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MANA.energy selected for greenCHEM innovate! Call Track C

On April 21, 2026, MANA.energy joined the 2026 cohort of greenCHEM’s innovate! call Track C, a six-month validation programme for entrepreneurial inventors with their own green chemistry IP. At the kick-off in Berlin, CEO Barbora Balcarova presented the team’s silicon-sulfur battery technology, accompanied by Dr. Jonathan F. Montaño.

Key Highlights:

  • Validation Track: Track C provides equity-free funding, mentorship, and lab infrastructure to teams advancing patented chemistry technologies toward commercial application — selected applicants are based at IRIS Adlershof through October 2026, with a prolongation phase extending to March 2027.
  • Technology Focus: MANA.energy’s contribution to the cohort centres on its NMC-free silicon-sulfur battery platform, supported by two granted German patents (cathode and anode) and active development under the BMFTR-funded SuperFlexEl project.
  • Cohort & Community: The programme connects MANA.energy with a curated network of chempreneurs, industry mentors, and over 50 green chemistry startups in greenCHEM’s broader founder community.

Learn more about the programme at the greenCHEM Track C page.

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MANA.energy’s Barbora Balcarova to Present at “Driving Circular Economy in Industry” Event

On November 5, 2024, MANA.energy’s Barbora Balcarova will participate in the “Driving Circular Economy in Industry” Innovation Network for Advanced Materials e. V. (INAM) event in Berlin, presenting MANA.energy’s innovative approach to sustainable materials. This initiative, funded by Berlin’s Senate Department for Economic Affairs, Energy and Public Enterprises, gathers industry leaders, researchers, and startups to explore cutting-edge solutions for circular economy practices.

Key Highlights:

  • 5:20 pm – Startup Pitches: Barbora will introduce MANA.energy’s advancements in sustainable battery components tailored for circular applications.
  • 7:00 pm – Panel Discussion: She will join industry leaders in a panel on “Driving Circular Economy through Materials Innovation,” moderated by Oliver Hasse (INAM e.V.).

Engage with pioneers in sustainable innovation at Säälchen, Holzmarktstraße 25, 10243 Berlin. Learn more and register for free to be part of this transformative event.

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Pioneering Sustainable Battery Innovation – Interview with MANA.energy’s Leaders

In a recent interview with Wiley Analytical Science, Barbora Balcarova and Michael Bojdys discuss MANA.energy’s breakthroughs in sustainable battery technology.

Key Findings:

  • Technological Advancements: MANA.energy’s sulfur-based cathodes and flexible anodes offer sustainable, high-performance alternatives to conventional batteries.
  • Practical Applications: These innovations are ideal for smart electronics and wearable devices, providing lighter and more flexible power sources.
  • Sustainability Focus: MANA.energy is committed to environmentally friendly processes, reducing reliance on scarce metals like cobalt.

Read the full interview to explore their innovative work in Wiley Analytical Science Magazine, Vol. 4, June 2024 (pp. 14-20).

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Exciting Breakthrough in Battery Tech: MANA.energy’s Sulfur Cathodes in the Spotlight!

A feature on The Cool Down highlights MANA.energy’s breakthrough in sustainable battery technology using sulfur cathodes.

Key Findings:

  • Technological Advancements: MANA.energy’s sulfur-based cathodes, enhanced by microporous encapsulation, offer a high-capacity, long-lasting alternative to traditional metal-based options like cobalt.
  • Practical Applications: These sulfur cathodes are ideal for consumer electronics and EV batteries, promising a cleaner, more efficient energy solution.
  • Sustainability Focus: By leveraging Earth-abundant sulfur, MANA.energy reduces the need for toxic and scarce metals, aligning with a sustainable, circular economy approach.

“Our development paves the way for sulfur electrodes as a viable alternative to conventional metal-based cathodes,” said Professor Michael J. Bojdys, research lead at Humboldt University and a key contributor to this breakthrough.

Read more about how MANA.energy is pioneering the future of energy storage in sustainable technology on The Cool Down.

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Innovative Sulfur Cathode Solves Battery Sustainability and Longevity Challenges

A research team at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, led by Michael J. Bojdys, has developed a sulfur-based cathode that addresses the environmental and durability challenges of lithium-ion batteries. This innovative technology presents sulfur as a viable, eco-friendly alternative to cobalt in battery cathodes, with enhanced storage capacity and lifespan.

Key Findings:

  • Sustainable Alternative: Sulfur replaces cobalt, reducing reliance on toxic, scarce materials and supporting sustainable energy storage solutions.
  • Improved Battery Life: Encapsulation in a microporous polymer network prevents sulfur degradation, overcoming the “sulfur-shuttle” problem for extended battery performance.
  • Potential Impact: This technology could redefine energy storage, paving the way for more sustainable battery production for EVs, laptops, and mobile devices.

Explore the full highlight at TechXplore.

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Breakthrough Sulfur Cathode by HU Team Promises Greener, Longer-lasting Batteries

The MANA.energy start-up team, led by Barbora Balcarova and Michael Bojdys, has unveiled a new sulfur-based cathode technology that improves both the sustainability and performance of lithium-ion batteries. This development could be transformative for the energy storage industry by reducing reliance on scarce resources like cobalt.

Key Findings:

  • Sustainable Materials: Utilizes sulfur encapsulated in a microporous imine polymer network, replacing scarce and toxic metals.
  • Enhanced Performance: The sulfur cathode shows increased battery life and efficiency, tackling the challenges of degradation.
  • Circular Economy Support: Developed under the BMBF’s “GreenCHEM” initiative, this innovation supports a sustainable battery production cycle.

Find the highlight on Adrlershof – science at work.

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Breakthrough Flexible Anode Technology for Long-lasting, High-Capacity Batteries

Researchers from Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, the Leibniz Institute for Polymer Research Dresden, and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology have developed a flexible, high-capacity anode for portable batteries. Unlike conventional anodes, this innovation withstands heat and mechanical stress, paving the way for more durable, adaptable battery designs.

Key Findings:

  • Enhanced Durability: The anode maintains integrity under heat and repeated flexing, making it ideal for foldable electronics and high-stress applications.
  • Unique Polymer Structure: Replacing traditional binders and additives, a semiconducting porous polymer holds the active materials in place, providing stable electrochemical performance.
  • Commercial Potential: Supported by INAM AdMaLab 2022, Prof. Bojdys aims to commercialize this technology, targeting flexible battery inks and electrodes.

Explore the original highlight on idw – Informationsdienst Wissenschaft.

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Advancing Battery Storage Limits with High-Capacity Anodes

Dr. Michael J. Bojdys from Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, supported by an ERC Proof of Concept Grant, is pushing battery technology to new limits. His project, LiAnMAT, focuses on developing lithium anode materials with up to 40x the storage capacity of conventional batteries, promising significant advancements for consumer electronics.

Key Findings:

  • Unprecedented Capacity: LiAnMAT anodes could offer 10-40x more energy storage than current market solutions, revolutionizing lithium-ion battery applications.
  • Strategic Partnerships: Collaborating with VARTA Micro Innovation GmbH and startup INURU GmbH, Bojdys aims to bring this breakthrough closer to commercialization.
  • ERC Recognition: Dr. Bojdys is one of the first Berlin-based scientists to receive the ERC Proof of Concept Grant, an award that supports the initial steps toward technology transfer.

Discover more about this groundbreaking project on Humboldt-Universität’s website.