Storyrunner production in collaboration with SIM² KU Leuven

Why this documentary?

Is Europe really sleepwalking into an abyss? Will the looming tsunami of Chinese electric vehicles obliterate the European car manufacturing industry? The documentary “Made in Europe” investigates the challenges faced by Europe as it attempts to set up its own, fully integrated, mine-to-EV value chain. The film acts as a wake-up call to avoid that Europe’s decarbonisation strategy leads to a nightmarish de-industrialisation. Instead, the documentary shows that Europe’s transition to climate neutrality can go hand in hand with a cleantech-based re-industrialisation. Made-in-Europe. The film's presenter, Peter Tom Jones, undertakes a road trip in the Nordic countries, starting at the iconic Aitik and Kiruna mines in the North of Sweden, after which he visits key locations in South Finland (Espoo, Harjavalta, Uusikaupunki, Salo) in search of best practices in responsible refining, battery production and EV assembly. As well as descending 1,400 metres underground and interviewing company leaders and experts, Jones engages with a key spokesperson from the indigenous, reindeer-herding Sami people in their homeland of Sapmi, before going on to meet with local citizens in the Arctic town of Kiruna. Because of the importance of the EU's Critical Raw Materials Act and its likely impact on everything related to EVs, Jones sits down with the European Commission’s Executive Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič to obtain a view from Brussels.

Key data

Team: Director: Stijn Van Baarle (Storyrunner) ׀ Presenter: Peter Tom Jones (SIM² KU Leuven) ׀ Camera man: Michael Van de Velde ׀ Sound technicians: Casimir De Kimpe & Marius Acke ׀ Graphic designer: Jasper Vander Elst

Funding: Co-funding through Horizon Europe EXCEED, Horizon Europe ENICON and SIM2/SOLVOMET KU Leuven.

Featuring, amongst others, Jan Moström, Ulrika Huhtaniska, Stefan Mikaelsson, Anders Sand, Paivi Kinnunen, Esa Peuraniemi, Matthew Congleton, Pasi Rannus, Maroš Šefčovič

Acknowledgements & funding

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or HADEA and CINEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. Co-funded by KU Leuven (SIM² KU Leuven and SOLVOMET)

More information?

Contact Dr. Peter Tom Jones at KU Leuven (https://www.kuleuven.be/wieiswie/en/p...)