Cross-Border Innovation Takes Flight: Battle of Powers 2025

On 19 November 2025, the second edition of Battle of Powers – Sustainable Aviation brought together more than 50 participants from Münsterland, Emscher-Lippe, Overijssel and Gelderland at Technology Base Twente. The goal of the initiative was to strengthen collaboration between the battery and hydrogen communities and to explore the future of sustainable aviation. The event once again demonstrated the power of cross-border collaboration in shaping the future of aviation.

At TECH.LAND, we firmly believe that sustainable aviation will be defined not by a single technology, but by joint innovation across regions, disciplines and borders. The success of Battle of Powers is proof that this collaborative approach works.

Highlights

Aero Team Eindhoven and DroneTeam Twente presented their latest drone technologies.
Fleetboost – Energy. Anywhere. Anytime. showcased the Fleet Booster 20, a mobile charging system with 1 MWh / 400 kW capacity, capable of powering EVs directly on the airfield — a flexible, grid-independent solution.

Insights from Experts

Speakers from Mönchengladbach Airport (MGL), NLR – Netherlands Aerospace Centre, Fraunhofer FFB, Elysian Aircraft, ZBT, DEAC Teuge, and Münster/Osnabrück Airport (FMO) highlighted the current technological and regulatory challenges.

Frank Wokke (NLR) summarized the hurdles succinctly:

“Batteries need significantly higher energy densities for long-haul flights. Hydrogen combustion struggles with NOx, and fuel cells generate heat that is difficult to manage in flight.”

The Interreg project MOMO-C was also presented, demonstrating successful cross-border collaboration with partners including Fraunhofer FFB, University of Twente, NRG2fly, and FMO.

Key Takeaways

From presentations and discussions with experts from NLR, Fraunhofer FFB, Elysian Aircraft, ZBT, DEAC Teuge, and airports like Mönchengladbach and Münster/Osnabrück, three major insights emerged:

Faster regulation and experimental spaces are crucial for innovation – the aviation sector needs regulatory frameworks that allow rapid testing and implementation of new technologies.
Airports face infrastructure challenges but can become energy hubs – by integrating charging solutions, hydrogen systems, and renewable energy, airports can play a central role in the net-zero ecosystem.
No single technology will dominate – batteries, hydrogen, and eSAF will all play complementary roles in achieving climate-neutral flight.

Additionally, the discussions highlighted a further insight: new technical solutions can create opportunities for regional air traffic, opening pathways for innovation in local aviation networks.

Why This Matters for B2B Leaders

For companies, investors, and technology providers, cross-border initiatives like Battle of Powers illustrate how collaborative ecosystems accelerate innovation. By engaging with partners across regions, organizations can:

Reduce time-to-market for sustainable technologies
Test and scale new solutions efficiently
Access regional infrastructure and expertise that would be difficult to replicate alone
The message is clear: sustainable aviation and future mobility will only succeed when companies, research institutions, and regions work together.

Strong Partnerships Drive Results

The initiative was led and organized by a strong German-Dutch network: TECH.LAND, Technologieförderung Münster (TFM), WiN Emscher-Lippe, IHK Nord Westfalen, Oost NL, and Twente Board, with additional support from Interreg Deutschland-Nederland. The success of this collaborative approach underscores the importance of structured partnerships in driving technological progress.