With an ultra-low dew point of −50°C, the dry room provides the perfect environment for handling moisture-sensitive materials, such as lithium metal. It will also feature a pilot production line for assembling pouch cells – the battery type commonly used in smartphones and electric vehicles – bringing prototypes closer to industrial-scale formats.

A facility to accelerate innovation and time-to-market 

A dry room is a controlled environment where humidity levels are kept extremely low – an essential requirement for working with the sensitive materials used in today's batteries and, most importantly, the batteries of tomorrow. 

"CSEM’s dry room isn’t just a technical upgrade – it’s a key enabler for proving the industrial viability of the technologies developed within our Battery Innovation Hub," explains Andrea Ingenito Co-Director of the Battery Innovation Hub.

By maintaining strict humidity control, the facility allows researchers and engineers to rapidly test and iterate new technologies. Among the materials benefiting from this controlled setting is lithium metal, a crucial component for high-energy-density batteries of the future. With this optimised environment, CSEM’s dry room will help refine these breakthrough technologies, ensuring they align with industry standards and accelerating their path to large-scale production and adoption.

CSEM is leveraging this scale-up of its prototypes to showcase its experts’ unique expertise and reinforce the excellence of Swiss technology in a more concrete way. Covering 37 square meters, the dry room includes a pilot line for assembling pouch cells capable of delivering up to 5 ampere-hours (5Ah) – enough to power a 1-ampere device for five hours, or a 5-ampere device for one hour. Additionally, a 10-square-meter section is reserved for startups and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), providing them with direct access to high-tech infrastructure.

A boost for Swiss startups and SMEs 

By opening part of the dry room to startups and SMEs, CSEM is giving smaller companies an unprecedented opportunity to reduce the risks and costs associated with developing next-generation battery technology.

These companies, often limited by the high costs of accessing state-of-the-art infrastructure, will gain not only access to CSEM's advanced equipment but also its deep expertise in battery technology. This support will help them advance their innovations to higher technology readiness levels (TRL) and accelerate their journey toward industrialisation.

Andrea Ingenito, Co-Director of the Battery Innovation Hub, explains: "Our goal is to strengthen Switzerland’s industrial competitiveness while supporting startups and SMEs on their innovation journey. By pooling resources, we can help turn breakthrough ideas into industry ready solutions."

Solid-state batteries: a Swiss-led revolution? 

Solid-state lithium-metal batteries are poised to transform the electric vehicle (EV) market, offering higher energy density, lower costs, faster charging times, and improved safety by eliminating fire risks. However, large-scale production remains a challenge due to the complexity of manufacturing and handling lithium metal anodes. CSEM’s new dry room will be pivotal in developing scalable processes to overcome these hurdles. 

"New materials and manufacturing techniques present a unique opportunity to rebuild Europe’s battery industry,” says Ingenito. “While mass production of solid-state batteries is still a few years away, Switzerland must act now and stay ahead in this strategic market."

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