Eindhoven, 11/29/2021,
Flying start for ambitious Dutch mobility program thanks to government subsidy of millions
Two large consortia of Dutch companies in the mobility sector will jointly receive 47 million euros in government funding to realize breakthroughs in electrification and hydrogen applications in mobility. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate (EZK) announced this today. By working together in these innovation programmes, the parties involved want to make the Netherlands a frontrunner in green mobility. The collaborating parties themselves contribute more than 26 million euros in their own resources, bringing the total technological impulse for the sector to 73 million euros.
What is special about the two programs is that they work on a cross-sectoral basis in a national innovative ecosystem. In the consortia, dozens of public and private parties, under the name Green Transport Delta, are working closely together in two innovation programs for the automotive, maritime and aviation sectors. Large companies such as VDL Groep, DAF Trucks, NXP Semiconductors and Bosal, SMEs and start-ups such as ELEO work together with knowledge partners such as TNO, Eindhoven University of Technology and Maastricht University. RAI Automotive Industry NL and Brainport Development sign for the multi-year program management of the consortia.
Working directly towards concrete results
The programs will deliver concrete results. For example, the focus is on hydrogen combustion engines, fuel cells and next-generation technology for hydrogen refueling infrastructure. In the field of electrification, this concerns the development of a local development and production environment for innovative battery modules and packages. Developing the battery management system of the future. Setting up a smart charging infrastructure and processes to safely store and recycle batteries to recover raw materials. This contributes to the development of circular vehicles.
Long-term collaboration for cleaner transport
The collaboration fits in with the long-term Automotive Roadmap of the HTSM top sector. In addition to concrete results, the programs pursue a joint long-term objective. Cooperation between industrial partners, but also between the business community, government and knowledge institutions is crucial for the Netherlands to occupy a competitive position on a global scale. Electrification and hydrogen are essential technology areas for this. With these projects, the necessary transition in making the sector more sustainable is given a significant financial boost. This concept of open innovation is the typical strength of the Dutch way of working together.
Important support in the transition to sustainable mobility
Albie van Buel, managing director of RAI Automotive Industry NL, is proud that the efforts have been rewarded. “As an organization, we have focused on a substantial R&D support package for the Automotive sector from the start of the Corona pandemic. It is great to now receive the important support for these projects for further technological developments of the necessary transition to sustainable mobility.”
Full of energy onward
Director of Brainport Development Paul van Nunen is pleased with the granting of the subsidies by EZK. “The ambition level of the collaborating parties is strong. The Netherlands wants to continue to play a leading role in the global transition to a sustainable mobility system. By joining forces, we can make the Netherlands a frontrunner in green, smart mobility. The allocation of funding to these sub-tasks in the program is a great boost. We will continue with the consortia full of energy.”
