Monumo and partners awarded Innovate UK grant to revolutionise electric motor design

London: Monumo, a technology business that couples deeptech AI innovation with traditional engineering expertise to redesign the electric drive unit, has been awarded nearly GBP1 million in funding from Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)[1]. Monumo's 3D Generative-AI Technology (3D-GAIT), will automate design generation, simulation, and evaluation. Working in collaboration with electric motor research specialists, University of Nottingham's Power Electronics, Machines and Control (PEMC) Research Group, and global drive train experts, hofer powertrain, this technology will meet a crucial market need for motor design optimisation.

Monumo will use the grant to accelerate progress in the industry, building on its proprietary technology that already creates motor designs 200 times faster than the industry standard. With tightly integrated and constantly updating AI algorithms influencing the motor system simulation pipeline, this continuous co-design will inform the requirements of both components of the AI tool and the simulator.

3D-GAIT will enable better balance between simulation speed and accuracy and provide designers with optimal electric drive concepts within days rather than the usual months. This technology has the potential to radically improve productivity for OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers, and their design teams, by unlocking design freedoms within the electric drive previously untapped by traditional development methods.

Monumo has recently emerged from stealth and closed a GBP10.5m seed funding round from angel investors. Based in Cambridge and Coventry, the company benefits from the skills and knowledge of both a deeptech and a traditional engineering hub respectively. The skilled team of 28 across a range of disciplines such as automotive engineers, data scientists, physicists, deeptech experts, and entrepreneurs, are currently focused on the electric vehicle (EV) market.

Dominic Vergine, CEO and Founder of Monumo said, "To be recognised by a national innovation agency is a testament to the team's hard work and dedication to applying the latest deeptech methods to the redesign of electric drives. Driven by a desire to move the needle on decarbonisation, our technology has numerous applications, but we are focused on the EV market initially, seeking to drive wider adoption through optimisation. We are intent on helping build a more sustainable future and this funding from Innovate UK will help us get there faster."

When reviewing Monumo's proposal, an assessor at Innovate UK said: "This innovative project, spearheaded by Monumo, may revolutionise electric motor design with 3D-GAIT, promising transformative industry impact.

It addresses crucial market needs, boosts productivity, and aligns with the UK's green agenda.

The well-structured plan, robust team, and clear value proposition, combined with Innovate UK's support, position it for substantial success, contributing to economic growth, job creation, and technological advancement."

References

1. ^ Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) (www.ukri.org)