MIT and Bosch to Collaborate on Energy Conversion and Storage Systems

23 June 2008

MIT and Bosch are collaborating to explore new materials and concepts for efficient energy-conversion and energy-storage systems. With the collaboration, Bosch becomes a Sustaining Member of the MIT Energy Initiative (MITEI), which was formally established in November 2006 to address global energy issues.

The MITEI-Bosch collaboration will focus on three areas:

• The atomistic modeling and computational search for new materials in electrochemical energy storage and electromechanical actuation;

• Nano-structured thermoelectric materials for residential heat and electricity co-generation; and

• Ultra-efficient thin-film solar cells.

As a Sustaining Member, Bosch will contribute US$5 million to MITEI over a five-year period which will fund a research portfolio at the Institute focused on energy efficiency and renewable energy research projects.

In addition, Bosch will have a seat on the MITEI governing board. The board will have a significant influence on shaping the initiative’s future research portfolio. As a Sustaining Member of MITEI, Bosch will support 10 Bosch-MIT Energy Fellows, graduate students who will do research in various energy disciplines.