination of materials expertise, process know-how, testing infrastructure and systems understanding makes AIT a key research partner for industry and public sector clients. The aim is to bring battery technologies into practical use more quickly, sustainably and reliably.
AIT at the Batteries Event 2026
“Our extensive laboratory infrastructure at AIT enables us to develop, characterise, manufacture, test and validate battery technologies from the laboratory right through to the end product – from new materials and cell production to testing, diagnostics and system integration. This makes us a key partner for industry when it comes to bringing innovative battery concepts to market more quickly. We look forward to engaging in discussions with companies, research partners and end-users at the Batteries Event and warmly invite all interested parties to visit us at the AIT stand F12”, says Katja Fröhlich, Head of the Competence Unit Battery Technologies at the AIT Austrian Institute of Technology.
The AIT team on site: Katja Fröhlich, Gregor Glanz and Sneha Malunavar.
Batteries Event 2026