IPCEIs

In December 2019, the European Commission approved under EU State aid rules a first Important Project of Common European Interest (“IPCEI”) jointly notified by Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Sweden to support research and innovation in the common European priority area of batteries.

The seven Member States will provide in the coming years up to approximately €3.2 billion in funding for this project, which is expected to unlock an additional €5 billion in private investments.

Objective

More specifically, the project focuses on 4 specific areas:

  • Raw and advanced materials: The project aims to develop sustainable innovative processes allowing extraction, concentration, refining and purification of ores to generate high-purity raw materials. With respect to advanced materials (such as cathodes, anodes and electrolytes), the project aims to enhance existing materials or create new ones, to be used in innovative battery cells.
  • Cells and modules: The project aims to develop innovative cells and modules designed to meet the safety, and performance required for both automotive and non-automotive applications (e.g. stationary energy storage, power tools, etc.).
  • Battery systems: The project aims to develop innovative battery systems including battery management software and algorithms as well as innovative test methods.
  • Repurposing, recycling and refining: The project aims to design safe and innovative processes for collection, dismantling, repurposing, recycling and refining of recycled materials.
A second project complements the first IPCEI and using the same investment scheme was approved by the Commission in January 2021.

Called “European Battery Innovation”, this project was jointly prepared and notified by twelve Member States (Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Poland, Slovakia, Spain and Sweden) who will provide up to €2.9 billion in funding in the coming years to further support research and innovation in the battery value chain.

 

Objective

The project will cover the entire battery value chain from extraction of raw materials, design and manufacturing of battery cells and packs, and finally the recycling and disposal in a circular economy, with a strong focus on sustainability. It is expected to contribute to the development of a whole set of new technological breakthroughs, including different cell chemistries and novel production processes, and other innovations in the battery value chain, in addition to what will be achieved thanks to the first battery IPCEI.

For more information, please consult the IPCEI Batteries website.

Keep up to date with the battery system

Subscribe to our Newsletter