Strategic autonomy in supply chains: insights from procurement of battery production equipment

Other conference contribution, 2025

We examine the intersection of procurement and asset management during new industrialization, focusing specifically on equipment procurement within the emerging European battery production industry. Driven by strategic autonomy, sustainability, and geopolitical competition, European manufacturers invest in greenfield factories for battery cells and packs but face significant setbacks in scaling and ramp-up. Through engaged scholarship and focus groups with automakers and battery cell manufacturers, we identify four emerging themes of procurement challenges: knowledge and learning, cross-functional integration, intercultural communication, and supply chain immaturity. By bridging procurement with asset life cycle considerations, we propose new research pathways for purchasing and supply management.