BatteRIes Europe launch event took place in Brussels

The launch event for BatteRIes Europe took place on the 25^th of June at the Renaissance Hotel in Brussels, Belgium.

The European Technology and Innovation Platform on Batteries is aimed at fostering innovation, research and knowledge for the entire European battery value chain, engaging stakeholders coming from industry, research and regulation and was kicked-off in February 2019. It seeks to be the driver of the R&I ecosystem for batteries in Europe, building a competitive value chain able to sustain Europe’s ambitions in the field. BatteRIes Europe will gravitate around six working groups and a national and regional coordination group, led by a secretariat consisting of partner institutions and the Commission.

The event gathered over 200 battery innovation and research experts coming from all over Europe, as well as national and regional representatives from Member States and EU institutions. Attendees were welcomed by an opening statement and presentation of the Platform, and later on heard a presentation on market previsions for the battery value chain in Europe in order to stress the synergies between BatteRIes Europe and the European Battery Alliance. Industry representatives then held presentations on the R&I needs in the next few years, each followed by a discussion with the audience.

Vice-President of the Commission Maroš Šefčovič delivered a keynote speech at the event, describing the relevance of the initiative for the achievement of the European decarbonisation goals and stressing the support of the European Commission: “I am pleased to say that industry has picked up this challenge with investments and projects announced – and launched – throughout the whole value chain. […] I can assure you Commission services will be in support. Their involvement in BatteRIes Europe will ensure possibility to learn about different funding possibilities throughout the innovation cycle. […] the institutions will continue to advance work on the conditions, the incentives and the enabling framework to ensure transition to a climate-neutral EU”.

In the afternoon, chairs of working groups presented their co-chairs and gave a broad overview of their topic of competence; participants then gathered in roundtables divided by working groups of expertise, in order to decide the action plan for the following 6 and 12 months.

Their work will continue in the next years, supported by the national and regional coordination groups as well as the secretariat and the EU Commission, and will play a relevant role on the contribution of batteries to the decarbonisation of the EU energy system.