Fuel cell developer GaltTec OÜ has been selected to NATO's innovation accelerator

University of Tartu spin-off company GaltTec OÜ is the first startup in Estonia to get through the tough application process and be accepted to NATO's innovation accelerator DIANA.

Glen Kelp, Laura Elise Arvisto and Tanel Tätte created the company GaltTec, which manufactures fuel cells and their materials and aims to improve the energy use of various devices, in 2022 after long research. Last autumn, the founders of the company successfully completed the University of Tartu's spin-off programme "From Science to Business" and Tartu Science Park's Sparkup Incubator. The company was selected for NATO's innovation accelerator because, in addition to the civilian sector, it has a great potential impact on the defence sector.

According to Vice Rector for Development Tõnu Esko, research and entrepreneurship are more similar than they might seem at first glance because the role of both is to solve an existing problem. "Research-intensive entrepreneurship contributes to shaping a science-based society and economy and opens up a new exciting world for researchers," said Esko.

The NATO Innovation Accelerator DIANA is intended for deep technology innovators whose ideas help solve problems in both the civilian and defence sectors. This year, in addition to GaltTec, 43 start-ups were selected out of 1,300 candidates to join the accelerator. In addition to NATO's trust mark and financial support, the programme also includes access to NATO's test and development centres.

"From science to business", a programme of the University of Tartu's Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, supports researchers in the development of research-intensive business ideas. The programme participants are offered top-level service worth 10,000 euros, consisting of 10 weeks of training and ongoing mentoring. Application for the 2024 spring programme has started!

Read more about GaltTec and the NATO innovation accelerator from ERR.