Events

Battery Tech Summit – Portugal

As part of the Voltage project, the city of Porto in Portugal has become a dynamic hub for knowledge sharing, technological innovation, and industry collaboration, as it welcomed the Battery Tech Summit at the Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto (ISEP) on May 27.

The event was expertly organised by our dedicated Portuguese partners, ATEC and MOBINOV, and brought together a diverse audience of company representatives, academic experts, and industry stakeholders — all united by a common commitment to a greener, more sustainable future. At the heart of the discussions was the growing importance of the battery sector as a catalyst for Europe’s energy transition and industrial transformation.

A Strategic Vision for Portugal’s Battery Sector

The Summit was conceived to explore the sustainable, strategic, and human development of the battery sector in Portugal. With an approach that connected global transformation with concrete local action, the event fostered a multidisciplinary conversation on how to position Portugal within the fast-evolving global battery value chain.

Through this integrated framework — linking international context, national priorities, industrial development, and the urgency of qualification — the Summit aimed to:

Promote strategic reflection on Portugal’s role in the battery sector, amid global environmental, technological, and geopolitical shifts.
Identify key opportunities for Portugal across the battery value chain.
Debate the technological, economic, and social challenges that lie ahead.
Highlight projects and policies focused on training and empowering national talent.
Stimulate dialogue and collaboration between industry, research institutions, policymakers, and civil society.
Encourage concrete partnerships that contribute to the sustainable and competitive development of the sector.

Programme Highlights

The Battery Tech Summit offered a rich and engaging programme that sparked essential conversations and inspired collaboration across sectors. Some of the key moments from the day included:

A call for forward-thinking leadership, opened by Miguel Pinto (MOBINOV), who emphasized the importance of aligning industry, education, and policy in shaping a sustainable battery ecosystem in Portugal.
A powerful keynote by Raquel Santos (INEGI), who explored how global environmental, technological, and geopolitical shifts are creating both urgency and opportunity for innovation in the battery sector.
A strategic overview of Portugal’s position in the battery value chain, delivered by Fernando Machado (Battery Cluster Portugal), which outlined national strengths and identified areas for growth and international collaboration.
An energizing roundtable on the future of the battery sector, where industry leaders from Edmtech, again, Lusilectra – Salvador Caetano, and REN shared their perspectives on the present challenges and future opportunities in Portugal’s battery landscape.
Insight into the European-level workforce agenda, as João Alves (ATEC) presented the VOLTAGE Project, highlighting how vocational training is being aligned with the evolving needs of the battery industry.
A high-level discussion on skills and education, moderated by João Carlos Costa (ATEC), where academic and industry voices — including Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), DST Group, CCG/ZGDV University of Minho, and a special participation from Helene Stensson, Voltage´s project coordinator, to tell us about a successful case study in Gothenburg – Teknikcollege Sweden. Drawing from Sweden’s experience in aligning education with industry needs, Helene provided valuable insights into how collaborative, hands-on learning environments can empower young people and address the talent gap in emerging industries. Her presentation offered both a practical perspective and a broader reflection on the role of education in supporting Europe’s green and digital transitions, resonating strongly with our goals and inspiring dialogue among participants. This panel was convened to emphasize the importance of cross-border cooperation in talent development.
A spirit of connection and momentum throughout the day, during networking breaks, informal exchanges, and closing reflections by João Costa (ATEC) — leaving participants energized and aligned around a shared mission.

Moving Forward

As with every milestone in our project, the true strength of the Battery Tech Summit lay in the collaboration and commitment of its participants. Their insights, enthusiasm, and openness made the event both productive and inspiring.

We extend our sincere thanks to ATEC and MOBINOV teams involved in the planning for their impeccable organisation and warm hospitality. The Summit marked a key step in aligning national and European efforts to strengthen vocational excellence and strategic positioning in the battery value chain.

And on behalf of the organising team, we extend our warmest thanks to all speakers, panellists, and attendees who joined us at the Battery Tech Summit. Your expertise, openness, and engagement were the heart of this event. Each insight shared and connection made brought us one step closer to building a stronger, greener, and more innovative battery ecosystem in Portugal and beyond.