Arkema recently announced that it has become a shareholder and technological partner of Verkor, a French startup specializing in the production of high-performance batteries. With this investment, Arkema reports that it is strengthening its development in batteries and clean mobility.

Arkema contributed several million euros to Verkor’s recent €100 million (approximately $118.7 million) round of fundraising, which will enable the construction of the Verkor Innovation Center near Grenoble as well as the launch of a gigafactory dedicated to battery production (construction is expected to start in 2023). The Verkor Innovation Center, which should be operational in 2022, will provide a collaborative space to optimize smart industrial processes and create new generations of batteries.

The project involves close technological collaboration with leading partners such as Renault Group, EQT Ventures, EIT InnoEnergy, Groupe IDEC, Schneider Electric, Capgemini, Tokai Cobex, and Demeter. Arkema reports that it will bring its range of high-performance materials and products for batteries and will thus participate in setting up an integrated industrial battery production chain in Europe that will help meet the expected strong growth in demand.

Learn more about Arkema at www.arkema.com.