On February 5, the European Commission presented the new European Technology and Innovation Platform for batteries. The new ETIP was created with the aim of consolidating the industrial base for the development and industrial production of batteries, that it is another step in the activity of the European Battery Alliance. The European Commission is firmly determined to facilitate and reinforce the revival of battery technology in Europe as a basis for its reindustrialization and reinforcement plan for this industry, which was booming in the 1960s and which was being sold to third-country purchases mainly from Asian countries and now with the resurgence of electric cars and the needs for flexibility of renewables takes a relevant dimension, where astronomical market figures are handled, which according to the Commission itself could reach 250 billion euros in 2025.
Like other platforms, it is born by calling to its ranks all the actors potentially involved, whether public or private actors interested in industry and research along the entire value chain of the sector, its objective is to be the driving force behind Europe’s ambitions in the field of batteries.
By improving support for research and innovation in all types of battery technologies, the new Platform is called upon to consolidate the future industrial bases of the sector in Europe, creating new opportunities for growth and new jobs.
But the reality is that this new initiative, born with multiple actors already working on the issue, either in other platforms such as the ETIP SNET (Sustanaible Networks Energy Transition) or in major associations such as EGVIA (European Green Vehicles Industrial Association of) or the own EASE (European Association Storage Energy) provoking again that the involved actors, have to multiply their efforts to be able to assimilate the activities of all these actors. Impossible already de facto for SMEs.
Not wanting to be overly critical, but realistic, there are doubts about how this superstructure will be managed, since the European Commission seems to be back on track and multiplying the number of Platforms that had been heavily reordered and reduced in the past, to put a bit of order in the research activity, technological development and innovation at European level.
We will continue with interest the development of the new ETIP and we will see, shortly, how this is reflected in the development of the immediate and future Programs, very specifically in the new “Horizon Europe” Framework Program, now in full development.