Kompetenznetzwerk Lithium-Ionen-Batterien e. V. (KLiB)

What Kompetenznetzwerk Lithium-Ionen-Batterien e. V. (KLiB) does

Kompetenznetzwerk Lithium-Ionen-Batterien e. V. (KLiB) is a registered non-profit association (eingetragener Verein) founded on April 13, 2010, and headquartered in Berlin. It functions as an industry-wide competency network that bundles and connects more than 80 member companies and application-oriented research institutions across the entire lithium-ion battery value chain in the D-A-CH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland). Members span raw materials, materials, cell components, cell and battery manufacturing, applications, and recycling, and engage in pre-competitive collaboration on research and development rather than commercial product deployment.

KLiB's core offerings are service-oriented rather than product-based. They include the KLiB Member Network for cross-industry collaboration; quarterly Member Forums (the 55th is scheduled for June 2, 2026) and member-led working groups covering solid-state batteries, sodium-ion batteries, battery aging, safety, Industry 4.0, sustainability, and recycling; the BecoSearch database of the German battery ecosystem; the Batterieforum Deutschland public-facing congress and project database; the Beirat Batterieforschung Deutschland advisory board advising BMBF on battery research strategy; and coordination of BMBF-funded competence clusters (ExcellBattMat, FestBatt, ProZell, GreenBatt, BattNutzung). The organization also participates in the European LiPLANET pilot-line network and publishes joint position papers with VCI, VDMA, and ZVEI on battery industrial policy.

KLiB's business model is membership-funded. It generates revenue through tiered annual membership fees paid by companies, public institutions, and research facilities, scaled by employee count, plus a one-time admission fee. As a non-profit, KLiB is governed by a member-elected board (up to 12 members, currently chaired by Michael Ostermann, CEO of VARTA AG) and operates with a small secretariat of 8 staff. Its go-to-market is community-led: members are acquired via networking, member referrals, industry events, and visibility through the Batterieforum Deutschland and BecoSearch platforms. KLiB serves as the primary bridge between German and European battery industry players, applied research institutions, and the BMBF on research priorities, standardization, and funding allocation.

Name

Kompetenznetzwerk Lithium-Ionen-Batterien e. V. (KLiB)

Legal name

Kompetenznetzwerk Lithium-Ionen-Batterien e. V.

Website

https://klib-org.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Kompetenznetzwerk Lithium-Ionen-Batterien e. V. (KLiB) is a Berlin-based non-profit industry association, founded in 2010, that connects more than 80 companies and research institutions across the D-A-CH lithium-ion battery value chain, coordinating pre-competitive collaboration, BMBF-funded competence clusters, and policy engagement.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Berlin

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership fees: KLiB generates revenue through annual membership fees paid by companies, public institutions, and research facilities. Fees are structured as a tiered tariff based on organization type and employee count. A one-time admission fee is also charged. As a registered non-profit association (e.V.), KLiB operates primarily for the promotion of pre-competitive collaboration rather than profit generation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

KLiB is a registered non-profit association (eingetragener Verein) that operates an industry-wide competence network connecting more than 80 member companies and application-oriented research institutions across the entire lithium-ion battery value chain — from raw materials and materials, through cell components, cell and battery manufacturing, to application and recycling. The network facilitates pre-competitive research collaboration, coordinates BMBF-funded competence clusters, organizes quarterly member forums, runs the BecoSearch database of the German battery ecosystem, and operates the Batterieforum Deutschland public-facing platform and advisory board for BMBF.

Product overview

KLiB is a competency network association (eingetragener Verein) that provides a platform for pre-competitive collaboration among over 80 companies and research institutions along the entire lithium-ion battery value chain. The organization's offerings are service-oriented rather than product-based, encompassing the KLiB Member Network for industry collaboration, the BecoSearch Database for the German battery ecosystem, the Battery Forum Germany for public outreach, coordination of BMBF-funded research clusters (ExcellBattMat, FestBatt, ProZell, GreenBatt, BattNutzung), quarterly Member Forums, and participation in European networks like LiPLANET. The services collectively aim to strengthen Germany's position in battery technology development and manufacturing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• KLiB Member Network The primary competency network connecting more than 80 member companies and research institutions along the entire lithium-ion battery value chain, from raw materials and materials through cell components, cell and battery manufacturing, application, and recycling. Members engage in pre-competitive collaboration on research and development.
• BecoSearch Database A searchable database documenting the German battery ecosystem (Battery Ecosystem), providing information about companies, research institutions, and publicly funded projects across the lithium-ion battery value chain.
• Batterieforum Deutschland (Battery Forum Germany) Public-facing initiative that showcases activities along the battery value chain in Germany, connects stakeholders, explains rechargeable battery types, and includes a congress, project database, and battery encyclopedia.
• BMBF Competence Cluster Coordination (ExcellBattMat, FestBatt, ProZell, GreenBatt, BattNutzung) Coordination and industry-academia liaison support for BMBF-funded research initiatives covering high-energy battery materials (ExcellBattMat), solid-state batteries (FestBatt, started 2018), battery cell production (ProZell), recycling and lifecycle (GreenBatt), and battery system evaluation (BattNutzung).
• KLiB Member Forums (Mitgliederforen) Quarterly in-person forums where members present their organizations, network with other members, and visit member facilities; open to invited external guests. The 55th KLiB Member Forum is scheduled for June 2, 2026.
• LiPLANET European Pilot Line Network European network bringing together the most important European pilot lines for lithium battery cells and key actors in the battery sector to create a more competitive European innovation and production ecosystem.
• Beirat Batterieforschung Deutschland (Battery Research Advisory Board) Advisory body of more than 40 senior representatives from industry and research institutions along the battery value chain that advises the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) on strategic research planning for electrochemical energy storage.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 80 member organizations representing the entire lithium-ion battery value chain
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Beirat Batterieforschung DeutschlandcoreOthers · 1 January 2016An advisory board of more than 40 senior representatives from industry and research institutions along the battery value chain that advises BMBF on strategic research planning for electrochemical energy storage. Organized by KLiB under the BEMA 2020 II project.
• BEMA 2020 IIcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016BMBF-funded accompanying measure in which KLiB organizes the Batterieforum Deutschland and the advisory board, continuing the work started under the Batterieforum Deutschland project.
• Batterieforum DeutschlandcoreOthers · 1 January 2012A project initiated by KLiB and funded by BMBF (2012-2016) that creates a congress, database of publicly funded battery research projects, battery lexicon, and studies on battery research in Germany. The internet presence and congress continue through BEMA 2020 and BEMA 2020 II projects. This is KLiB's primary public-facing platform.
• ExcellBattMat KompetenzclustermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBMBF-funded competence cluster developing new material concepts for high-energy battery systems. KLiB participates in this network of German research excellence centers in Dresden, Munich, Münster, and Ulm under the 'Forschungssfabrik Batterie' concept.
• FestBatt KompetenzclustermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBMBF-initiated competence cluster for solid-state batteries (started 2018) developing solid electrolytes. KLiB ensures industry involvement through a management board from the project's inception.
• ProZell KompetenzclustermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompetence cluster for battery cell production researching production processes, cell characteristics, and product development costs. Scientists from 12 German universities and research institutions work in 12 projects with close industry-academia coordination through KLiB.
• GreenBatt KompetenzclustermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBMBF-funded cluster developing technologies for energy- and material-efficient battery lifecycle and closed-loop material cycles. 16 research projects involving 34 institutes work with industry coordination through KLiB.
• BattNutzung KompetenzclustermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBMBF-funded cluster developing new concepts for battery system evaluation connecting cell-level experimental results with battery technical requirements. 16 research projects with 29 institutes with industry coordination through KLiB.
• LiPLANETmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean network bringing together the most important European pilot lines for lithium battery cells and key actors of the battery sector to create a European innovation and production ecosystem.
• VCI, VDMA, ZVEImajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint press releases and position papers with German chemical (VCI), mechanical engineering (VDMA), and electrical industry (ZVEI) associations on battery policy issues including warnings about insufficient mass production and dependency risks.
• Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF)coreOthersKLiB serves as a bridge between industry and BMBF, organizing the Batterieforum Deutschland congress, maintaining the project database, organizing the advisory board to BMBF, and coordinating industry involvement in multiple BMBF-funded competence clusters.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• ZVEI (Zentralverband Elektrotechnik- und Elektronikindustrie): German electrical industry association representing electronic and electrical component manufacturers. Comparable as a co-signatory of battery policy positions and as an industry association addressing parts of the battery value chain.
• VCI (Verband der Chemischen Industrie): German chemical industry association representing materials and chemistry companies active in battery value chain. Comparable as a D-A-CH association co-signing battery policy positions with KLiB, but with a broader chemicals remit.
• VDMA (Verband Deutscher Maschinen- und Anlagenbau): German engineering federation with battery manufacturing equipment working groups. Comparable as a German industry association that engages in battery policy jointly with KLiB (per joint position papers), but broader in scope beyond batteries.
• European Battery Alliance (EBA): EU-level initiative convened by the European Commission to build a competitive European battery value chain. Comparable as a coordination body, but operating at the EU institutional level rather than as a member-funded association.

Emerging players

• Battery Associates: Smaller emerging battery community network focused on education, events, and community-building in the European battery ecosystem. Comparable in mission but smaller in scale and oriented around individual professional members rather than institutional members.

Regional players

• Cluster Elektromobilität Süd-West: Regional electromobility cluster in Baden-Württemberg covering overlapping battery and e-mobility stakeholders. Comparable as a regional network, but with a sub-D-A-CH geographic footprint and broader e-mobility remit.
• Battery Norway: Norwegian battery industry cluster representing Nordic battery value chain players. Comparable as a national/regional competence network, but with a Nordic rather than D-A-CH geographic focus.

Direct peers

• EIT InnoEnergy: European battery ecosystem investor and coordinator, operating the European Battery Alliance. Comparable in coordinating industry, academia, and policy around European battery industrialization, but with a broader investor and venture mandate.
• Battery 2030+: Large-scale European research initiative on next-generation batteries coordinated across universities and research institutes. Comparable in coordinating pre-competitive battery R&D and convening leading European battery researchers.
• Recharge (European Battery Industry Association): Pan-European battery industry association representing the entire battery value chain. Directly comparable to KLiB in mission (pre-competitive collaboration, policy advocacy, member coordination) but operating at EU rather than D-A-CH scope.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kompetenznetzwerk-lithium-ionen-batterien-klib

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Kompetenznetzwerk Lithium-Ionen-Batterien e. V. (KLiB)