€1.52 billion in revenue has already been generated by CNRS research into batteries

Funding battery research: a winning bet

The return on investment1  is already at 2:1 for 2025 driven by cumulative revenue of €1.52 billion. This ratio could exceed 4:1 in 2030 with cumulative revenue estimated at over €3 billion. This is the direct economic impact of CNRS research into batteries between 2000 and 2024 as analysed according to three dimensions. During this period, technologies deriving from patents that are jointly owned by the CNRS generated estimated revenue of over €1.4 billion. The rapidly expanding start-ups set up by the CNRS have already generated 150 jobs and revenue of €100 million with these figures expected to rise to 400 new jobs and revenue of €350 million in 2028 and 2000 new jobs and €1.85 billion in revenue in 2030. Finally, media revenue deriving from mentions of CNRS research represents a turnover of €27.5 million for 2025. 

These results reflect the excellence of the CNRS's scientific community and its exemplary structure in this field based on over 50 laboratories (UMRs, joint research units) and numerous European and national networks including the Research Network on Electrochemical Energy Storage (RS2E)2  which the CNRS set up in 2011. The CNRS anticipated the societal challenge represented by batteries as early as the 2000s with its research into innovative materials and new approaches to battery management, control and recycling. The study also highlights the entrepreneurial dynamism of researchers which confirms the strong interconnection between research, innovation and industry that has prevailed since the mid-19th century in the field of batteries.

Sustainable and clean low-carbon technologies

The battery sector plays a central role in finding effective responses to the challenges of carbon-free mobility and energy storage - core issues for reaching the target of climate neutrality by 2050. However, it is essential that the production chain itself does not contravene environmental objectives and requirements. The companies that derive from the CNRS or those that use technologies developed by the organisation are responding to these challenges of sustainability, risk reduction and secure supply. 

For example, TIAMAT is developing sodium-ion batteries that are thus not dependent on lithium supplies with their mass production scheduled for 2027. Mecaware combines a green hydrometallurgy process with an original business model that means batteries can be recycled as close as possible to production sites which of course limits storage and transport requirements. The research carried out by ITEN into micro-batteries intended to replace button cells has also driven the development of a more sustainable model. Companies like these are already demonstrating how the CNRS's research choices integrating basic research and today's increasing environmental constraints are proving themselves to be economically viable.

What is scientific research's place in the development of France's national battery strategy?

The battery ecosystem is central to important environmental, economic and industrial sovereignty issues. It is supported by the National Strategy for Accelerating Battery Development which is part of the  France 2030 recovery plan. For TRL3  levels 1 to 4, this strategy is based on an internationally recognised research community, particularly the CNRS, and also involves dedicated national research programmes like the Priority Research Programmes and Equipments4  (PEPRs). In this area, the CNRS is the co-leader of the 'Batteries' PEPR and the 'Recycling' PEPR.

French national policy directions have focused more on reducing the industrial gap with Asian countries than on developing a sector based on disruptive technologies. Currently these are struggling to find favour with manufacturers whose choices during the last ten years have tended to be fairly cautious and short-termist. The challenge today is to foster a dialogue between scientists, manufacturers, politicians and civil society to develop a strategy that reinforces collective momentum to ensure the French battery industry's long-term competitiveness by 2040. Public and private stakeholders have been invited to present the results of the impact study on batteries at a round table on December 8th which is also intended to initiate discussions for the future.

• 1The return on investment represents the ratio between the economic benefits and the resources invested in CNRS research into batteries.
• 2The Research Network on Electrochemical Energy Storage (R2SE) is made up of public and private stakeholders and helps accelerate basic research and the industrialisation of new battery and supercapacitor technologies. This CNRS network was set up with support from the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research.
• 3The TRL scale is used to represent the maturity level of a technological advance.
• 4The Priority Research Programmes and Equipments (PEPR) initiative was launched in the framework of the French government's France 2030 recovery plan to bolster France's position in key scientific areas. Around fifty such PEPRs were launched, with the CNRS leading three-quarters of them including all the exploratory PEPR programmes.