FBK-SE | The Centre for Sustainable Energy | Bruno Kessler Foundation

What FBK-SE | The Centre for Sustainable Energy | Bruno Kessler Foundation does

FBK-SE is the Centre for Sustainable Energy within Fondazione Bruno Kessler, an Italian non-profit research foundation headquartered in Povo (Trento) with a secondary site in Rovereto. The center operates across four research focus areas—Hydrogen, Batteries and Electrification Technologies (BET), Advanced Materials, and Sustainability and Decarbonisation—delivering services that span advanced coating technologies, chemical and physical characterization, system design and prototyping, industrial-scale validation and testing, decarbonization process optimization, and management/technical consultancy. Its core technical capabilities include plasma-assisted material synthesis (PVD, PECVD, ALD, PEALD), redox flow and hybrid battery development, metal hydride hydrogen compression (30–900 bar), solid oxide electrolysis (rSOC), and multiscale-multiphysics modeling using OpenFOAM, OpenModelica, pyBaMM, and pyPSA.

The center operates as a publicly funded research institution, with revenue derived almost entirely from European programs (Horizon Europe, Clean Hydrogen Partnership, IPCEI EuBatIn €6.515M, IPCEI Hy2Tech €19.995M), Italian national programs (PNRR), and regional funding from the Autonomous Province of Trento. Industrial revenue comes through R&D consultancy and validation services, with named engagements including AST (Acciaieria Speciale Terni) for a 4.2 MW solid oxide electrolyzer demonstration (SYRIUS project) and battery development work with European OEMs via IPCEI EuBatIn. Distribution occurs through European research consortia (BEPA, Batteries Europe, BRIDGE, Hydrogen Valleys) and regional collaboration with Trentino Sviluppo, rather than commercial channels. The organization is certified to ISO 9001:2015 and ISO/IEC 27001:2022 and is constructing a €50M Hydrogen Hub in Rovereto (foundation stone June 2026) to scale industrial validation capacity.

Name

FBK-SE | The Centre for Sustainable Energy | Bruno Kessler Foundation

Legal name

Fondazione Bruno Kessler

Website

https://energy.fbk.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

FBK-SE is the Centre for Sustainable Energy within the non-profit Fondazione Bruno Kessler in Trento, Italy. It conducts applied research and industrial-scale validation in hydrogen technologies, advanced batteries, energy materials, and decarbonization, serving European industry, public authorities, and research consortia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Clean Energy Research and Development

NAICS

Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)

akta.pro primary industry

Energy Storage Components for Renewables Manufacturing (BESS Packs, PCS, Thermal Management) (EUAMAHAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Performance Testing & Acceptance/Condition Assessments (Baseline, Post-Repair) (EUAEAKAK)

Keywords

• Clean energy research
• Hydrogen technology
• Battery development
• Advanced materials
• Decarbonisation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Povo (Trento)

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. European Research Funding: FBK-SE operates primarily as a publicly funded research institution receiving grants from European programs including Horizon Europe, Clean Hydrogen Partnership, LIFE Programme, and IPCEI funding for battery and hydrogen technologies.
2. National Research Funding: Funding from Italian national programs including PNRR (Piano Nazionale di Ripresa e Resilienza) and provincial funding from the Autonomous Province of Trento.
3. Industrial Consultancy and R&D Services: The center offers research and development services to industrial partners including technology validation, testing, prototyping, and technical consultancy for enterprises and institutions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

FBK Center for Sustainable Energy is a non-profit research institute delivering scientific research, technology development, and industrial-scale validation services focused on hydrogen, advanced batteries, advanced materials, and decarbonisation. It offers a portfolio of six services (coating technologies, chemical/physical characterization, system design and prototyping, industrial-scale validation and testing, decarbonisation optimisation, and management/technical consultancy) anchored by four research units: Hydrogen Technologies, Batteries & Electrification (BET), Advanced Materials, and Sustainability & Decarbonisation.

Product overview

FBK's Center for Sustainable Energy is a research institute offering a portfolio of specialized research services and technological expertise focused on sustainable energy transition. The center operates through four interconnected research focus areas: Hydrogen Research and Technologies, Batteries and Electrification Technologies (BET), Advanced Materials Research, and Sustainability and Decarbonisation. Supporting these research areas, the center provides six specialized services: Advanced customized coating technologies, Chemical and physical characterization, System design and prototyping, Validation and testing at industrial scale, Optimisation of decarbonisation processes, and Management and Technical Consultancy. The center integrates these capabilities through a one-stop-shop approach, combining two value chains that start from advanced materials research and arrive at implementation in large systems and demonstration projects.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• BET Unit (Battery and Electrification Technologies): Research unit focused on battery technologies, smart energy management systems, and integration of renewable energy storage in power grids and mobility applications
• HyRES Unit (Hydrogen Technologies and Resilient Energy Systems)

