Elkem enters strategic partnership with Startuplab to drive green industrial technology innovation

Oslo, 17 October 2024 - Elkem ASA, a global leader in the production of advanced silicon-based materials, and Startuplab, Norway’s leading incubator and early-stage investor for ambitious technology startups, have entered a strategic partnership to accelerate the development of green industrial technologies and digital solutions.

“Elkem strives to be at the forefront of technological advancements, continuously exploring new ways of manufacturing our existing product-portfolio more sustainably and efficiently, and developing new products for a better world. This collaboration with Startuplab is a testament to our commitment to open innovation. It will pave the way for partnerships that will explore new frontiers in material science, energy efficiency, and digitalisation,” says Louis Vovelle, Elkem’s senior vice president of innovation and R&D.

One of the partnership’s key objectives is to accelerate the development of cutting-edge technologies. Startuplab provides a dynamic environment where startups can work with industry majors such as Elkem through knowledge exchange and collaborative projects to grow their ideas into sustainable businesses. This interplay not only speeds up the innovation process, but also ensures that the technologies developed are aligned with market needs and sustainability goals.

“Startups often bring forward solutions that are both cost-effective and innovative. They operate at a completely different pace in developing and scaling new solutions compared to large corporations. Having a strong industrial player like Elkem involved is highly valuable for Norwegian entrepreneurs who want to validate their solutions and scale them internationally. In addition, Elkem’s leadership in energy-efficient production and its contributions to sustainable materials, present some very exciting opportunities for several promising Norwegian startups,” says Christina Wiig, head of partnerships at Startuplab.

Elkem is recognised for its open and innovative mindset, with more than 30 collaborative projects across Norway and Europe with startups, small to large enterprises, academic institutions and clusters. The company’s Research & Innovation (R&I) ranges from work on energy efficiency and CO₂ emission reduction, circular economy, new materials and digitalisation.

Elkem is notably piloting CO₂-free silicon production through a ground-breaking concept that involves capturing and recycling the carbon in the production process. Other pilot projects include the development of 3D-printed metal components for electric scooter motors from iron-silicon powder, and 3D-printed silicones for the aeronautics and health care industries with the startup 3Deus Dynamics, in which Elkem owns a stake. In line with its climate strategy, Elkem is also involved in circular economy-related projects, which include chemical and mechanical silicone recycling, recovery of rare earth elements from magnets and recycling of waste streams from aluminium production.

“By collaborating with Startuplab and its dynamic ecosystem, Elkem can tap into the innovation potential of startups, strengthening our workplace culture of experimentation and creativity, and enhancing our competitiveness. This is important to realise Elkem’s strategy for sustainable, profitable growth and specialisation,” says Håvard Moe, Elkem’s senior vice president for technology.

Elkem devotes considerable effort to R&I activities, with more than 3.5% of 2023 revenues dedicated to new products and new processes, 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 within the past five years represent more than 15% of Elkem’s turnover.

“Digital transformation is a key focus for Elkem, and our partnership with Startuplab will accelerate this journey. We are enhancing efficiency and performance by integrating digital tools, including VR training for hazardous situations and advanced fire detection to improve safety. These innovations strengthen our position in a rapidly evolving market,” Lyudmyla Vynnytska, digitalisation director at Elkem, concludes.