Dutch battery mission to China
Building next-generation partnerships across the battery value chain
From 10 to 16 May 2026, a Dutch public-private battery delegation visited China’s Yangtze River Delta and Greater Bay Area, with participation in CIBF2026 in Shenzhen as the central highlight of the programme. Organised by the Netherlands Innovation Network China, the Netherlands Business Support Offices in Nanjing and Shenzhen, BOM and Battery Competence Cluster NL (BCC NL), the mission brought together Dutch companies, research institutes and ecosystem organisations active across the battery value chain.
China and the Netherlands: complementary strengths
China remains the world’s leading hub for battery manufacturing and industrial scale-up, while the Netherlands plays an important role as a European gateway with strengths in high-tech systems, advanced materials and circular solutions. Together, these complementary capabilities create opportunities for cooperation in batteries and energy storage.
Throughout the mission, Chinese stakeholders expressed strong interest in collaboration with Dutch partners that can help connect Chinese innovations to European markets, standards and sustainability requirements. Dutch expertise in equipment, process control, digitalisation, battery management and recycling was widely recognised as complementary to China’s manufacturing scale and speed.
For the Netherlands and Europe, such partnerships are not only about market access and technology exchange. They can also contribute to strengthening a resilient, competitive and sustainable European battery value chain by accelerating innovation and supporting industrial development.
High visibility at CIBF2026
At CIBF2026, the Dutch delegation hosted a collective NL Pavilion in Hall 3, providing a platform for participating organisations to showcase technologies and engage with Chinese partners. The programme included targeted matchmaking activities, participation in the China International Battery Industry Cooperation Summit (CIBICS), a dedicated Netherlands sub-forum, and networking events organised with Dutch diplomatic representations and local partners.
The Dutch presence highlighted expertise in advanced battery materials, battery management systems, testing and validation, recycling technologies and circular business models. Media coverage and stakeholder engagement around the event reflected growing interest in deeper Sino-Dutch cooperation across the battery ecosystem.
Innovation, sustainability and industrial development
Across company visits, cluster meetings and fair activities, three themes consistently emerged: innovation, sustainability and long-term partnership.
Dutch participants gained valuable insights into the scale and pace of Chinese industrial development, while Chinese organisations showed interest in Dutch capabilities in specialised equipment, process optimisation and digital manufacturing. Discussions also focused on opportunities for joint R&D, pilot projects and demonstration activities that could support the industrialisation of next-generation battery technologies.
Circularity and resource efficiency featured prominently throughout the programme. Topics included battery recycling, second-life applications, lifecycle management and the evolving regulatory frameworks in both Europe and China. These discussions reinforced the importance of collaboration across the full value chain to improve sustainability and resource security.
Looking ahead
BCC NL played an important role in connecting Dutch industrial and knowledge partners, facilitating matchmaking and strengthening relationships with leading Chinese battery clusters. The mission was positioned not as a stand-alone event, but as part of a broader, multi-year agenda for international cooperation.
During the mission, Ambassador André Haspels emphasised that more sustainable and resilient battery supply chains will be needed over the coming years and that international cooperation is essential to achieving this. Global challenges such as climate change, electrification and the energy transition require collaboration across borders.
At the same time, BCC NL sees international partnerships as an important instrument for strengthening the Dutch and European battery ecosystem. While cooperation remains essential for accelerating innovation and building resilient supply chains, it can also contribute to local value creation through innovation, manufacturing, circularity, investment and talent development in Europe. By combining global expertise with European industrial ambitions, these collaborations can help build a competitive, sustainable and increasingly “Made in Europe” battery value chain.
Building on the relationships and insights gained during the week, BCC-NL and its partners aim to develop follow-up missions, joint innovation projects and stronger links between Dutch and Chinese ecosystems. In doing so, they seek to contribute to the next generation of battery and energy storage solutions while supporting the long-term competitiveness and sustainability of the European battery sector.
