How a Horizon Europe project improved an excellence research centre for next-generation batteries at Tomas Bata University (TBU) in Zlín.

In the race toward a climate-neutral Europe, affordable, sustainable and high-performance batteries are at the heart of Europe’s green transition. Yet while Europe hosts world-class research institutions, not every region has equal access to expertise and infrastructure. Leading efforts to close this gap is the EU-funded TwinVECTOR project (Twinning for development of world-class next-generation batteries), a Horizon Europe initiative dedicated to building a strong European network for next-generation battery innovation.

Launched in November 2022, TwinVECTOR, a consortium of five partners across four countries, with support from leading European partners, strengthened TBU’s battery research into a hub where multidisciplinary teams can collaborate on developing battery energy storage technologies that are not only more powerful but also more sustainable over their entire life cycle.

Meeting Europe’s growing battery demand

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), batteries are expected to account for 90% of the sixfold increase in global energy storage capacity by 2030. This trend is exemplified by the fact that in 2023, battery storage deployment in the power sector more than doubled year-on-year, making it the fastest-growing commercially available energy technology. This rapid growth is also reflected in the electric vehicle industry, where global battery cell manufacturing capacity rose by nearly 30% in 2024.

To keep pace, EU regulations require batteries that deliver high performance while being cost-efficient, durable, safe, reusable and produced with minimal environmental and social impacts. The TwinVECTOR directly contributed to these goals by emphasising the development of next-generation battery sustainable design, energy business strategies and sustainability evaluations, backed by an enhanced research and administration unit.

TwinVECTOR’s vision went beyond individual materials or devices. It focused on system-level understanding of battery technologies through the lenses of sustainability, economics and life cycle thinking. By transferring cutting-edge knowledge from partner institutions, the project enabled TBU to adopt world-class expertise in material development, life cycle assessment and sustainability metrics, system-level knowledge in energy storage, and EU research funding training and project management. This holistic approach allowed researchers to assess not only how well a battery performs—but also how responsibly it can be produced, used and recycled within Europe’s energy transition.

Networking for innovation

At the core of TwinVECTOR was the ambition to transform Tomas Bata University’s excellence research centre into an international collaboration platform. The consortium brought together outstanding partners who pooled their expertise to accelerate innovation across the entire battery value chain:

• VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland contributed as a leader in battery assembly and prototyping
• Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in Germany provided knowledge of life cycle assessment
• Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT) offered system-level knowledge of techno-economic modelling and assessments
• Bavarian Research Alliance (BayFOR) played a key role in organising matchmaking events and improving TBU project management skills.

Networking within this partnership extended beyond research. Together, the consortium developed new materials, methodologies, and modelling approaches, while enabling TBU’s researchers and administrative staff to strengthen their competencies in proposal writing, project management and advanced analytical tools, such as techno-economic analysis and social life cycle assessment. A series of joint workshops, webinars, staff exchanges, mentoring and training events enabled researchers and administrators at TBU to enhance their competencies.

Building long-term capacity

By the end of 2025, TwinVECTOR had laid the foundation for an improved excellence research centre at Tomas Bata University, linking Central Europe to the continent’s broader innovation ecosystem. TwinVECTOR was more than a single project—it became a foundation for long-term cooperation. By connecting Czech researchers with Europe’s top institutions, the project increased the visibility of TBU, supported the EU’s widening participation policy and strengthened Europe’s overall competitiveness in battery research. Beyond its three-year duration, the project aims to establish durable partnerships and pave the way for new EU research initiatives.

To achieve these goals, the project combines two complementary dimensions:

Research and development: innovating safer batteries and sustainable design

TwinVECTOR advanced research on the safety and reliability of lithium-based batteries. The research team at Tomas Bata University (TBU) developed a modified solid polymer electrolyte reinforced with bacterial cellulose (BC)—a natural, renewable material that improves both battery stability and safety. BC can be produced sustainably from plant-based sources such as apple juice and shows strong potential for renewable energy storage applications. Laboratory tests confirmed enhanced operational reliability up to 4.1 V.

In parallel, the project assessed the environmental footprint of the new electrolyte through life cycle assessment (LCA), evaluating energy consumption, carbon footprint, and techno-economic parameters, including prospects for future scalability. These efforts strengthened TBU’s long-term capacity and ensured the university’s ability to continue conducting advanced battery research beyond the project’s lifetime.

