With the topping-off ceremony on July 13, 2026, the Fraunhofer Institute for Battery Cell Research and Production (FFB) has entered the next phase of construction for the FFB Fab. This is a visible milestone in the development of the second phase of the battery research facility in Münster.
The approximately 39,000-square-meter site will house more than 20,000 square meters of production space. Facilities are being built that will scale up battery cell production to the gigawatt level. The project is shifting from a pilot production phase to research under larger-scale production conditions.
PreFab Has Been in Operation Since 2024
The first construction phase, the FFB PreFab, began operating in early 2024.
According to the facility, more than 140 scientists are presently working there. This digitized research factory simulates the production process, from incoming materials to formed battery cells. It enables laboratory samples, initial prototypes, and small-batch production on a pilot line.
The new FFB Fab is intended to complement this infrastructure. Companies and research institutions will be able to test near-series processes, cell concepts, and plant technology under larger-scale production conditions.
One Billion Euros Allocated for Entire Site
The federal government and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia are jointly providing approximately one billion euros for the project. Of this amount, the federal government is funding research facilities and projects with up to 750 million euros. The state is investing approximately 320 million euros in land and new buildings.
Fraunhofer is carrying out the project in collaboration with the University of Münster, RWTH Aachen University, and the Jülich Research Center. The site covers a total area of approximately 56,000 square meters and will integrate laboratory, pilot, and large-scale production research. These facilities will enable research on round cells, prismatic cells, and pouch cells.
Source:
https://www.ffb.fraunhofer.de/en/press/news/Kickoff_for_the_Big_FFB_Fab.html
