Business Finland is organizing a Trade Mission to the United States and Canada for Finnish battery and smart sustainable manufacturing companies. The mission is in two parts: first a visit to the Battery Show in Detroit, Michigan, USA on October 7-9, 2024, followed by visits to automotive manufacturing companies in southern Ontario, Canada on October 10-11, 2024. The aim is to help create connections with companies and their decision-makers in the battery industry.
Battery manufacturing in North America has been undergoing a massive boom since the United States passed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in the fall of 2022. From that point, both general spending on construction of manufacturing facilities, as well as plans for battery gigafactories have doubled. This increase is mirrored in the Canadian province of Ontario as well, which has seen $25 billion in new auto investments, out of which almost $8 billion in electric vehicle battery plants.
The Battery Show is the largest expo in this domain in North America, with 19 thousand attendees and more than 1,150 suppliers on display in 2023. It caters both to EV batteries as well as Energy Storage Systems (ESS). This year the show is at a new venue that has a separate section for recycling solutions as well. The location, Detroit, is home to America’s car manufacturers (headquarters of Ford, GM, and Chrysler) and the heartland of American manufacturing. Last year’s Nordic Mingle networking event, co-organized by Business Finland, had around 100 guests.
Ontario, Canada is home to a large and vibrant automotive industry, largely set up to supply American car manufacturers. Canada historically has very smooth trade relations with the United States, continued today by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), making Canadian manufacturing also an easy way to enter the U.S. market. 10 EV battery companies will open battery plants in Ontario, including: Ford, GM, Honda, Volkswagen, Stellantis, Magna. The Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), includes duties elimination on 99% of all tariff lines thus, making it easier for Finnish companies to export to Canada.
The visit program consists of multiple site visits and networking events as well as time at the Battery Show. Interested? Register by 29 April 2024! Kindly note that participation is limited to 15 company representatives on a first-come - first served basis. Note that each company representative needs to register for the visit individually.
Who should attend?
The visit is aimed for Finnish companies and research organizations that have new innovations and export solutions in the battery and smart manufacturing areas.
Practicalities
To cover the costs of arranging the visit to the USA and to Canada, Business Finland will charge a participation fee. The participation fee has been divided per country and it is possible to choose in which part of the program you would like to participate in, through the registration.
To cover the expenses of arranging the visit to the USA during 7-9 October 2024, Business Finland will charge a participation fee.
- Micro businesses and SMEs: EUR 1400 + 24% VAT per person
- Major companies: EUR 1650 + 24% VAT per person
To cover the expenses of arranging the visit to Canada during 10-11 October 2024, Business Finland will charge a participation fee.
- Micro businesses and SMEs: EUR 990 + 24% VAT per person
- Major companies: EUR 1160 + 24% VAT per person
Business Finland will invoice the participation fee after the visit based on the actual costs. The invoiced fee will not exceed the amounts mentioned above. Kindly note that the participation fee does not include flights or accommodation of the participant nor meals outside the business delegation program.
Registration fees for the Battery Show are not included in the participation fee. However, access to the Show floor is usually free for registered attendees. Business Finland will provide more information regarding the registration process for those who take part in this trade mission.