Capacity building and networking: building knowledge through European collaboration

Beyond research, TwinVECTOR evolved into a hub for networking, capacity building and European collaboration. A series of targeted workshops, mentoring sessions, webinars and training programmes improved the knowledge and skills of academic and administrative staff. Networking fostered further collaboration through conferences, public events, and staff exchanges, creating opportunities for both early-career researchers and administrative staff.

• BayFOR organised high-impact matchmaking and training events, such as the Enterprise Europe Network Battery & Hydrogen Brokerage Event and a Bavarian Roadshow that connected TBU with leading R&D centres at TZE Landshut, TUM, TH Ingolstadt and Baybatt and enhanced TBU’s project management capacity.
• VTT provided hands-on laboratory exchanges and one-to-one mentoring, including pouch-cell assembly training and joint electrochemical testing, significantly enhancing TBU’s laboratory expertise.
• KIT strengthened cooperation through regular Jour Fixe research sessions and LCA workshops, and initiated the Sustainability Theatre, an interactive format that bridges science, innovation and society.
• AIT led techno-economic modelling workshops and researcher exchanges, developed a shared training roadmap, and delivered a Summer School focused on techno-economics and business modelling of energy storage technologies.

Looking ahead

As the project draws to an end, TwinVECTOR’s legacy continues to grow. The foundations laid through collaboration, training, and knowledge transfer have positioned Tomas Bata University in Zlín as a capable and connected player within Europe’s battery research landscape. The established partnerships with VTT, KIT, AIT and BayFOR are expected to evolve into new Horizon Europe initiatives, expanding research into sustainable battery materials, life cycle analysis and energy system integration. The knowledge, skills and networks developed through the project will continue to strengthen Europe’s collective ability to design cleaner, more efficient and more circular energy storage technologies.

Final thoughts

TwinVECTOR illustrates how knowledge sharing and cooperation can unite institutions around a common vision for sustainable battery innovation.

By combining advanced science with strong institutional cooperation, TwinVECTOR has strengthened the foundation for cleaner, safer and more sustainable battery technologies. Its legacy will continue to drive innovation, partnerships and Europe’s transition toward a circular energy future.

For further information, visit www.twinvector.eu

Project facts

• Project title: TwinVECTOR – TWINNING FOR DEVELOPMENT OF WORLD-CLASS NEXT GENERATION BATTERIES
• Programme: Horizon Europe – Widening participation and spreading excellence
• Funding: €1.3 million (Horizon Europe, Twinning scheme)
• Grant agreement: No. 101078935
• Duration: 1 November 2022 – 31 October 2025
• Coordinator: Tomas Bata University in Zlín (Czech Republic)
• Partners: AIT (Austria), KIT (Germany), VTT (Finland), BayFOR (Germany)

Project summary

TwinVECTOR is an EU-funded initiative designed to strengthen research excellence and innovation capacity in next-generation battery technologies. Its main goal is to transform Tomas Bata University in Zlín into a recognised European battery research centre capable of addressing the sustainability, economic and life cycle challenges of modern energy storage systems. Through knowledge transfer, joint research and strategic training, TwinVECTOR empowers researchers to adopt advanced analytical tools and engage more actively in Europe’s R&I ecosystem.

Project partners

The TwinVECTOR project is coordinated by Tomas Bata University in Zlín (Czech Republic) and brought together four leading European institutions. Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT, Austria) contributed mainly with expertise in energy storage systems and technology integration. Bavarian Research Alliance (BayFOR, Germany) supported the project with strategic communication, project management, and EU funding alignment, ensuring the project’s visibility and long-term impact. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT, Germany) offered world-leading competence in life cycle assessment. Finally, the Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT, Finland) strengthened the materials and battery science dimension with extensive experience in prototyping and pilot-scale testing. Together, the partners created a robust network driving research excellence across the European battery value chain.

Project lead profile

Tomas Bata University in Zlín (Czech Republic) combines applied research, education and industrial cooperation in the heart of Central Europe. With its Faculty of Management and Economics and Centre of Polymer Systems, the university is expanding its competence in materials engineering, energy systems and process management. As the project coordinator, TBU acts as the focal point for building new partnerships and developing the infrastructure needed to advance sustainable battery research.

Project contacts

Viera Pechancová, PhD, Project Coordinator
Email: pechancova@utb.cz
Web: www.twinvector.eu

Funding

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme (Grant agreement No. 101078935).

Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Research Executive Agency (REA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.