North East Battery Alliance Conference
The first conference of the North East Battery Alliance has been announced. Running 10th and 11th May, the event will bring together stakeholders from all areas of the industry.
4 April 2022
This event has been specifically designed to focus on the North East as a national hub which supports the growing battery industry, supply chains, skills, and economy, and will provide an interactive space addressing current and future challenges and opportunities.
The event intends to bring together stakeholders from all areas of the industry, within the relevant supply chains along with research and innovation institutions to share information and have meaningful discussions.
A fantastic line up of speakers from across academia, business and the public sector will set out their plans and aspirations for an industry worth billions of pounds and providing thousands of employment opportunities for the UK.
The North East Battery Alliance (NEBA) aims to build on the North East’s existing strengths in electrification, automotive, and advanced manufacturing to raise awareness of the North East as a leading hub for the battery industry and attract further inward investment.
NEBA will create an ecosystem in the region that includes:
- research and innovation centres
- education and skills organisations
- the public sector
- battery cell manufacturers
- associated supply chain
The North East’s reputation as a burgeoning centre of battery research, innovation, skills and production led to the Faraday Institution opening an office in Newcastle University in 2021.
With the North East hosting the UKs first lithium-ion battery manufacturing plant and becoming one of the first regions in the UK to roll out electric vehicle charging infrastructure to support electrification, it is truly becoming an exciting centre for the electrification revolution.
NEBA will be launched with a two-day event on 10th May and 11th May 2022. The two-day event which has a comprehensive agenda including seminars, networking, Q&As and the opportunity to hear and discuss current and future research, development and innovation challenges and the opportunities in this innovative space.
The first day will focus on the academic challenges and opportunities and showcase some of the exciting research work currently being undertaken in the region. Day 1 will also include a session to address the skills challenge with industry and the public sector. The aim of this session is to address the current skills challenge, funding required and the key skills needed for battery manufacture, including priorities such as recycling and 2nd life use.
Day 2 will focus on the battery industry and supply chain landscape, with interaction themed presentations and discussions, exploring the challenges faced by the battery supply chain, regionally and nationally, and how to support this.
Key speakers include
- Quentin Willson, motoring journalist and transport campaigner
- Peter Rolton, Britishvolt
- Prof Stephanie Glendinning, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Science, Agriculture and Engineering
- North of Tyne Mayor, Jamie Driscoll
There will also be an investment suite in the afternoon focusing on inward and capital investment.
This is a first of its kind event, not to be missed by industry and researchers interested in this space.
