**About the Editors**

**Kai Peter Birke** is a physicist, materials scientist and a full Professor at the University of Stuttgart, Germany, researching the field of electrical energy storage systems, including new energy storage cell materials and technologies, advanced Li-ion batteries and Power-to-X. He obtained his Ph.D. in Materials Science (ion-conducting ceramics) from the University of Kiel, Germany, in 1998. In 1999, he joined the Fraunhofer-Institute for Silicon Technology, Itzehoe, Germany, to work on the development of proprietary Li-ion laminated hybrid-solid cells with novel functional ceramic separators. He also co-founded two spin-offs to put this technology into production. After being involved in the development and production of pouch-type laminated Li-ion cells (PoLiFlex) in leading positions at VARTA AG for five years (2000–2005), Prof. Birke joined Continental AG, Business Unit Hybrid Electric Vehicle, in Berlin in 2005, as a Senior Expert and Project Leader in Energy-Storage systems. He subsequently became a Senior Technical Expert in Battery Technology and a Team Leader in Cell Technology, and in 2010 he was appointed as the Head of Battery Modules and Electromechanics. In 2013, he joined the JV SK-Continental e-motion as Head of Advanced Development. He was one of the most relevant pioneers for this JV. In 2015, Prof. Birke became a full professor at the University of Stuttgart, Institute for Photovoltaics, ipv, as head of Electrical Energy Storage Systems. Since 2018 he additionally leads the Center for Battery Cell Manufacturing at the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation, IPA, with an extended focus on battery cell production and digitalization.

**Duygu Karabelli** After obtaining her PhD in electrochemistry in 2011 at University of Grenoble (France), Dr. Karabelli started her postdoctoral research in the field of next-generation batteries at Franhofer ICT (Germany). In 2019, she joined the Center of Battery Cell Manufacturing at Fraunhofer IPA (Germany) as a project manager. Here, Dr. Karabelli supported and coordinated many national and international projects related to the manufacturing of both Li-ion battery and all-solid-state Li-ion battery technologies. Research interests: Li-ion batteries; solid-state batteries; polymer electrolytes; battery production; Industry 4.0.
