EIT InnoEnergy, the innovation engine for sustainable energy, today announces its US$1.29m three-year deal to support New Energy New York (NENY) to upskill the battery manufacturing and supply chain workforce in Upstate New York.

With the North American electric vehicle battery market set to reach US$23bn in value by 2027, NENY, an initiative led by Binghamton University, State University of New York, comprising a coalition of academic, non-profit, and government organizations in collaboration with industry, aims at growing a competitive battery development and manufacturing ecosystem in Upstate New York including a well-trained workforce. With the partnership, New Energy New York will utilize EIT InnoEnergy’s learning services platform, the European Battery Alliance Academy (EBA Academy), which is aimed at training current and prospective members of the battery workforce and includes curriculum, train-the-trainer services, a learning management system, and insights into delivery methods.

The agreement will also include access to two of the EBA Academy’s flagship programs for battery technicians and for battery storage experts, respectively. The program for battery technicians will deliver 80 hours of learning, both online classes and in-person training. It will focus on up-skilling manual labor factory professionals working across the battery value-chain.  The Battery Storage Expert Program has 92 hours of online learning for battery engineers and decision-makers.

Oana Penu, EBA Academy Director, EIT InnoEnergy, said: “The value in any breakthrough in battery technology is in its scalability. By connecting and training the right people, we help plug skills gaps, fill market niches, and maximize the potential of every student, worker and entrepreneur we support. We create new commercially attractive solutions to empower a sustainable energy future. That is why I am so excited by the potential of our new partnership with NENY as we expand our US footprint.

EIT InnoEnergy landed in the US in 2020, since then we have helped startups, investors and industries to move across boundaries, expanding our ecosystem between the EU and US making both economies grow.

We are expanding the academy to support EV and Energy Storage Industries in EU and US, this is our third agreement in the US, and we are glad to contribute to develop and grow the industries helping them upskill and reskill the workforce in the state of New York.”

Per Stromhaug, Associate Vice President for Innovation and Economic Development at Binghamton University, State University New York, and Regional Economic Competitiveness Officer for New Energy New York, said: “I am pleased to announce this agreement and partnership with EIT InnoEnergy. The EBA Academy platform will provide an excellent boost to upskilling local members of the battery manufacturing workforce, realizing our ambition to grow a competitive battery development and manufacturing ecosystem for the future.”

Longer-term, EIT InnoEnergy hopes to replicate this model to deliver similar partnerships with other state universities and colleges in the US, working alongside employers, SMEs and other firms working throughout the battery value chain.

 About EIT InnoEnergy

EIT InnoEnergy operates at the center of the energy transition and is the leading innovation engine in sustainable energy, bringing the technology and skills required to accelerate the green deal, progress towards Europe’s decarbonization goal, and improve energy security.

Ranked as Europe’s top impact investor in cleantech in 2022, named in 2023 as a top 10 active deeptech investor by Sifted, and recognized globally as the most active sustainable energy investor, EIT InnoEnergy backs innovations across a range of areas. These include energy storage, transport and mobility, renewables and sustainable buildings and cities – leveraging its trusted ecosystem of 1200+ partners and 29 shareholders.

The 180+ portfolio companies are on track to generate €72.8 billion in revenue and save 1.1G tons of CO2e annually by 2030. Collectively, these companies have raised €8 billion in investment to date.

EIT InnoEnergy is the driving force behind three strategic European initiatives which include the European Battery Alliance (EBA), the European Green Hydrogen Acceleration Centre (EGHAC) and the European Solar Photovoltaic Industry Alliance .

EIT InnoEnergy was established in 2010 and is supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), an independent EU body set up in 2008 to drive innovation and entrepreneurship across Europe. Since its inception, EIT InnoEnergy has screened more than 7,000 start-ups, launched more than 300 products to market and overseen its portfolio companies filing 290+ patents. Today, EIT InnoEnergy has a 200+ strong team with offices across Europe and in Boston, US. www.innoenergy.com

About Binghamton University, The State University of New York

Binghamton University is a world-class institution that offers students a broad, interdisciplinary education with an international perspective and one of the most vibrant research programs in the nation.

About New Energy New York

New Energy New York is a 16-member coalition led by Binghamton: academic institutions Binghamton University, Rochester Institute of Technology, SUNY Broome Community College, SUNY Corning Community College and Broome-Tioga BOCES; nonprofits New York Battery and Energy Storage Technology Consortium (NY-BEST), Research Foundation for SUNY, Incubator Works, Southern Door Community Land Trust, AM&T, The Clean Fight NY, Activate and Southern Tier 8 Regional Board; and government representation from New York State Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), Empire State Development Division of Science, Technology and Innovation (ESD NYSTAR) and Broome County.