Skeleton Technologies and Tallinn University of Technology enter cooperation agreement to turn Estonia into a hub in energy storage and development
This strategic cooperation agreement entails R&D cooperation between Skeleton Technologies and Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech) on future energy storage solutions, especially full modules and systems. It will combine TalTech’s excellence in digitalization and electrical engineering and Skeleton’s leading position in energy storage technology.
As part of this agreement, Skeleton and TalTech will collaborate in applied research, and explore Industry 4.0 automated manufacturing and production techniques. This collaboration also opens the possibility for Skeleton to share its experience as an industry leader with the university, researchers, and students.
The two parties already have a history of cooperation, through initiatives such as Formula Student Team Tallinn. Currently, more than half of Skeleton’s employees in Tallinn office are TalTech Alumni or students.
Skeleton Technologies and Tallinn University of Technology (TalTech) have signed today an agreement that lays out the terms for extended cooperation, utilizing synergies between both partners and aligning towards the future of energy storage.
Skeleton and TalTech will collaborate on research in modules, systems and solutions for energy storage technology, including Skeleton’s next generation of products also known as SuperBattery. They will also explore new Industry 4.0 manufacturing and production techniques, including machine learning and automation of processes in industrial energy storage production. This cooperation will contribute to building up a strong energy storage competence in Estonia and strengthen research in energy storage both in Estonia and more widely in Europe.
“We felt the need to combine our academic and business mindsets not only because Skeleton is always looking for new talents but also to foster innovation. This is particularly crucial, given that, in fast-growing companies, development cycles shrink”, Skeleton’s CEO and co-founder Taavi Madiberk says.
Tiit Land, Rector of TalTech, emphasized the importance of cooperation between the private sector and the Academy: “The forthcoming collaboration will take R&D collaboration with Skeleton to a new level and add a new dimension as we begin to offer special training programs for engineers at Skeleton’s factory and R&D center."
This initiative will contribute to narrowing the gap between basic and applied research, allowing academics to bring their research closer to the market and industry’s needs. Skeleton will also share its experience as an industry leader with the university, researchers and students.
“Our ambition is to ensure that our activities in Estonia create a hub for energy storage research and development, and, in this sector and in cleantech in general, the best way to make it happen is by building innovation ecosystems, where companies, researchers and public institutions work together. We are confident this will benefit the Estonian and European economy through spillover effects”, he explains.
“Our laboratory has active research cooperation with Skeleton Technologies during last 5 years. We have completed together a flexible, electrospun supercapacitor development project under European Space Agency (ESA) Industry Incentive Scheme and starting an electrospun separator development project under ESA General Support Technology Programme. All the research is dedicated to space industry, providing more durable and efficient energy storage products for Skeleton Technologies. Some of the results are patent pending. Also, an industrial doctoral student from Skeleton Technologies, studying in our laboratory should graduate during this year,” said Andres Krumme, a professor of polymer technology at TalTech
This collaboration could act as a blueprint for further cooperation between the academic and business worlds in the cleantech sector, underlining the contribution of science and universities to solve global challenges.
