Battery Innovation Days debuted with the first of an annual appointment for all R&I Battery expert thought-leaders

30 November 2021

Welcoming over 1500 professionals from across the globe over the three-day programme celebrating battery Research and Innovation, the 2021 Battery Innovation Days event was curated by the key European Research & Innovation initiatives (Batteries Europe, Battery 2030+ and the Batteries European Partnership Association) in partnership with the Batteries 1st and 2nd IPCEIs.

A lot of ground was covered across the 17 sessions which included high-quality debates on sustainability of the battery value chain, future disruptive technologies, research in the automotive industry, smart battery functionalisation, and much more.

The event was kickstarted on 23 November by Maroš Šefčovič, Vice-President of the European Commission, and coordinating the Commission’s work on the European Battery Alliance. According to him,

“Europe has made a giant leap in developing its battery industry since we created the European Battery Alliance four years ago. By 2025, the EU’s battery market will be worth 250 billion euros and will sustain up to four million jobs. Research and innovation, across the entire value chain, will be pivotal if we are to sustain this momentum. Europe has already established a strong research community represented, among others, by BEPA, Batteries Europe, and Battery 2030+. Now, we need to pull together our best talent and extensive expertise in a truly collaborative effort to ensure our leadership in this area. EU funding will continue to support innovation at every stage – to take another leap from ‘made in Europe’ to ‘invented in Europe’”.

The Battery Innovation Days event has been an opportunity for battery industry, research and policy makers to:

• Better understand the EU funding and tools for batteries and improved knowledge of the main R&I issues and challenges linked to the battery sector.
• Network with a strong industrial and research network coming from different parts of the battery value-chain.
• Gain first-hand information on the short and long-term industrial R&I roadmapand on the impactful research findings generated in Europe.

The Battery Young Research Award has also been presented as part of the event to Ana Cristina Martínez Maciel, a recent PhD graduate whose thesis pushed the scientific boundaries of the battery field, while simultaneously addressing acute industry needs.

Philippe Jacques, Secretary General at BEPA, led a session on the future R&I priorities for the battery value-chain. Gathering more than 225 participants, the session included a presentation on the key R&I areas identified in BEPA Technical Working Groups and to be addressed in the next Horizon Europe Work Programme. Following, three BEPA representatives moderated a discussion where the audience had the opportunity to provide feedback on the R&I topics presented.

All resources and recaps, including recordings and presentations, can be found on the Battery Innovation Days website by accessing the Agenda page, and on the official event’s YouTube channel.

For more information on the next edition of the Battery Innovation Days event, please address your inquiries to info@batteryinnovationdays.eu