Partnership agreement for sustainable vehicles signed

Tomorrow’s electric vehicles will need highly efficient, sustainable batteries. Uppsala University and Volvo Cars will develop mutually beneficial collaborations, for example on education..

Increased battery charging capacity and range, as well as manufacturing methods and choice of materials, minerals and components, all contribute to the transition to a sustainable vehicle fleet. Uppsala University has a strong international profile in the field of battery research and a brand new, attractive master’s programme in battery technology. Volvo Cars can offer exciting degree projects, tangible research challenges and interesting jobs. Both parties see multiple reasons to forge closer ties and are therefore entering into a partnership agreement.

“Volvo has a long tradition of building on innovation and enormous expertise in vehicle manufacturing. Collaborations between universities and industry stimulate the development of both parties. Sweden is undergoing strong growth in the battery sector, and we share a great interest in contributing to sustainable energy solutions. We are looking forward to a more intensive collaboration,” says Anders Hagfeldt, vice-chancellor of Uppsala University.

Key to success

Volvo Cars sees collaboration between industry and academia as key to the company’s future success, not only in the field of battery technology and electrification but eventually in areas such as physics, chemistry and IT.

“Collaboration between industry and higher education is vital to achieving sustainable solutions that benefit society. We therefore welcome a more intensive collaboration with

Uppsala University and look forward to exploring and studying new technologies together with the pool of talent in the Uppsala region,” says Mats Moberg, senior vice president of R&D at the Volvo Car Group in Gothenburg.

“If we are to create sustainable transport, it is important that we grasp every opportunity to engage in research and development in the field. A collaboration and exchange of knowledge between academia in Uppsala and engineers at Volvo Cars will open the way for new solutions for the future,” says Karin Thorn, vice president of vehicle propulsion at Volvo Cars’ R&D division in Gothenburg.

Collaboration on education

The idea behind the partnership is that it will prove mutually beneficial. Within the framework of the partnership, collaboration is planned on education, including degree projects, the development of new study programmes and training and education linked to lifelong learning projects. The partners also see enormous potential for increased research mobility between organisations and seminars, to identify common ideas and projects.

The strategic agreement that has now been signed is the fifth of its kind for Uppsala University and is similar to agreements entered into with Hitachi Energy, NCC, Uppsala Municipality and Region Gotland. The programme for the day of signing also included presentations of planned activities and visits to two labs at the Ångström Laboratory.