VDMA Battery Production is holding this year’s Annual Conference on September 22 and 23, 2026, at Fraunhofer IKTS in Dresden. The hosts are the Fraunhofer institute, Europe’s largest research institute for high-performance ceramics, and ULT AG, a provider of air treatment systems for clean production environments. The event focuses on technology and market topics related to battery production as well as personal exchange within the industry.
Program
The conference will be opened by Prof. Alexander Michaelis (Institute Director, Fraunhofer IKTS), Stephan Eirich (Chairman of the Board of VDMA Battery Production and President of the Eirich Group) and Dr. Sarah Michaelis (Head of VDMA Battery Production). Dr. Mareike Partsch (Fraunhofer IKTS) and Dr. Stefan Jakschik (CEO of ULT AG) will kick off the program with their talk “Learning by Doing – Europe’s Way to Battery Production”. Dr. Janka Oertel of the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR) will then examine China’s industrial policy, between export controls, subsidies and overcapacities, as a stress test for Europe’s battery resilience. On day two, Dr. Franz Geyer will present BMW’s perspective on battery recycling as a key to success for Europe, followed by Dr. Linus Fröbose (CTO of Skeleton Technologies) on scaling mass production of high-performance storage systems for AI data centers and grid buffering in Germany.
Interactive concept
New this year is the interactive concept: instead of traditional guided tours, seven technology market stands at the Fraunhofer BatteryCampus Dresden will invite participants to exchange ideas. Topics range from cutting technology, dry room concepts, dry coating and thin-film technologies to recycling, new cell technologies, robotics and automation. Alongside the Fraunhofer institutes, participating companies include Dürr, Eirich, GROB-WERKE, KUKA, Dienes, Brückner Maschinenbau and MANUGY. Two discussion marketplaces will also address the future of European battery manufacturing between global competition and sovereignty, featuring among others the industry association RECHARGE.
Prices
Participation costs 320 euros plus VAT for members of VDMA and FVA as well as research institutes, while non-members pay 420 euros plus VAT. Registration is open until August 23, 2026, via VDMA.
Registration
The registration is open via this link.
