Battery strategy to strengthen Finland’s position as a pioneer in sustainable battery manufacturing
The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment has launched work to formulate a national battery strategy that will enable Finland to strengthen its role as a pioneer in sustainable battery manufacturing and recycling.
Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä appointed a working group on 24 June to prepare the strategy by the end of 2020.
– There are major international business opportunities in the battery industry as electric cars boost future demand for batteries. Finland has substantial reserves of the minerals required for battery manufacturing, coupled with strong expertise and the capacity to invest in the associated R&D and industry. We are seeking to be involved in building a sustainable European battery industry, thereby helping to deliver solutions to climate change,” Minister Lintilä explains.
Battery strategy targets business growth and new jobs
The battery strategy will seek to strengthen the battery sector ecosystem and boost sustainable, low-carbon economic growth in Finland. It aims to promote regeneration of businesses, innovation work and growth potential, thereby creating new jobs. Proposals will also be formulated to promote R&D related to ecologically sustainable e-transport and alternative battery technologies.
The strategy will incorporate measures to ensure training and expertise in the battery industry and reinforce cutting-edge research work in Finland. It will also seek to strengthen collaboration between industries.
Finland’s national strategy will be linked to the battery strategy of the European Union, which envisages an innovative, competitive and sustainable battery industry in Europe that will help to mitigate climate change. Finland’s battery strategy will aim to promote the sustainable use of natural resources, for example through solutions for accessing, optimising and recycling materials.
The battery strategy working group
The working group to prepare a national battery strategy will be chaired by Mika Nykänen, Director General of the Geological Survey of Finland. It will include key battery industry operators from the business community and public administration.
– The opportunities that batteries offer for high-level innovation, combating the effects of climate change and expanding the circular economy have been clearly recognised in Finland. It is important to create a national action plan that can be implemented strategically, Nykänen explains on taking charge of the working group.
The mission of the working group is to guide the progress of the battery strategy, decide on the necessary studies and other measures to be undertaken, submit proposals concerning the objectives and limitations of the strategy, define the principal guidelines for preparing the strategy, and formulate views on its content.
Members of the strategy working group:
Jyrki Alkio, Chief Specialist, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment (Vice Chair)
Artturi Björk, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Finance
Ina Endlund-Siironen, Head of Strategy and People, Fortum Recycling & Waste
Matti Hietanen, CEO, Finnish Minerals Group
Teija Lahti-Nuuttila, Executive Director, Business Finland
Ulla Lassi, Professor, University of Oulu
Mari Lundström, Assistant Professor, Aalto University
Jussi Manninen, Executive Vice President, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
Jyrki Nurmi, Senior Vice President for EV Systems, Valmet Automotive Inc.
Mika Nykänen, Director General, Geological Survey of Finland (Chair)
Tuuli Ojala, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Transport and Communications
Anna-Maija Pajukallio, Environmental Counsellor, Ministry of the Environment
Pasi Peltoniemi, Assistant Professor, LUT University
Tuomas Van der Meer, Technology Manager, Outotec (Finland) Oy
Jani Vilenius, Director for Research and Technology Development, Sandvik Group
Secretariat:
Ilkka Homanen, Head of Batteries from Finland, Business Finland
Mikko Pihlatie, Research team leader, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland
Jarkko Vesa, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment
For further details, please contact:
Antti Siika-aho, Special Adviser to the Minister of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 29 504 7228
Mika Nykänen, Chair of the Steering Group, Geological Survey of Finland, tel. +358 29 503 2200
Jarkko Vesa, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 29 504 7320