Pulsedeon: Business Finland's support opened the way to become a key player in Horizon projects
"The cooperation with Business Finland has brought our know-how to the level where we are now an attractive partner in EU projects and for industrial partners," says Jari Liimatainen, Pulsedeon's CEO and founding member.
Pulsedeon's patent portfolio includes solutions for making the batteries of the future smaller, safer and more efficient, with a production process that will have a significantly lower environmental impact. Founded in 2018 and based in Tampere and Ii, Pulsedeon's technology plays a central role in the battery industry's Horizon projects that started in the fall of 2022.
"In EU-speak, we are talking about fourth-generation battery solutions, using lithium metal anodes and solid electrolytes. We develop batteries using pulsed laser deposition coating and related technologies," says Liimatainen.
Working together with the best in the industry
As a result of three years of effective consortium work, Pulsedeon has gained the trust of the major players in the battery industry. In addition to the LISA project that started in 2019, the company is now involved in two new Horizon projects.
The Horizon consortia include car companies, as well as battery and cell manufacturers. Through these projects, we are also in contact with more than ten top-class research institutes and several industrial partners.
"The consortia include car companies such as Stellantis and Renault, as well as battery and cell manufacturers, which currently do not exist in Finland. Through these projects, we are also in contact with more than ten top-class research institutes and several industrial partners," says Liimatainen.
Pulsedeon has previously also received funding for its own Horizon research project that aims to develop, construct and validate a scalable production module for next-generation battery solutions together with EU and US battery companies.
Business Finland offers funding, sparring and opens networks
The route to Pulsedeon's first Horizon consortium opened up through Business Finland's Tempo funding project.
"We used the Tempo funding for market research, which also involved sending small test samples for customers to evaluate. This is how we became involved in the LISA project, where we found many good partners and gained valuable experience," says Liimatainen.
We received good tips and comments on how to communicate so that our message was clear and the evaluators could understand the benefits and significance of the project.
Pulsedeon also benefited from the sparring service provided by Business Finland when preparing for the final interviews of the Horizon SME project application. The interviews were conducted remotely due to the pandemic.
"We received good tips and comments on how to communicate so that our message was clear and the evaluators could understand the benefits and significance of the project."
Alongside the EU projects, Pulsedeon is involved in two Business Finland projects.
"It is important for us that high-quality research is also created in Finland, which includes developing national battery technology, future know-how, and facilities," says Liimatainen.
Project portfolio generates solutions for piloting
Many battery manufacturers and major car companies have announced that they will bring new battery solutions to the market after 2025-2026. Pulsedeon's core focus areas are ultra-thin lithium metal anodes, solid inorganic electrolytes with high ionic conductivity, and various barrier and buffer membranes, which are critical in future battery solutions.
"The aim is that the project portfolio will produce reasonably ready solutions as early as 2024-2025, and we will have first-generation technology solutions that are worth testing in full-scale testing programs. No one knows yet what the winning solutions will be from the technologies currently being pushed forward. We strive to ensure that our technology will be suitable for as many battery concepts as possible from those identified currently. We already have piloting cooperation with two battery companies that have gone public in the United States as well as several current and future major battery manufacturing companies operating in the EU. There are also partners in South Korea, India and China," explains Liimatainen.
How can we help you company in Horizon matters?
Text: Sami Sallinen
Photos: Pulsedeon