SCHOTT AG

Their core work

SCHOTT AG is one of Europe's leading manufacturers of specialty glass and glass-ceramics, headquartered in Mainz, Germany. Their industrial expertise spans precision materials engineering across pharmaceuticals, electronics, optics, and energy storage — sectors where glass and ceramic material properties are critical. In H2020, they contributed to both earth science rheology research (CREEP) and advanced solid-state battery development (SAFELiMOVE), indicating that their glass-ceramic processing know-how is being applied to next-generation energy storage electrolytes. Their participation in SAFELiMOVE specifically positions them as an industrial manufacturer capable of scaling hybrid ceramic-polymer electrolyte production for electric vehicle batteries.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the first half of their H2020 participation (2015–2019), SCHOTT engaged with fundamental materials science through CREEP, a research project on complex rheologies that bridges geoscience and industrial process modelling — no specific battery or energy storage keywords appear from this period. By 2020–2023, their focus had shifted sharply toward applied energy storage, with SAFELiMOVE centering entirely on solid-state lithium metal batteries, ceramic-polymer electrolytes, and EV safety. This trajectory suggests SCHOTT is deliberately moving its ceramic materials expertise toward the battery and electromobility market, which aligns with broader European industrial strategy around EV supply chains.

SCHOTT is moving from foundational materials research toward applied solid-state battery manufacturing, making them an increasingly relevant partner for consortia targeting EV electrification, battery safety, and ceramic electrolyte scale-up.

How they like to work

SCHOTT has not led any H2020 project, joining exclusively as participant or third party — consistent with a large industrial company that brings manufacturing and materials know-how to academic-led consortia rather than driving research agendas. Their presence in SAFELiMOVE alongside 33 consortium partners across 10 countries points to comfort operating in large, multi-national teams. This profile suggests SCHOTT acts as an industrial anchor partner: providing processing expertise, pilot-scale manufacturing access, and commercial credibility to otherwise research-heavy consortia.

SCHOTT has collaborated with 33 unique partners spanning 10 countries across their two H2020 projects, reflecting the broad European consortia typical of RIA and MSCA-ITN funding schemes. No geographic concentration is identifiable from two projects, but their German base and European-scale manufacturing presence make them a natural fit for consortia with pan-European industrial ambitions.

What sets them apart

SCHOTT occupies a rare position as a large industrial manufacturer with deep glass-ceramic processing expertise that is directly transferable to solid-state battery electrolyte production — a capability most battery research consortia must import from outside academia. Unlike smaller materials SMEs, SCHOTT brings the scale, quality systems, and supply chain maturity needed to bridge lab-scale breakthroughs to commercial production. For consortia targeting TRL 5–7 in ceramic electrolytes or EV battery components, SCHOTT provides industrial credibility that is difficult to substitute.

Highlights from their portfolio

• SAFELiMOVE
  The project's focus on hybrid ceramic-polymer electrolytes and interface optimisation for lithium metal batteries directly engages SCHOTT's industrial ceramic manufacturing capability in one of Europe's highest-priority technology areas — solid-state EV batteries.
• CREEP
  An earlier-stage engagement linking industrial process rheology with earth science, demonstrating SCHOTT's interest in fundamental materials flow behaviour relevant to their glass melt and ceramic slurry production processes.