Bpifrance has launched a call for projects to encourage and support research and innovation in batteries in line with its ambition to support entrepreneurs towards a more sustainable development.

Transition towards clean energies also brings innovations in energy storage, including in batteries. “Energy storage is a key technology for the ecological transition, which should accelerate the decarbonisation of the mobility sector and help manage the intermittency of renewable energies” explains Barbara Pompili, French Minister for the Ecological Transition. In this context, Bpifrance has launched a series of initiatives since 2018, leading to the emergence of two major battery factory projects for the automotive sector, notably in the frame of the European cooperative programme IPCEI “Batteries”. One of those projects, the battery cell manufacturer Automotive Cells Company (ACC), was founded in 2020 by Stellantis and TotalEnergies and has been joined by Mercedes-Benz. “Batteries Innovative solutions and technologies” is running until January 2023. Taken on the behalf of the French government, as part of the France Relance plan, this initiative operated by Bpifrance will support research, innovation in batteries and systems.

Financing batteries innovation for transport

Apart from an increasing need for large scale capabilities, research, development, and innovation are keys to improve batteries’ capacity and lifespan, to optimize the use of certain rare metals and components in their design and to improve recycling. “The rapid development of battery energy storage needs will require considerable R&D and industrial investment” said Agnès Pannier-Runacher, Minister Delegate for Industry, attached to the Minister of the Economy, Finance and the Recovery. Mobility and transport are some of the major sectors facing changes associated with the transition to electromobility and the digital transition. The success of this deep changes towards the production of carbon-free means of transport requires considerable investments, as well as cooperation between all the stakeholders: public authorities, companies, investors, startups, research centres, etc. In line with this idea, Bpifrance wants to support batteries innovations & technologies by providing a grant and a recoverable advance to the selected projects, with a focus on automotive industry, including aeronautics or electric buses and trucks.  Open until January 2023, the call for proposals accepts projects led by French companies, exceeding €1 million for SMEs, €2 million for other companies and €4 million for collaborative projects.