German Minister of Research Anja Karliczek pays visit to MEET Battery Research Center
On Wednesday, 19 December, the German Minister of Education and Research, Anja Karliczek, paid visits to the MEET Battery Research Center at the University of Münster and to the Helmholtz-Institute in Münster (HI MS), a branch of the Forschungszentrum Jülich. During her visit, the Minister was informed of current projects being undertaken at both locations, and she also held discussions on future developments in the field of knowledge transfer with representatives of the two institutes, as well as with the Ministry of Culture and Science of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia and the Rectorate of Münster University.
“The battery cell is the key to electromobility and is an important component in the use of renewable energies,” said Anja Karliczek during her visit. “It makes innovations possible for countless applications such as electric vehicles, high-performance tools or medical technology. That is why, here in Germany, we are taking the right steps so that we are involved all along the value chain. To this end, it is important that battery research, which is already in a strong position, should work closely together with business, so that ideas can be put into practice faster.”
The Rector of the University of Münster, Prof. Johannes Wessels, added, “The results of scientific research benefit our society. The transfer of knowledge and technologies is an essential element in research.” Prof. Harald Bolt, a member of the Management Board of the Forschungszentrum Jülich, said, “We pursue scientific questions in particular when we can foresee that the results will have a real added value for society. In this respect, battery research has a lot to offer. This is why we consider close cooperation with industry to be of the utmost importance.”
The battery researchers in Münster are already aware of just how important knowledge transfer and cooperation are. Prof. Martin Winter is the Director of both institutes – MEET and HI IMS – and, as he explains, “We live from cooperation. Sometimes between each other, because MEET and HI MS complement each other perfectly in the research they are each pursuing – but also cooperation with academic and industrial partners in Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany and all over the world.”
