GoKawiilNeither LeydenJar nor Powall are trying to build an entire battery, and both have commercial relationships with customers in Asia.
But Christian Rood of LeydenJar says companies like his can fortify Europe's position in what has become a global contest.
"The easy comparison is with semiconductors, where there's really a race for the best chip technology.
"[Dutch tech giant] ASML is not producing chips; it focuses on a critical step in the production of chips, and in that way, has a seat at the table when it comes to the whole semiconductor battle.
"This is our ambition as well – to have a position where our battery anode is so unique that we have an important position in the supply chain."
So, how do these ambitions play into Europe's goals in the battery industry?
Alexander Brown is a senior analyst at the Berlin-based independent think-tank the Mercator Institute for China Studies (Merics).
"I think having one part of the supply chain based in Europe is great and if that can be a very advanced technological part, which offers the opportunity for high margins, that's fantastic," Brown tells me.
But he cautions that while "there can be collaboration as well as competition at the same time", China in particular will continue to work to reduce its dependence on other regions.
"China is working very hard to develop local alternatives for technologies, including these niche technologies.
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