Products and services

• Advanced customized coating technologies Specialized coating technologies for industrial and research applications, supporting material development and surface engineering for energy technologies.
• Chemical and physical characterization Laboratory services for comprehensive material analysis including morphological, thermal, mechanical, and chemical property testing for energy materials and components.
• System design and prototyping Engineering services for designing and developing components and new solutions for hydrogen and battery systems.
• Validation and testing at industrial scale Prototype construction, technology validation and testing services in relevant industrial conditions for hydrogen, batteries, and energy systems.
• Optimisation of decarbonisation processes Services for optimizing decarbonization processes through feasibility studies, techno-economic analysis, and future scenario development.
• Management and Technical Consultancy Consultancy services supporting industrial and institutional partners in project development, management, and clean energy transition strategies.
• Hydrogen Research and Technologies Research covering hydrogen production (electrolysis, cracking, reforming), logistics and storage (ammonia, gas grid, solid-state, underground), and end uses (fuel cells, railway, heavy-duty vehicles, HRS, hard-to-abate sectors).
• Batteries and Electrification Technologies (BET) Research unit developing battery technologies and smart energy management systems, including flow batteries, Li-ion, Na-ion, solid-state batteries, and hybrid energy storage systems for stationary, mobility, and power grid applications.
• Advanced Materials Research Research group developing innovative nanostructured materials using low pressure plasma processes, plasma-assisted deposition techniques (PECVD, PVD), surface engineering, and atomic layer deposition (ALD) for energy applications.
• Sustainability and Decarbonisation Research and innovation driving sustainability throughout the energy sector, including energy and climate planning, electric grid and district heating, renewable energy communities, building renovation, and ESG integration.

Quantifiable outcome

• €50 million Hydrogen Hub investment creating advanced facilities for hydrogen and battery research and industrial validation
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• European Commission (IPCEI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 June 2026FBK-SE participates in Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI) for battery innovation (EuBatIn) and hydrogen technologies (Hy2Tech), receiving European Commission approval and funding through the Italian Ministry for Business and Made in Italy (MIMIT).
• Trentino SviluppocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional development agency providing the industrial site for Hydrogen Hub construction in Rovereto and coordinating innovation ecosystem connections between research and business community.
• HyCentA Research GmbH (Austria)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustria-based research center coordinating HyCO2 project for upscaling metal hydride compressor technology. FBK leads application studies, CFD modeling, and dynamic system development within this €4.99M EU-funded project.
• WIVA P&G (Austria)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustrian hydrogen initiative coordinating HI2 Valley project (€588M total, €19.99M EU contribution) establishing renewable hydrogen economy across Upper Austria, Styria, and Carinthia. FBK leads WP10 on scaling up and replication.
• BEPA (Batteries European Partnership Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean technology partnership coordinating battery research across the EU. FBK actively participates in BEPA activities and technical working groups.
• Batteries EuropecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU technology platform bringing together stakeholders to define and implement battery research priorities. FBK involved in sectorial association activities.
• BRIDGE InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean Commission initiative connecting energy, transport, and ICT research programs. FBK participates in BRIDGE activities related to energy storage and hydrogen.
• University of Trento (UniTN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner collaborating on TESSLabs infrastructure including Lab Ottica (Optics) and Lab Infrastrutture (Infrastructure). Joint supervision of PhD students and shared laboratory facilities at Progetto Manifattura.
• Clean Hydrogen PartnershipflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerEU public-private partnership supporting hydrogen research. FBK participates in multiple projects (AMON, ORION, HERMES, REMEDHYS, NHYRA, THOTH2, CLEANER, SYRIUS) under Clean Hydrogen JU funding programs.
• EUCORE Consulting (Italy)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian consultancy coordinating SYRIUS project integrating 4.2 MW solid oxide electrolyzer into AST steel manufacturing plant. FBK contributes to industrial decarbonization research.
• University of Minho (Portugal)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortuguese university hosting OpenFOAM Workshop where FBK researchers present CFD modeling work. Collaborative academic relationship for computational methods exchange.
• ENEA (Italy)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian national agency for new technologies, energy and sustainable economic development. ENEA coordinates NEST project spoke on Clean Hydrogen where FBK contributes hydrogen production and power generation expertise.
• Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian National Research Council coordinating NEST project spoke on Energy Sustainable Advanced Materials where FBK manages materials characterization and testing activities.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FBK_research
• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLY3KsH4gpiNq64bIDjNhpsehInuhw8JBu
• Facebookfacebook.com/FutureBuiltonKnowledge
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fbk-se-the-centre-for-sustainable-energy
• Instagraminstagram.com/fbkresearch

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about FBK-SE | The Centre for Sustainable Energy | Bruno Kessler Foundation