Ioncor is Turku UAS’s new key partner

Turku University of Applied Sciences and Ioncor have signed a Key Partnership agreement.

In the photo, Mika Laurén, leader of the Engine and Powertrain Research Group, Heikki Saariluoma, leader of the Manufacturing Engineering Research Group, Marko Nurmenniemi, Senior Manager at Ioncor, and Mika Kauppila and Mikael Mäki from Ioncor, Marko Kortetmäki, Head of Education and Research at Turku UAS, Mikko Haavisto, representing the Cognitive Technologies Research Group, and Teppo Neuvonen, leader of the Industrial Management Research Group.

Turku University of Applied Sciences and Ioncor have signed a joint Key Partnership agreement.

Ioncor is one of Europe’s leading manufacturers of battery systems for electric vehicles. It produces, develops and tests battery systems for cars, heavy vehicles and off-road machinery. The company has offices in Turku, Uusikaupunki, Salo, Helsinki, Kirchardt and Munich in Germany.

The aim of the Key Partnership agreement signed in March is to develop the expertise and operations of Turku University of Applied Sciences and Ioncor together and to find new forms of cooperation in the future.

The partnership relates to students and studies, staff and skills, research and development and communication. This cooperation will be systematically promoted.

− The key partnership with Ioncor strengthens the extensive and long-term cooperation between Turku UAS and the business community. The partnership provides a genuine link to the rapidly developing battery and electric vehicle technologies. This opens up new opportunities for research and development and offers a wide range of cooperation possibilities in education, says Marko Kortetmäki, Head of Education and Research at Turku UAS.

According to Kortetmäki, cooperation is already well underway.

− Several joint project applications are being prepared and the first business case is already underway for the testing and development of laser technology solutions for new production systems, Kortetmäki says.

New forms of cooperation

Turku UAS has strong RDI expertise in various fields, for example in the faculties of Engineering and ICT & Industrial Engineering. The research groups at Turku UAS, such as Cognitive Technologies, Manufacturing Engineering, Engine and Powertrain and Industrial Management, will seek to find more forms of cooperation with Ioncor in the future. The aim is also to develop education.

− In line with its strategy, Ioncor is expanding its expertise to cover the entire lifecycle of battery systems, from design and procurement through production to aftermarket services. The cooperation between Ioncor and Turku UAS now opens up opportunities for both students and Turku UAS to participate in all aspects of global industrial operations, says Marko Nurmenniemi, Ioncor’s Senior Manager.

Ioncor’s factory in Salo is located in the same Salo IoT Campus building with the Salo campus of Turku UAS.

A key partnership means working together across the board. The content and objectives of the partnership are defined between the partners. The aim is long-term cooperation that benefits both parties and the whole of Southwest Finland.