Oslo,17October2024-ElkemASA,aglobal leader intheproductionofadvanced silicon-basedmaterials,andStartuplab,Norway’s leadingincubatorandearly-stage investor forambitious technologystartups, haveenteredastrategicpartnership to acceleratethedevelopmentofgreenindustrial technologiesanddigitalsolutions.
“Elkemstrives tobeat the forefront of technological advancements, continuously exploringnewwaysofmanufacturingourexistingproduct-portfoliomoresustainably andefficiently, anddevelopingnewproducts for abetterworld. Thiscollaboration withStartuplabisatestament toourcommitment toopeninnovation. Itwillpavethe way for partnerships that will explore new frontiers inmaterial science, energy efficiency, anddigitalisation,” saysLouisVovelle,Elkem’ssenior vicepresident of innovationandR&D.
One of the partnership’skey objectives is to accelerate the development of cutting edge technologies. Startuplab provides a dynamic environmen twhere startups can work with industry majors such as Elkem through knowledge exchange and collaborative projects to grow their ideas into sustainable businesses.This interplay notonlyspeedsup the innovationprocess,butalsoensures that thetechnologies developed are aligned with market needs and sustainability goals.
“Startupsoftenbring forwardsolutions that arebothcost-effectiveand innovative. They operate at acompletely different pace in developing and scaling new solutions compared to large corporations.Having a strong industrialplayer like Elkem involved is highly valuable for Norwegian entrepreneurs who want tovalidatetheirsolutions and scale them internationally. In addition, Elkem’s leadership inenergy-efficient production and its contributions to sustainable materials,present some very exciting opportunities for several promising Norwegian startups,”says Christina Wiig,headof partnerships at Startuplab.
Elkem is recognized for its open and innovativemindset, withmore than 30 collaborative projects across Norway and Europewith startups, small to large enterprises, academic institutions and clusters. The company’s Research & Innovation(R&I) ranges from work one nergy efficiency and CO₂ emissionr eduction, circular economy,new materials and digitalization.
Elkem is notably pilotingCO₂-free silicon production through a ground-breaking concept that involves capturing and recycling the carbon in the production process. Other pilot projects include thedevelopment of 3D-printedmetal components for electric scooter motors from iron-siliconpowder, and3D-printedsilicones for the aeronautics and healthcare industrieswith thestartup3DeusDynamics, inwhich Elkemownsastake. In line with its climatestrategy,Elkem is also involvedincircular economy-relatedprojects,which include chemical and mechanical silicone recycling, recovery of rare earth elements from magnets and recycling of waste streams from aluminum production.
“By collaborating with Startuplab and its dynamic ecosystem,Elkem can tapintothe innovation potential of startups, strengthening our workplace culture of experimentation and creativity,and enhancing our competitiveness.This is important to realize Elkem’s strategy for sustainable,profitable growth and specialization,”says HåvardMoe,Elkem’s senior vice president for technology.
Elkem devotes considerable effort to R&I activities,withmore than3.5%of 2023 revenues dedicated to new products and newprocesses, including technical support to customers. Through this investment, channeled through more than 550 researchers around the world, the R&I teams filed more than 35 new patents during the year.New products introduced with in thepast fiveyears representmore than 15%ofElkem’sturnover.
“Digital transformation is a key focus for Elkem,and our partnership with Startuplab will accelerate this journey. We are enhancing efficiency and performance by integratingdigital tools, includingVR training for hazardous situations and advanced firedetection to improve safety. These innovations strengthen our position ina rapidly evolving market,” Lyudmyla Vynnytska, digitalization director at Elkem, concludes.