Nordlys NTNU

What Nordlys NTNU does

Nordlys NTNU is a volunteer student organization based at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) in Trondheim, Norway, founded in September 2023 as Norway's first and only full solar racing team. The organization operates through multidisciplinary groups covering Mechanical, Electrical, Software, Chassis, Marketing, Logistics, and Board functions, and awards academic credits (TPK4141, TPK4142, IØ1003, IØ1004, BINT3005) to participating students. Its mission is to design, build, and race solar-powered vehicles in international competitions while training engineering talent and showcasing sustainable energy.

The organization's core product is Lumholtz, a solar race car unveiled in April 2025 after two years of development. Lumholtz integrates AIKO high-efficiency solar cells within CSEM's ultra-lightweight flexible solar modules, alongside battery systems, embedded electronics, cabling from Holmefjord, chassis and mechanical subsystems, and software including a strategy simulation program and a Model Predictive Control (MPC) project. Engineering design relies on professional tools from partners including Altium (PCB design), Ansys (simulation and FEA), 3Dconnexion (CAD input), and composite materials from Diab Group. The roadmap includes Project 2026 (an iLumen European Solar Challenge regulation-compliant car) and Project 2027 (a Challenger Class car targeting the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge).

Nordlys NTNU is not a commercial enterprise and generates no product or service revenue. All funding comes from sponsor contributions and in-kind partnerships organized into Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze tiers. Sponsor partners include CSEM, Holmefjord, Kongsberg Maritime, Melbye AS, 3Dconnexion, Altium, Ansys, AIKO Solar, SKF, Tampnet, CNCC, and NTNU itself, among others. The organization's go-to-market is event-driven: it recruits students at NTNU through lectures, posters, and social media, and promotes itself by participating in international solar racing competitions in Europe and Oceania.

Name

Nordlys NTNU

Legal name

Nordlys NTNU

Website

https://nordlysntnu.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Nordlys NTNU is a volunteer student organization at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) that designs and builds solar racing cars, including Lumholtz (2025), for international competitions such as the iLumen European Solar Challenge and Bridgestone World Solar Challenge, funded entirely through sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Trondheim

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Sponsorship and In-kind Contributions: Nordlys NTNU operates as a volunteer student organization funded entirely through financial support and in-kind contributions from sponsors. These partnerships are essential for enabling the development and production of solar cars.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Nordlys NTNU is a volunteer student organization at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) that designs, builds, and races solar-powered vehicles for international competitions including the iLumen European Solar Challenge and the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge. The team offers multidisciplinary engineering project experience across mechanical, electrical, software, chassis, marketing, and logistics disciplines to NTNU students, with academic credit integration. Its first car, Lumholtz, was unveiled in April 2025 as Norway's first solar race car.

