Toyota Motor Europe and partners launched an open call to expand and include small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to the Toyota Open Labs innovation platform. The initiative aims to connect SMEs with business units across the Toyota group and support their ambitions to collaborate, scale up and contribute to a sustainable future.

Selected companies will work with key Toyota business units on six strategic categories:

  • BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) Energy Ecosystem: technologies and systems to facilitate energy transition, including grid balancing, energy management, smart charging, and vehicle-to-grid energy transfers.
  • Hydrogen Ecosystem: solutions supporting the development of a hydrogen economy.
  • Carbon Capture and Reduction: technologies to help reduce carbon emissions.
  • Circular Economy: systems for recovery, recycling and reuse of vehicles and components.
  • Smart Communities: solutions supporting vehicle sharing, subscriptions and mobility hubs.
  • Mobility for All: solutions to overcome mobility barriers and address ageing society needs.

Critical themes like AI, education and inclusivity cut across and amplify our efforts in these areas.

Selected companies will have the opportunity to engage with relevant business units opening new partnerships and avenues of growth. They will be able to enhance their business strategy and investment opportunities, make informed product improvements, and build relationships for a global impact.

“By including SMEs on the Toyota Open Labs platform we aim to form strong partnerships where new innovative capabilities are leveraged at scale to accelerate the mobility transformation towards a sustainable future” said Monica Perez Lobo, VP Corporate Affairs and Sustainability at Toyota Motor Europe.

“I’m excited to work closely with Open Labs SMEs as we continue to shape the future of mobility together” stated Laurent Gallois, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Toyota Tsusho Europe

The deadline for applications for SMEs is the 14th of March 2025.

Toyota Open Labs partners include Toyota Tsusho Europe, the trading and supply-chain arm of the Toyota group, KINTO Europe, the Toyota group’s mobility brand, Woven Capital, Toyota’s growth-stage venture fund, and Toyota Mobility Foundation, a non-profit foundation by Toyota.

For more information about the Toyota Open Labs platform and to apply for the program, please visit toyotaopenlabs.com.

About Toyota Motor Europe:

Toyota Motor Europe oversees wholesale sales and marketing of Toyota, GR (Gazoo Racing) and Lexus vehicles in Europe. The company employs over 28,000 people and has invested more than €12 billion in Europe since 1990. For more information, visit www.toyota-europe.com.

About Toyota Open Labs:

Toyota Open Labs is an open innovation platform that unites startups with business units across the Toyota ecosystem to scale innovation and lead the market into the next phase of mobility. The program aims to power Toyota’s transformation to a mobility company by deepening its expertise across energy, the circular economy, carbon-neutral technologies, smart communities and mobility for all initiatives. Partner companies include Toyota Motor Europe, Toyota Tsusho Europe, KINTO Europe, Toyota Mobility Foundation, and Woven Capital. Learn more at toyotaopenlabs.com.

Source: Toyota Motor Europe