The Future Battery Forum with the founding partners VARTA, Wacker Neuson Group and Akasol, saw a successful virtual premiere. The conference was planned for 800 participants; in the end, the event attracted 2,100 registrations. The great response to the forum shows that the industry is highly innovative and there was a demand for a platform for mutual exchange and business opportunities.

55 top-class speeches from technology companies and suppliers on the topic of “Battery Technologies 2025: Expanding Capacities Jointly"" were on the agenda and over 40 virtual exhibitors  attended the event on 10^th and 11^th December. Across industries, more than 2,100 participants exchanged views on the future of battery technologies: What drives technological change? How can be achieved a high market share of battery-powered solutions in Europe? The focus of the event was on learning from each other's experiences. The spectrum of participants ranged from users to technology providers, in the form of battery system and cell manufacturers, their suppliers, service providers and representatives from science and research.

VARTA was part of the programme with two highlight keynotes: Rainer Hald, Chief Technology Officer at VARTA, gave the opening keynote on the topic of batteries as the strategic component for the future of Europe. Gordon Clements, General Manager Solutions at VARTA, closed the two-day event and gave an outlook for market and technology development at European cell and battery system manufacturers and showed how VARTA intends to produce customised energy solutions for a wide range of different device manufacturers in the future. Other highlight presentations came from AUDI, Panasonic Industry Europe and Dürr.

The management conference has set out to bring together the entire value creation system around the future topic of battery technologies in order to shape the future together.

The second Future Battery Forum will take place on 22^nd and 23^rd November 2021 in Berlin.

About VARTA AG

VARTA AG produces and markets a comprehensive battery portfolio, ranging from microbatteries, household batteries, energy storage systems to customer-specific battery solutions for a wide range of applications, and, as a technology leader, sets industry standards in key areas. As the parent company of the Group, it operates in the business segments “Microbatteries & Solutions” and “Household Batteries”.

The “Microbatteries & Solutions” segment focuses on the OEM business for microbatteries as well as on the lithium-ion battery pack business. Through intensive research and development, VARTA sets global standards in the microbattery sector and is a recognized innovation leader in the important growth markets of lithium-ion technology and primary hearing aid batteries. The “Household Batteries” segment comprises the battery business for end customers, including household batteries, rechargeable batteries, chargers, portable power (power banks) and lights as well as energy storage devices. The VARTA AG Group currently employs almost 4,000 people. With five production and manufacturing facilities in Europe and Asia, and distribution centers in Asia, Europe and the USA, VARTA AG’s operating subsidiaries are currently active in over 75 countries worldwide.