Strong interest in the battery industry in Tampere – Nordic Battery Summit 2026 drew a record number of attendees

Pictures: Vesku Latvala, video: Joona Nieminen, Kipinä Films

The number of participants set a new record for the Nordic Battery Summit, which is held on a rotating basis in different Nordic countries. The growing interest in the event reflects the ongoing transformation of the energy sector and the increasing importance of energy storage and transmission solutions.

It was truly valuable to bring together such an impressive group of leading Finnish and international industry experts, says Pirkko Eteläaho from Business Tampere.

Nordic Battery Summit kicked off on 18 May with a networking evening set against the backdrop of beautiful lakeside scenery, hosted by Tampere’s Automotive and Vehicle Technology Cluster. During the evening, participants learned about the region’s expertise in vehicle and off-highway machinery technology, connected with industry stakeholders, and experienced Finnish sauna culture through a traditional smoke sauna.

Nordic Cooperation as a Competitive Advantage for the Battery Industry

The first day of the event was opened by Ilkka Homanen, Programme Director at Business Finland, Hanna Brasar from Business Sweden, and Benedicte Fasmer Waaler from Innovation Norway. Their opening remarks highlighted the strong position and competitiveness of the Nordic battery industry in international markets. This success was attributed in particular to the close cooperation between Finland, Sweden, and Norway, which has strengthened in recent years both among the Nordic countries and across Europe as part of efforts to accelerate the energy transition.

A key strength of the Nordic region is the presence of the entire battery value chain—from raw materials and material production to strong demand for batteries and battery cells. By combining the expertise and resources of the Nordic countries, the region is able to offer a highly competitive ecosystem on the global stage.

The event programme focused on trends in the battery industry, the latest applications, and emerging technologies. It also explored the opportunities that artificial intelligence can bring to battery development and manufacturing.

A glimpse of the event atmosphere:

A Strategic Challenge for Europe

One of the day’s keynote speakers was Bo Normark from EIT InnoEnergy. In his presentation, he examined developments in the global battery industry, with a particular focus on China’s strengthened position as the sector’s leading player. According to Normark, China’s success is built on a long-term industrial policy, strong domestic supply chains, and a vast domestic market.

At the same time, he highlighted the challenges facing Europe’s battery industry and emphasized the need for closer cooperation across the continent.

We are not acting as a united Europe, but as independent countries.

According to Normark, Europe must strengthen its common industrial strategy in order to compete in the global battery market and reduce its dependence on external actors.

Circular Economy, Research and Innovation as Drivers of Growth

Bozorg Khanbaei of BEPA (Batteries European Partnership Association), representing Europe’s battery research and innovation ecosystem, emphasized in his presentation that future battery policy must address the entire value chain, from raw materials to end-use applications.

Marcus Martisson of Stena Recycling highlighted the crucial role of the circular economy in enabling the sustainable growth of the battery industry, while Truls Johansen of Elinor Batteries examined the current state of Europe’s battery sector and its future opportunities.

Digitalisation and artificial intelligence also featured prominently in discussions about the future. Kristin Sand Bakken of Corvus Energy presented how maritime battery solutions are already leveraging vast amounts of data for predictive maintenance, enhanced safety, and battery lifetime optimisation.

Strong Participation from Companies in the Tampere Region

Companies from the Tampere region were strongly represented at the event. Participants included Avant Tecno, Avant Power, Merus Power, TheStorage, Nokian Panimo, Kalmar, CeLLife Technologies, Celltech Solutions and Enico. During company visits organised on the second day of the event, these companies showcased their expertise in energy storage, electrification, and sustainable energy solutions for industry.

The electrification of mobile work machines operating in demanding environments was a recurring theme in several presentations and panel discussions. The Tampere region has established itself as a pioneer in this field, both in industry and research. Among the organisations addressing the topic in their presentations were members of the SIX Mobile Work Machines Cluster, including Ponsse, Epec, Ioncor and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland.

A total of 12 exhibitors participated in the jointly organised exhibition: Advenica, CeLLife Technologies, Epec, Ioncor, Lumikko, TheStorage, Tampere University of Applied Sciences (TAMK), VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Tredu, Yrityssalo, Lahti Region Electric Mobility Cluster and Business Tampere.

Nordic Battery Summit provided a unique meeting place for Nordic and European stakeholders. Energy storage, electrification, and supply chain security have emerged as key drivers of competitiveness. The discussions held in Tampere demonstrated that interest in the future of the battery industry is stronger and more timely than ever before.

The was organized by Business Tampere and the Nordic Battery Collaboration, comprising Business Finland, Business Sweden, and Innovation Norway, with support from Nordic Innovation and the European Battery Alliance.