R&D cluster for the battery industry in South-Eastern Finland

What are we aiming to?

Batteries play a key role in the green transition, including fossil fuel phaseout and renewable energy storage. The European Commission has identified batteries as a strategically important value chain for which investment and innovation should be supported. In addition, the EU Battery Regulation defines the requirements for the recycling of battery materials and Finland’s national battery strategy sets the direction for the development of Finland’s battery industry.

Several industrial investments related to battery materials are planned in the region of south-eastern Finland. These production facilities need advanced testing and measurement methods to ensure the quality of their products and to further develop them. To meet this need, it is important to promote the creation of a battery cluster and industrial symbiosis around the battery value chain in south-eastern Finland.

The project is carried out by LUT University, Xamk University of Applied Sciences and Ekami Vocational College in close cooperation with regional companies in the field. The project explores the RDI potential of the battery industry and the need for measurement and testing services in the region, and builds two RDI environments to meet the needs of companies. In addition, the project will develop battery recycling methods and start a new battery material research. The result is a new close cooperation network in which companies in the field are able to use the developed services and platforms and the expertise of the project actors is effectively shared and utilized.

The project supports regional development and responds to the development needs of the Kymenlaakso and South Karelia regions, which include battery cluster, development of experimental platforms/innovation environments, business-oriented RDI activities, pioneering the green transition, new energy solutions, low carbon, sustainable use of natural resources and biodiversity.