Volvo Cars has established a partnership with the global innovation platform Plug and Play to develop advanced technologies for sustainable mobility. As the first tangible result of this collaboration, a new innovation platform has been launched in Gothenburg, Sweden.
Plug and Play is the largest global accelerator that helps top companies connect with strategically selected startups. It has successfully nurtured global startups such as Dropbox, PayPal, Trulifi, and Laffy, managing an ecosystem comprising over 50,000 startups and more than 500 partners across more than 50 locations worldwide.
Volvo Cars signed this partnership to drive its future strategy to lead the rapid changes in the automotive industry. This strategy includes a future of mobility that is fully electrified by 2030, defined by software, powered by cutting-edge core computers, and capable of being continually upgraded over time via wireless software updates.
Accordingly, Volvo Cars has become a founding partner of this new platform, which is expected to see participation from more than 500 startups annually, with more partners expected to join in the future.
Javier Valera, Chief Operating Officer of Volvo Cars, stated, “To achieve our bold goal of sustainable mobility, Volvo Cars is continuously striving to overcome the limitations of current technologies. To do this, collaboration with the best companies in the world is essential, and our partnership with Plug and Play is expected to bring us closer to our desired goals.”
Meanwhile, Volvo Cars hopes that this partnership will create an opportunity to form a dynamic network with startups worldwide in a more efficient and systematic manner. The partnership will be initiated through Volvo Cars’ corporate venture capital organization, the ‘Volvo Cars Tech Fund.’
This organization was established for strategic investments in startups and potential partners aiming to lead the development of future technologies. It has achieved successful investments, such as the introduction of Lidar for the new pure electric flagship, Volvo EX90, through investment in Luminar.
Additionally, the new innovation platform located in Lindholm, the most knowledge-intensive area in Gothenburg, will support connecting startups developing high-potential advanced technologies focused on sustainability and digital mobility.
Saied Amidi, founder and CEO of the Plug and Play Tech Center, expressed, “We are very excited to launch a new innovation platform in collaboration with Volvo Cars,” adding, “It is no coincidence that it is located in Gothenburg. This place, characterized by tech-savvy companies and a rich automotive heritage at the heart of events, will undoubtedly be a powerhouse of innovation for startups and corporations.”
Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr