When battery innovation becomes industry!
We are extremely proud about this achievement: the Netherlands' first national battery centre will be at Automotive Campus in Helmond. The Open Battery Industrialisation Centre (OBIC) is where companies can test their battery technology at scale, prove performance, reliability and safety, and prepare for full industrial production — exactly the missing link that has been holding back Europe's competitiveness.
But this is about more than batteries. It's about building the foundation for the intelligent, integrated energy systems of tomorrow — where electric vehicles, renewable energy storage and smart grids are no longer separate technologies, but one connected ecosystem. The ability to industrialise better, safer and longer-lasting batteries faster is what will make that future real.
With financial support from the National Growth Fund and Provincie Noord-Brabant and strong regional backing, Helmond is stepping into a key role in Europe's energy transition — creating jobs and accelerating the innovations we urgently need.
