Dr. Fanny Bardé
Dr Fanny Bardé is an entrepreneur and leading figure in advanced battery innovation, with over 25 years’ experience spanning industry, research, and strategic collaboration across Europe, the United States Japan and Canada. She has cultivated a broad and influential network spanning the industrial battery value chain, the automotive sector, and leading academic institutions, underpinned by deep expertise in battery materials, chemistry, and electrochemistry.
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Dr Bardé is the founder and a Board Director of SOLiTHOR, She defined the company’s R&D and IP strategy, built and leads a team of over 33 experts, and established its battery manufacturing and testing centre. Under her leadership, SOLiTHOR secured an initial €20M in funding, including a €10M+ seed round and €5.2M in non-dilutive public support, with Series A funding currently underway.
Dr Bardé holds a PhD in Materials Science from Picardie Jules Verne University in Amiens, France. Following her doctoral studies, Dr Bardé joined Duracell in Boston, USA, where she focused on the development of nickel-zinc (Ni-Zn) battery technologies.
Prior to founding SOLiTHOR in February 2022, she led imec’s Solid-State Battery Programme, driving industry partnerships, commercial project delivery, and the valorization of cutting-edge research. She also coordinated a 14-partner Horizon Europe consortium that secured €7.8 million in public funding.
Her earlier career includes 14 years at Toyota Motor Europe (TME), where she served as Technical Manager for R&D – Advanced Technology. At Toyota, she spearheaded research into next-generation battery systems for electrified vehicles (xEVs), including multivalent and solid-state batteries, as well as Li-Air battery technologies. She played a pivotal role in aligning Toyota Europe’s battery roadmap with global R&D strategies and led both internal and external collaborative projects across private and public sectors.
Over the past decade, Dr Bardé has played a leading role in European Commission initiatives, including serving as co-chair of the Sustainability Task Force within the European Technology and Innovation Platform (ETIP). She continues to contribute actively to Battery 2030+, Battery Europe, and the Battery European Partnership Association (BEPA), advancing policy and innovation in battery sustainability.
In recognition of her contributions to science and innovation, Dr Bardé was awarded 3rd place in the 2025 European Prize for Women Innovators.
She is the author and co-author of 31 patent applications, 36 peer-reviewed publications, and a book chapter, reflecting her deep commitment to advancing battery science and technology.