From the Research Lab to Everyday Work Life

Authors: Dr. Laura Kuhlmann, Stefanie Klement

July 24, 2026

Sometimes the future begins very quietly—in a lab, with an idea for a new material, or in an experimental setup that initially seems relevant only to a small circle of researchers. But turning insights into practical applications requires more than just good research. It requires ways to share knowledge—ways that turn theory into practice.

This is precisely what battery technology is all about. In Bavaria, it has long been more than just a field of research. It has become a key industry, with growing significance for innovation, value creation, and competitiveness. At the same time, the field is evolving at a rapid pace. New materials are emerging, production methods are changing, and recycling processes are being reimagined. For companies, this means one thing above all: they must be able to quickly absorb knowledge, contextualize it, and apply it to their own work.
Yet this is precisely where the challenge lies. Traditional training pathways are important, but they often cannot meet the urgent need for up-to-date expertise quickly enough. This creates a gap between scientific progress and the realities of business operations. The crucial question, therefore, is:

How does knowledge reach the places where it can make a difference?

One answer is continuing education. It can serve as a direct channel between research and application. There, professionals meet the people who develop new technologies. There, scientific findings are not only explained but also placed in a context that is relevant to businesses. Knowledge transfer thus takes on a human face. It becomes concrete, practical, and immediately tangible.

The WiNBat project at the Bavarian Center for Battery Technology (BayBatt) at the University of Bayreuth demonstrates how such a transfer can succeed. With more than 120 employees across numerous research groups, the center brings together comprehensive research expertise in the field of battery technology. Here, researchers are addressing questions that are central to the future of sustainable energy storage. With WiNBat, these findings are not confined to the academic realm. They are translated into a part-time continuing education program specifically targeted at professionals from Bavarian small and medium-sized enterprises.
The program is structured into modules covering the chemical fundamentals of batteries, the fundamentals of battery technology, production and value creation, battery system technology, and new materials and technologies. The content is drawn directly from BayBatt’s research environment and is taught in a certificate course. In terms of teaching methods, WiNBat relies on innovative and varied approaches: simulations and interactive formats. Digital and virtual learning elements make complex content clear and practical. Particular emphasis is placed on collaboration: discussions with other participants and experts, as well as the targeted application of what is learned to participants’ own workplace practices, are central to the program. In addition, networking events provide opportunities for direct exchange between academia and industry.

WiNBat is funded by the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) and runs from December 2025 to November 2028. The first round of continuing education begins in September 2026.

WiNBat thus complements the existing continuing education network in Bavaria, which also includes the B³ Battery Education Network Bavaria project. While WiNBat brings scientific findings directly from the university to companies and is specifically aimed at academics working in industry, B³ supports companies in identifying and further developing suitable training programs. Technological trends are systematically monitored, industry needs are assessed, and these are translated into tailored formats in collaboration with educational providers and research institutions.
It is precisely in this interplay that the role knowledge transfer must play today becomes clear. Ideas must not remain where they originate; they must move forward. Into companies, into production processes, into new products, and into concrete solutions for the future. Continuing education thus becomes the connecting element between science and industry. And it becomes a crucial building block for Bavaria’s capacity for innovation.

Interested in participating?
The first continuing education session begins in September 2026; registration is now open. Further information about the program and registration can be found here:#

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