Toyota Motor Europe and partners have launched an open call for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to apply to join the Toyota Open Labs innovation platform.

The call covers six strategic categories, including battery electric vehicles and hydrogen ecosystem solutions

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.

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.

The call covers six strategic categories, ranging from battery electric vehicle (BEV), energy ecosystem development and carbon capture and reduction, to hydrogen ecosystem solutions and providing mobility for all.

The deadline for applications is 14 March 2025, after which the Toyota Open Labs team will review each submission to select the most promising candidates.

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

Monica Perez Lobo, Vice president corporate affairs and sustainability at Toyota Motor Europe, said: “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.”

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