Together with over a dozen specialists in technologies and industries of the future including the European Battery Academy (EBA) supported by EIT InnoEnergy and Grenoble INP – UGA, Verkor – a French industrial company based in Grenoble – is launching the ‘École de la Batterie’ to meet the workforce needs of the French battery sector. This academy dedicated to professions in the battery sector will open its doors in September 2022.
The French government has engaged a strategy under the France 2030 investment plan toreindustrialise the automotive sector. This will involve the electrification of vehicles, making the manufacture of electric batteries critical to the plan. Yet the French battery sector will need to train 40,000 people every year between now and the end of the decade to give France the workforce it needs to become a leader in this future industry.
To tackle this industrial challenge, and in line with its commitment to collectively build a sustainable future, Verkor formed a consortium of 11 partners to develop new training programmes for all qualification levels, from technical training certificates to PhDs. Over 70 new or adapted initial training programmes will be offered to high school and engineering school students, undergraduates and postgraduates, via institutions including Grenoble INP – UGA and HESAM Université. Job seekers and employees pursuing a career change or new opportunities in the sector can choose between some 60 modules offered by local training centres like AFPA and IMT Grenoble.
All training will take place in the Auvergne Rhône-Alpes region at various training centres and members of the consortium. “The emerging battery industry in Europe is at the forefront of the energy transition. Its organisational structure and competitiveness will depend on the deployment of a qualified workforce throughout the value chain. To meet the challenge of skills in this sector, the European Battery Academy is working in partnership with training and industrial players in Europe to accelerate the deployment of battery training.”, said Karine Vernier, CEO EIT InnoEnergy France
Every year, 1,600 will receive job training in manufacturing, engineering, industrial engineering, electrochemistry research and development, thermal engineering, mechanical engineering, and team management. By 2030, over 8,000 people will be suitably qualified in battery professions, meeting local needs at the very least.
Source:batteryindustry
