Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has signed an academic partnership with the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) to work together in the development of cutting-edge battery cell technologies to accelerate the transition to green energy.

The Indian IT service provider will collaborate closely with the Norwegian university’s Department of Energy and Process Engineering (EPT) on the design, development, and testing of digitally-based green energy solutions.

Tata Consultancy Services will contribute technology consulting and digital innovation at each phase of the value chain, such as manufacturing, management of lifecycles, assembling of cells and testing, as well as digital twins for solid-state batteries and lithium-ion batteries.

The collaboration will involve Tata Consultancy Services providing specific support to the EPT through technology collaboration, exchange of talent digital innovation, startups’ engagement in the development of sustainable energy solutions that take climate changes, health, and available resources into account.

Odne Stokke Burheim — Professor at Norwegian University of Science and Technology Department of Energy and Process Engineering said: “In strengthening our research and educational relevance within Battery production and systems understanding, establishing collaborations with key industry actors like TCS, is of great importance.

“This shared understanding allows us to accelerate scientific, engineering and educational progress in an industry and technologically domain of exponential growth and with enormous needs for competence over the next years.”

The Indian IT major will be in charge of designing and testing a ‘sustainable by design’ platform to manage the battery manufacturing process from beginning to end.

The academic partnership will give NTNU access to the Indian firm’s global ecosystem of technology experts and business partners to scale production, and also meet the growing global demand for batteries that are sustainable.

In forming an alliance with both academia and industry and establishing an efficient route to market, Tata Consultancy Services and NTNU will expedite the process towards electrification and a net zero future.

Rajan Maheshwari — Tata Consultancy Services Norway Country Head said: “Innovation in battery technologies is crucial because of their role in electrifying transportation and balancing power-grids, both of which have a critical role to play in achieving global net-zero goals.

“We are pleased to partner with one of Norway’s most respected universities in this initiative and work with a shared sense of purpose to build a more sustainable future for everyone.”

  digital innovation, digital twins, India, lithium-ion batteries, Norway, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NTNU, Odne Stokke Burheim, Rajan Maheshwari, Tata Consultancy Services