BRIDGES

Building bridges for sustainable energy partnerships: a joint German-Brazilian initiative for research and innovation in the fields of solar energy, electromobility, second-life batteries and green hydrogen

The BMBF is funding this German-Brazilian project, which aims to contribute to solving global climate problems through research into solar energy, electromobility, second-life batteries and green hydrogen. Under the joint leadership of the project partners - Ingolstadt University of Technology (THI), the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC) in Brazil and the University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE) - it aims to establish an interactive research network and joint laboratories.

Project goals:

Establishment of a BRIDGES research network in the fields of solar energy, electromobility, second-life batteries and green hydrogen through the creation of a joint research and innovation laboratory at the Fotovoltáica Institute of the UFSC
Creation of strong bilateral research structures with long-term funding
Recruitment of top researchers from other Brazilian and German universities
Developing innovative solutions for global climate problems by creating environmentally friendly energy storage solutions
Strengthening the international competitiveness of the participating partner universities
Strengthening the innovative power of the industrial partners
Increasing the visibility of the BRIDGES research initiative in the international research community and industry.

News

International Lecture Series on Electromobility

International Lecture Series on Electric Mobility – Join Us!

We are delighted to announce that together with THI's C-ECOS institute the BRIDGES initiative invites you to participate in the forthcoming International Lecture Series on Electric Mobility. The series will run in the winter term 2025/26, and offers a unique opportunity to engage with cutting-edge research and real-world projects shaping the future of mobility.

What’s on offer?

This time the full programme shines a spotlight on THI’s research and applied projects — bridging theory and practice in electromobility, safety, infrastructure and renewable energy technologies. Topics to be addressed include: Insights from the European project MARBEL, which developed a next-generation battery pack for the automotive industry. In-depth look at the phenomenon of burning electric vehicles and the associated consequences for rescue forces, vehicle occupants and surrounding infrastructure via the BALSAM project. Embedded systems for grid stability and Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) with approaches such as Model Predictive Control and Reinforcement Learning. Thermal runaway in large-format semi-solid state battery cells — exploring electrical, thermal and mechanical misuse conditions.

Format & Audience

Every Tuesday at 18:00 (6:00 pm) starting 14 October 2025, the lectures will be delivered live in English via Microsoft Teams. Each talk lasts around 30 minutes and is followed by an open Q&A session. Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt Whether you are a student, researcher, industry practitioner or simply interested in the world of sustainable mobility and energy systems — you are welcome to join.

How it links with BRIDGES

Through the BRIDGES programme’s focus on electromobility, second-life batteries, solar energy and green hydrogen, this lecture series offers a timely platform to – not just observe but actively participate in – knowledge exchange across borders, disciplines and sectors. It complements our mission to foster international research partnerships, strengthen innovation capacity, and contribute towards solving global climate and mobility challenges.

Join us! Don’t miss this chance to connect with leading experts and to explore the many facets of electrified mobility and sustainable energy systems. Further details, registration and Teams links are available on the THI website.

Link to Lecture

We look forward to welcoming you and building bridges — to the future of mobility!

1st BRIDGES Networking Conference

The first German-Brazilian BRIDGES networking conference on solar energy, second-life batteries, electromobility and green hydrogen in Fortaleza was a resounding success!

Numerous visitors took advantage of the unique opportunity to attend both the Solar World Congress and the BRIDGES conference.
The BRIDGES conference programme brought together researchers from Brazil and Germany, industry representatives and funding institutions from Germany and Brazil to network, share expertise and develop new forms of cooperation in the field of energy transition.
With a mix of keynotes, scientific presentations and networking opportunities, the BRIDGES conference promoted dialogue between different disciplines and sectors and networking for future cooperation projects.

Project partners

Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt (THI)

Die THI betreibt angewandte Forschung in Bereichen wie Mobilität, erneuerbare Energiesysteme und digitale Technologien. Sie unterhält Partnerschaften mit regionalen und internationalen Institutionen und Unternehmen, wobei der Schwerpunkt auf dem Transfer von Forschungsergebnissen in die Praxis liegt. Die THI betreibt mehrere Forschungszentren, darunter das CARISSMA, ein Zentrum für Fahrzeugsicherheit, an dem das BRIDGES-Projekt angesiedelt ist, und das Institut für neue Energiesysteme (InES). Sie beteiligt sich an diversen nationalen, EU-finanzierten und internationalen Forschungsprogrammen und unterstützt die interdisziplinäre Zusammenarbeit zwischen Technik, Wirtschaft und Informatik.

Fotovoltáica - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC)

UFSC conducts academic and research activities across engineering, natural sciences, health, and social sciences. It is active in energy-related research, including photovoltaics, energy storage, and system modeling. UFSC Fotovoltaica is a long-standing research group within the university focused on solar energy technologies, system integration, and energy policy. The university maintains collaboration with international partners and contributes to the development of energy technologies suited for Brazil’s climatic and regulatory context.

Universität Duisburg-Essen (UDE)

UDE conducts research across engineering, natural sciences, humanities, and social sciences. It has specialized institutes in areas such as hydrogen technologies, energy system modeling, and materials science. The university participates in national and European research projects and is involved in networks focusing on the energy transition, infrastructure planning, and decarbonization strategies. UDE emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration and contributes to the scientific development of low-carbon technologies, including the use of hydrogen in energy systems.