The German government will fund a research facility to offer firms in Germany know-how to develop battery cells for electric vehicles (EVs), the science minister said on Wednesday, seeking to compete with Asian producers which dominate the industry.

Anja Karliczek said her ministry would invest 500 million euros ($568 million) to support research into both existing and next-generation EV battery cell technology.

“The German car industry shouldn’t depend on Asian suppliers,” Karliczek told a business conference in Berlin. “This is not only a question of independence, but also a question of keeping the German economy competitive.”

The new facility aims to transfer known-how from Germany’s Fraunhofer science institute to private firms, helping reduce the risk for companies ready to start EV battery production.
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