The Open Battery Industrialization Centre (OBIC) will be the first Dutch facility where companies can test and scale up their battery technology for industrial production. The province of North Brabant is investing €1.25 million in the arrival of OBIC, which will be located at the Automotive Campus in Helmond. OBIC is a collaboration between TNO at Holst Centre, the Brabant Development Agency (BOM), Brainport Eindhoven, and industrial partners including VDL ETS.
In addition to the provincial investment, over €12.2 million will be made available from the National Growth Fund for this initiative. At the facility, new battery concepts will be tested for performance and lifespan, and production processes will be optimized for consistent quality. This will help build essential knowledge that accelerates the industrialization of innovations.
According to Martijn van Gruijthuijsen, deputy for Economy, Knowledge and Talent Development for the province of North Brabant, scaling up is essential. He states: "Many companies develop battery components but lack the ability to demonstrate performance, reliability, and safety in large-scale production cells. The OBIC offers the facilities and expertise to convincingly demonstrate this and thus accelerate industrialization."
Batteries are essential for electric transport and grid stabilization, and are a crucial building block for storing sustainable energy from solar and wind. With the OBIC, the Netherlands strengthens its competitive position in a market currently dominated by Asian players. In collaboration with Battery Competence Cluster NL, OBIC is being further developed into a strategic hub of national importance for start-ups, industry, and knowledge institutions.
