Professional Education for a Sustainable Battery Future

The battery industry is undergoing a massive transformation, requiring not only new technologies but also new skills. Sweden and Europe are making historic investments in battery manufacturing, circular economy, and green industrialization. To meet the demand for skilled engineers, production experts, and system thinkers, LTU is developing five new professional-level courses during 2025. These courses support the upskilling of professionals working in or entering the battery sector, with a focus on sustainability, production scalability, and value-chain integration. During 2026, we plan to develop in-depth multi-disciplinary courses for the different processes steps in battery cell manufacturing.

Each course targets a key process area in the battery production value chain – from raw material processing to vehicle integration. Participants gain insights into industrial case studies, digitalization strategies, and sustainability challenges, supported by peer-to-peer activities and structured reflection. The courses are part of a national initiative to strengthen Swedish and European capacity for green transition and electrification.

Battery Production – Value Chain

This introductory course provides a systems perspective on the battery value chain – from raw material extraction to recycling. Participants explore how political, economic, and technological drivers shape battery production, including the role of EU regulation, global competition, and industrial investments. Case studies illustrate the challenges of scaling battery production responsibly and efficiently. The course includes structured peer review and reflection exercises to build a deeper understanding of trade-offs in sustainability, competitiveness, and industrial policy. It serves as a foundation for professionals new to the battery sector or those who want to understand how their work fits into the broader context of green industrialization.

Processing of Active Materials

This course provides a comprehensive overview of the production and recycling of battery active materials, including both anode and cathode components. It covers traditional and next-generation materials, such as NMC, LFP, silicon-based anodes, and sodium-ion compounds. Participants learn how material selection impacts sustainability, energy use, cost, and supply chain robustness. The course also introduces key recycling processes for recovering valuable elements from production scrap or end-of-life batteries. Through a combination of seminars and peer-reviewed case studies, participants analyze industrial practices and assess the trade-offs between performance, environmental impact, and circularity. The course is particularly relevant for professionals involved in materials development, process design, or sustainability management.

Battery Cell Manufacturing

This course focuses on the core processes of battery cell manufacturing, including electrode preparation, coating, calendaring, cell assembly, electrolyte filling, formation, and testing. Participants explore quality challenges, yield optimization, and equipment selection for various cell formats (pouch, cylindrical, prismatic). The course also addresses the transition from conventional to solid-state batteries. Special attention is given to the scalability of production, particularly in the context of gigafactory build-up. Industrial seminars provide real-world insights into defect detection, process control, and best practices for ramp-up. This course is ideal for engineers, operators, and decision-makers seeking to understand and improve cell production at scale.

Battery Module and Pack Production

This course explores how battery cells are integrated into modules and packs, emphasizing design-for-manufacturing, automation strategies, and safety aspects. Participants examine how module and pack configurations affect thermal management, electrical safety, and serviceability. The course introduces principles of Battery Management Systems (BMS) and how these systems interact with mechanical and electrical integration. Sustainability is a core theme, with content on reuse, repurposing, and recycling of battery packs. Participants assess how design decisions and production methods influence circularity and cost. The course is suited for professionals involved in battery design, integration, and production – especially those aiming to develop or operate pack manufacturing lines.

Battery Vehicle Integration

This course addresses the challenges and strategies involved in integrating batteries into vehicles and industrial systems. It contrasts traditional OEMs and emerging e-mobility players, analyzing their different approaches to product architecture, manufacturing systems, and innovation pace. Participants learn how vehicle design choices affect battery system requirements, and how parallel production of electric and combustion vehicles impacts the factory floor. Through real-world examples, the course highlights how new actors have achieved high-speed scale-up through modular, software-centric approaches – and what legacy manufacturers can learn from them. It is particularly relevant for system engineers, industrial strategists, and transition leaders in vehicle industries.