Inspiring thoughts and policy recommendations exchanged with EC representatives
On July 9, representatives of the Battery Heroes Cluster had the opportunity to engage in a focused exchange with colleagues from the European Commission, including DG RTD, DG GROW, DG CLIMA and CINEA.
This open and constructive discussion was based on the practical experiences of the six Horizon Europe projects involved in the cluster and the LiPLANET network. The Commission welcomed our input with great openness, and we were encouraged by their interest in hearing directly from the field.
What we shared - Key challenges across initiatives
- Scaling up from lab to pilot environments remains a major bottleneck due to limited resources and infrastructure.
- Digitalisation is hindered by a lack of data points and interoperability between systems.
- Project scope is often too narrow to cover the full challenge landscape outlined in the call topics.
- A lack of harmonised Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodologies across projects impedes comparability and regulatory alignment.
- Machinery development frequently stalls after the design phase due to insufficient support for industrial deployment.
- The Horizon Results Booster was difficult to use effectively in clustered settings with diverse exploitation profiles.
- Knowledge transfer mechanisms between running and new projects need to be strengthened.
Recommendations discussed
- Strengthen funding for higher TRL projects to support real-world uptake and industrial relevance.
- Establish dedicated training centres for structured upskilling in emerging battery technologies.
- Create incentives to support the full machinery development chain, from design to installation.
- Develop a decentralised European battery prototype organisation to pool key competencies and pilot infrastructures.
We are very grateful for the transparent dialogue and look forward to continuing this collaborative journey with the EC to ensure our collective work has lasting policy impact.
