A professorship in battery technology is donated today to the University of Turku. The electrification of mobility emphasizes the role of battery technology for Valmet Automotive, and the professorship will take the company closer to the goal of bringing Finnish engineering expertise to the top of the world in battery technology.
The automotive industry is going through a historic change, and electrification is the leading trend. In Valmet Automotive’s strategy, all business lines are developing their operations considering the needs of e-mobility. Batteries are central to the company’s growth, and the goal is to significantly expand the battery business in the coming years.
– Battery technology has a strategic role for Valmet Automotive. We aim to become one of the leading battery manufacturers in the automotive industry. The professorship strengthens our position and supports our ambition to become a system supplier also in automotive batteries, says Jyrki Nurmi, SVP, EV Systems, Valmet Automotive.
The professorship in battery technology is donated to machine and material engineering, where the University of Turku will begin its Master’s Degree Program this year. The professorship is also important for building a Finnish battery cluster, and thus it has both regional and national significance.
– We are grateful for the support of local organizations for technology education and research. This is a significant investment in the development of the economic region and ensuring its competitiveness, says Jukka Kola, Rector, University of Turku.
The professorship of battery technology is funded by Valmet Automotive, City of Salo, Lounea, Osuuspankki, Kesko, Someron säästöpankki, SSO, Lähitapiola, Finnfoam, Foundation Juho Leino, Salon messut, Fortum, Foundation Juha Punta and Salo Chamber of Commerce. The donations cover the professorship for five years.
Additional information:
Mikael Mäki, Manager, Corporate Communications, Valmet Automotive
Mobile: +358 50 317 4308
mikael.maki(at)valmet-automotive.com
www.valmet-automotive.com
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The Valmet Automotive Group is one of the largest vehicle contract manufacturers in the world, Tier 1 systems supplier to roof systems and a key development partner to the global automotive industry. In its strategic development, Valmet Automotive Group focuses on electromobility with developing and supplying modules as well as battery systems. The activities in the group are divided into the four business lines: Manufacturing, Engineering, EV Systems and Roof & Kinematic Systems. Since its founding in 1968, Valmet Automotive has produced more than 1.5 million vehicles at the Uusikaupunki, Finland plant. In Salo, near the Uusikaupunki plant, Valmet Automotive opened its first volume production of batteries for the automotive industry in autumn 2019. The company has locations in Finland, Germany, Poland and Spain. The largest shareholders in the Valmet Automotive Group are state-owned Finnish investment company Tesi and the Pontos Group, each with a stake of 38.46 percent. 23.08 percent is held by the Chinese Contemporary Amperes Technology Limited (CATL), the world’s leading manufacturer of batteries and battery cells for electric vehicles.