European battery production – pre-qualification for matchmaking

Demand for batteries has risen sharply in recent years and is expected to grow significantly over the next decade. By 2030, the lithium battery market is expected to be 14–20 times larger than it is today, with the EU producing 30 per cent of these batteries.

Europe currently accounts for a small share of global battery production but aims to play a greater role. The IPCEI initiative EuBatIn is strategically important for Europe as a whole, supports wide-ranging innovation and will promote growth, competitiveness and employment. The geopolitical situation, combined with environmental measures and the dominance of non-European countries in raw material and cell production, is driving new policies at both EU and national level. The EU's battery initiative is outlined in the European Green Deal and the EU's Circular Economy Action Plan.

On behalf of the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, we are now conducting a national pre-qualification process for potential admission as an associated partner in IPCEI EuBatIn. You must take part in the pre-qualification process to be eligible to apply later for admission as an associated partner in IPCEI EuBatIn and for IPCEI innovation grants.

We are looking for new projects in areas that are currently underrepresented in the established IPCEI EuBatIn partnership, with a particular focus on recycling, battery cell development, new production methods and machinery, and raw and advanced materials for battery production.

Companies can submit a project outline as the first step towards qualifying for associate partnership in IPCEI EuBatIn.

The deadline for submitting your project outline is 12 September 2023 at 12:00.

• The project must be 'Beyond the State of the Art'.
• The project must involve the development of a new product or service with a high level of research and innovation content and/or a fundamentally new and innovative production process.
• The project's level of ambition and scope must be such that it cannot be carried out through standard public funding schemes.
• Your company must have experience in research and development and be able to commit significant resources to qualify and find business partners in Europe.
• You must provide a significant share of the funding yourself, so your company needs the financial resources and capacity to carry out the project.

Companies whose projects we consider relevant may take part in international matchmaking to find business partners for further project development, with the potential to become an associated partner in IPCEI EuBatIn and receive funding through the Innovation Grant for IPCEI at a later stage.

1) A summary that can be shared with the other participants in IPCEI EuBatIn and includes:

• Brief description of the company (maximum 2,000 characters including spaces), including its technology, product and market
• Project name
• Project duration (from month/year to month/year)
• Specify which IPCEI EuBatIn workstream the project is part of:
  • Raw materials and advanced materials
  • Battery cells
  • Battery systems
  • Recycling and sustainability
• Brief description of the project (maximum 4,000 characters including spaces), covering:
  • How the project contributes to IPCEI EuBatIn's overall objectives and ambitions
  • Added value for IPCEI EuBatIn from including this project
  • Wider impacts (spillover effects)
  • Business partners
  • Expertise

2) A detailed project description, including:

• Project objectives and milestones
• What problem or challenge will the project solve?
• What product or service with a high level of research and innovation content and/or new and innovative production process will the project result in?
• Work plan and work packages
• A description of which parts of the project you want to collaborate on with other partners, and how

3) A detailed account of the project's positive wider impacts in Norway, the EU and internationally, including:

• How does the project contribute, directly or indirectly, to addressing challenges in the European battery value chain, on the supply and/or demand side?
• How does the project contribute to increasing knowledge across the European battery value chain?
• Is the project relevant to anyone other than the applicant?
• How will the project help reduce the expected cost of the technology, for example through increased volume or the development of more cost-effective solutions?
• How does the project help reduce risk for other organisations that could use the same solution?

4) A business plan (see the guidance for the next stage regarding industrial scalability)

5) A brief description of your company's previous research and development projects

6) A description of the company's organisational capability and capacity to carry out the project

7) A description of the company's financial ability and capacity to carry out the project

8) Budget and financing plan (or a preliminary budget and financing plan, if applicable)

The project outline must not exceed 30 pages (including the summary and appendices).

An independent expert panel will assess all submitted project outlines. If your project has the potential to progress, you and your project will need to meet additional requirements before we can consider your application to become an associated partner in IPCEI EuBatIn and receive an IPCEI innovation grant.

Please note: The Innovation Grant for IPCEI funding scheme is still under development and may be amended or expanded. The process for becoming an associated partner in IPCEI EuBatIn may also change.

To apply for admission as an associated partner in IPCEI EuBatIn and for the IPCEI Innovation Grant, you must have a Letter of Intent (LoI) confirming a binding collaboration with two direct partners in IPCEI EuBatIn or IPCEI Batteries. This applies whether you are an SME or a large enterprise.

The grant scheme helps reduce the risks associated with your company's research and development projects, strengthens your competitiveness and position in the European market, and contributes to increased green value creation.

When you apply for funding, you must also demonstrate a high level of innovation, potential for industrial scale-up, wider benefits, ability to deliver, committed European collaboration and environmental impact. You will also need to provide a budget and other relevant information, as you would for any other funding application to us.

Applications for IPCEI Innovation Grants will be assessed under Article 25 of the EEA General Block Exemption Regulation, which allows funding for research and development projects. The scheme primarily provides funding for experimental development (TRL 5–8).

Please note: When applying for admission as an associated partner (AP), your application to IPCEI EuBatIn must explain how the project involves two collaborations with direct partners in IPCEI EuBatIn or IPCEI Batteries (documented at least by a letter of intent). This applies whether you are an SME or a large enterprise. We would like to point out that the number and type of collaborations, and where your partners are based in Europe, may affect the maximum permitted aid intensity under the General Block Exemption Regulation. This applies to applications for funding from us.

If you are interested, get in touch to learn more about the process.