Every year, over 20 students from Cluj-Napoca build a solar vehicle capable of racing thousands of kilometers in the world’s harshest conditions. Beyond the technical performance, the Solis project becomes a link between the university and the job market, training generations of engineers who quickly enter automotive, energy and IT companies. The experience gained is an investment that returns to industry and society.
A pipeline of talent with practical experience
From 2018 to today, Solis has gone through four generations of vehicles and involved several dozen students. Each of them has gone through the stages of a complete project: design, testing, homologation, logistics, participation in international competitions. The result is a profile of a graduate who not only knows how to design, but also how to implement, repair and manage the unpredictable.
“By working with so many partners, sponsors and companies, the people in the team have direct contact with the companies and it’s much easier for them to find their place after their studies,” explains Raymond Nemeth. Examples bear this out: many former team members have continued their careers with companies such as Bosch or Arobs, while others have gone into research or started their PhD.
What can be transferred to industry
The competition in which the Solis team participates imposes a radically different set of demands from those of the commercial car market. The focus is exclusively on energy efficiency, measured by the vehicle’s ability to cover long distances with minimal resources, and performance translates directly into driving speed and continuity of movement. Unlike production cars, where comfort, safety, extended range or social status are the main priorities, Solis vehicles are designed to sacrifice everything that doesn’t serve the efficiency goal.
However, this experimental approach generates micro-innovations with the potential to scale. Photovoltaic panels developed in the workshop, with an efficiency of over 24%, are an example: lighter and more flexible than standard panels, they can inspire applications in areas where weight and shape are critical, from drones to modular structures or portable equipment. Also in the same vein, in-house electronics – energy-efficient headlights and beacons, optimized dashboards – show that efficiency can be achieved by redesigning seemingly mundane components.
“Every watt counts. That’s why we ended up designing our own headlights and turn signals, reducing consumption compared to purchased parts. It’s a tremendous knowledge gain for the team and for each of us,” emphasizes Raymond. In addition, working with INCAS on aerodynamic simulations – more than 100 versions tested – has given the team first-hand experience of applied research that few students get to experience.
So while the Hyperion and its successor vehicles will not become commercial products, they function as a laboratory of ideas and technologies from which companies can draw inspiration, point solutions and, above all, young engineers able to apply these lessons to real projects.
Business potential…
Solar vehicles won’t be on Romania’s roads tomorrow, but what is being developed at Solis has direct relevance for the energy transition and the competitiveness of industry. Expertise in energy efficiency, battery management and advanced software integration prepares students for careers in key areas – from electromobility to digitalization in energy.
The project also opens up the possibility of entrepreneurial spin-offs, whereby the solutions developed by the team can be turned into products or services for the market. Some similar teams in Europe have developed their own lines of solar vehicles or turned modules created for competitions into commercial products. “We too can reach that level of maturity, where a small part of what we do here becomes the basis of a business of its own,” says Raymond Nemeth. For business, this area is fertile ground for collaboration: companies that choose to support Solis can become not only sponsors, but also partners in creating new business lines with direct applicability in electric mobility, distributed energy or digitalization.
… and societal impact
Moreover, the Solis team is an inspirational role model for society: it shows that Romania can compete at the highest level, that young people can deliver remarkable results when they receive support and trust. “Look, you can do something with this green energy and even with solar panels you can cross an entire continent,” says Raymond, summarizing the message the team is sending to the community.
For business, involvement in Solis brings benefits on two levels. At the strategic level, companies can access a talent pipeline tailored to new technological requirements and partner with an internationally recognized project. At PR and communication level, the project provides visibility, inspiration and a clear example of social and educational impact.
More than 30 organizations already support the Solis team, including industrial companies, energy, technology and research players such as BelcoAvia, VTV, Aj Brand, Axpo, Ebmpapst, Bosch, Terapia, Rubix, Distribuție Energie Electrică Romania. Their support shows that involvement in such a project is not just a one-off sponsorship, but a long-term investment in human resources and in the public image of the companies.