Elena Yorgova-Ramanauskas, State Secretary in the Ministry of Economy, Innovation, Digital Affairs and Energy and Chief Digital Officer (CIO), visited the Festo Learning Center in St. Ingbert on Tuesday, September 6. There, the State Secretary exchanged views with Klaus Zimmermann, Managing Director of Lernzentrum Saar GmbH, and Klaus Herrmann, Head of Research, about the ABAKOS project. Markus Schmitt, the responsible alderman of the city of St. Ingbert, was also invited to the meeting.
The goal of ABAKOS (Development of Battery Competence Saarland) is to identify the industrial realization of the complete life cycle of battery cell production, from raw material extraction through manufacturing and second life to recycling. These insights into potential industrial implementation are the prerequisite for deriving the necessary skills of employees. Based on this, qualification measures are to be developed, pilot tested, and then implemented on a large scale. The project is currently in the application process, is set to start in autumn 2022, and will run for five years. "We are taking completely new paths and also depend on the support of the Ministry of Economic Affairs," Klaus Herrmann explains to the State Secretary. A major advantage is the good network in Saarland and the short distances, he adds.
Markus Schmitt, who is responsible for climate protection, environment, mobility, and urban planning at the city, also emphasizes the importance of the project: "We are proud that the family business FESTO, a global player, is based in St. Ingbert. The FESTO Learning Center is much more than a campus for learning opportunities; it is a global education partner and provider of further training in many areas."
Consortium ABAKOS founded under the leadership of the FESTO Learning Center Saar
Managing Director Klaus Zimmermann sees the necessity of establishing ABAKOS in the fact that the automotive industry in Saarland is particularly affected by the shift to electromobility: "Qualified workers who can handle the associated tasks along the entire value chain in the battery ecosystem are urgently needed to manage this transformation. A tremendous transformation process is taking place here, which includes ecological, economic, and social components."
State Secretary Yorgova-Ramanauskas emphasized, "E-mobility is becoming increasingly important for Saarland as a business location. Projects like ABAKOS help create the necessary conditions to build the bridge into the future of the automotive region Saarland. The Festo Learning Center is a strong partner and reliable source of ideas for politics and business. The close cooperation of all relevant stakeholders is a real competitive advantage for Saarland."