Product overview

Nordlys NTNU operates a portfolio of solar racing car projects, including Lumholtz (Norway's first solar race car, unveiled in 2025), Project 2026 (an updated car for the iLumen European Solar Challenge), and Project 2027 (a next-generation vehicle for the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge). The organization also offers student thesis project opportunities as part of the engineering development work. All projects are student-driven at NTNU, focusing on sustainable energy through solar racing technology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Lumholtz Norway's first solar race car, built by Nordlys NTNU, designed for international solar racing competitions. The car integrates AIKO high-efficiency solar cells via CSEM's ultra-lightweight flexible modules and is currently being updated to meet iLumen European Solar Challenge regulations.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• 3DconnexioncoreTechnology or Integration · 1 September 2025Provider of Space and CAD mouse tools that have served a crucial role in the development of the solar car. Nordlys is satisfied with the ergonomic design and versatile functionality of their products.
• Melbye AScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2025Family-owned company with over 100 years of experience providing technical solutions for infrastructure in energy, fiber networks, installation, and construction. Their support strengthens Nordlys' mission to promote cutting-edge technology and industry connections for students and the wider community.
• Rudskogen MotorsenterminorOthers · 1 July 2025Motorsport facility that welcomed Nordlys for test drives, providing a safe environment to test the solar racing car Lumholtz. Enabled the first driving test of the vehicle.
• Kongsberg MaritimecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025Part of Kongsberg Group, develops advanced systems for navigation, automation, and more. Their long-standing experience and commitment to innovation make them an inspiration for the project. Provides motivation boost through their support for sustainable technology.
• Bryn AarflotminorOthers · 1 April 2025Provided an informative lecture on IP and intellectual property rights including patents, trademarks, copyrights, startups NDAs, trade secrets, and commercial strategy. Sebastian Stigar and Georgios Pantazidis shared valuable insights.
• CSEMflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Internationally recognized innovation specialist headquartered in Neuchâtel, Switzerland with over 600 employees and 200+ registered patents. CSEM develops disruptive technologies in precision manufacturing, digitalization, ultra-low-power electronics, and sustainable energy. They integrate AIKO high-efficiency solar cells into ultra light-weight and flexible solar modules for Nordlys' solar car.
• HolmefjordflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Leading provider of signals cabling in Norway since 1984, founded by Jørgen Holmefjord. Delivers cabling and related equipment to communication, electronics, automation, and data center industries. Contributes high-quality cabling for power and signal delivery between different systems within the solar car.
• AIKO SolarcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025Solar cell manufacturer whose high-efficiency solar cells are integrated into CSEM's ultra light-weight and flexible solar modules for Nordlys' solar racing car.
• TrainorminorOthers · 1 January 2025Silver sponsor providing technical training and expertise support.
• TampnetminorOthers · 1 January 2025Silver sponsor in the solar racing project.
• CNCCminorOthers · 1 January 2025Bronze sponsor providing CNC machining capabilities.
• NTNUflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Norwegian University of Science and Technology - the host institution of Nordlys. Provides academic framework, facilities (including Dragvoll campus for testing), and institutional support for the student organization.
• AltiumcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025Provides PCB design software used for designing electrical systems in the solar car.
• AnsyscoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2025Engineering simulation software provider used for CAD, finite element analysis, and system simulation in car development.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Agoria Solar Team (KU Leuven): Belgian student solar racing team from KU Leuven that competes in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge. Direct peer as a European university team in the same competition class with a comparable multi-disciplinary volunteer structure and sponsorship model.
• UNSW Sunswift: Australian university solar racing team from UNSW that has competed in the BWSC and holds world records for solar vehicle efficiency. Direct peer and a benchmark for future Project 2027 performance ambitions.
• Nuon Solar Team (TU Delft): Dutch student solar racing team from TU Delft, multiple-time BWSC champion. Direct peer as the leading European university solar racing team and benchmark for competitive performance targets.
• MIT Solar Electric Vehicle Team: Student solar racing team from MIT competing in the American Solar Challenge and BWSC. Comparable as a peer university team deploying solar PV, embedded electronics, and strategy software on a custom vehicle.
• University of Michigan Solar Car Team: One of the most successful American university solar racing teams and a multi-time BWSC and American Solar Challenge winner. Direct peer at the high-performance end of the university racing ecosystem.
• Solar Team Twente: Dutch student solar racing team from the University of Twente competing in the BWSC Challenger Class. Directly comparable in size, sponsorship model, and ambition to a first-time entrant like Nordlys.
• Stanford Solar Car Project: Long-running US student solar racing team from Stanford. Direct peer in technology, talent pipeline, and corporate sponsorship structure, with a similar multi-decade competition focus.
• Cambridge University Eco Racing (CUER): British student solar racing team from Cambridge University. Directly comparable as a European university team competing in the same global solar racing events using similar sun-powered and software-control technology.

Emerging players

• Sono Motors: Solar-integrated passenger EV company. Thematic peer in the broader solar-mobility space, with overlapping technology in lightweight body-integration of high-efficiency PV modules, though operating on a commercial rather than competition model.
• Lightyear: Commercial solar-electric vehicle company spun out of the Dutch solar racing ecosystem. Thematic peer because Lightyear originated from the same university solar racing talent and tech-validation pipeline that Nordlys is now participating in.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/nordlysntnu
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nordlysntnu
• Instagraminstagram.com/nordlysntnu

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Nordlys NTNU