France and the Netherlands both face sustainability challenges in many sectors of their economies, including Zero Emissions Transport & Infrastructure, Smart Mobility and Energy Transition. France leads the way in many of these sectors. The same applies to the position of the Netherlands within Europe. Both are regarded as gateways and have committed themselves to strict action programs in the field of sustainability and mobility. This is to combat climate change and achieve the targets for the reduction of greenhouse gases and sustainable energy generation for 2030 and 2050.

“Our visit to France is the start of a constructive collaboration. We are at the eve of an enormous transition in automotive and other business models; other ways of working together. The energy transition is in full swing as is the change of use and ownership.
Both Transalley Technopark and Automotive Campus work close to educational institutes and therefore we see wonderful forms of collaboration for students and campus residents.  We have a nice ecosystem, just like in France, so there is a kind of similar ecosystem 250 km apart. These are now connected by this alliance. I was very impressed about the beautiful facilities Transalley Technopark has and how they work on innovation within automotive with the affiliates. It is great to explore together how we can give sustainable mobility a new dimension”, according to Pieter Rahusen, Business Development Manager of Automotive Campus.

Bram Hendrix, Manager Smart Mobility at RAI Automotive Industry NL, complements: “The Hauts-de-France region is known as the manufacturing region of France with 7 production plants/car factories (Renault, Stellantis and Toyota). In addition, the region will become one of the most important regions in Europe in the field of battery production, with 3 announced giga-factories in the field of battery production. It is important to cooperate with this eco-system, with the aim of getting Dutch companies in position to contribute to this development.”

Connecting networks and exchanging knowledge

Automotive Campus and Transalley, in collaboration with RAI Automotive NL, ARIA Hauts-de-France and Nord France Invest, have successfully connected networks and exchanged knowledge in recent years.

Through this alliance, all parties wish to reiterate that they are opening their network to each other in order to promote cooperation and allow all stakeholders in the constituency to use it.