INCEPTION · Inspiring New doctorate Candidates to Empower the Production of interconverTIble and Optimized ziNc-based batteries and supercapacitors

To respond to the incredibly challenging development of efficient manufacturing and recycling methods of energy storage devices and the significant shortage of young generation talents in this field, INCEPTION - Doctoral Network is proposed. It will provide an excellent triple-I (Interdisciplinary/Intersectoral/International) research and training network, which aims to face Zinc-based energy storage development (i) by exploring the innovative idea of supporting the development of rechargeable batteries (RB) and supercapacitors (SC) by early addressing recyling&manufacturing within Safe and Sustainable by Design framework (ii) by exploiting excellent expertise and advanced technologies at leading universities, research centers, enterprises, and associations across EU, UK, India, and Brazil. This will maximize their ability to convert new knowledge/ideas into products and services for the industrial, social, and economic benefit, and thereafter becoming the future leaders in academia, industry, and the public sector, which is crucial for the EU.With its triple-I-dimension spans 7 major scientific disciplines (electrochemistry, physics, materials engineering, chemistry, electronics, computational science, economics). The resulting highly integrated, international, intersectoral, interdisciplinary collaboration will enable the delivery of 15 Ph.D. degrees (13 beneficiaries). All Ph. D fellowships are devoted to singular and intercrossed (high interconnection between candidates) aspects that are crucial to meet the energy storage challenges of EU, recognized by the HEU, the Batt4EUPartnership, and UN Sustainable Development Goals. The strong interaction across the scientific themes is crucial for: (a) the training-through-research, (b) the knowledge sharing, (c) the development of novel materials for RB and SC and new workflows for effective recycling&manufacturing within a SSbD framework, as well as potential business marketing for technological outcomes.