When innovation meets industry - collaboration that makes a difference

When research, technology and industry meet, new opportunities arise. Within the Innovatum Science Park ecosystem, the Production Technology Center (PTC) is one of several arenas where collaborations between companies, research actors and academia lead to concrete results. 

A recent example is Digiclean, a company that has developed an AI-based technology that monitors and doses industrial process fluids in real time - an innovation that reduces both costs and environmental impact. 

- The dream is to create impact and customer value while challenging industry to think smarter. Our technology is an enabler. The chemical sector is a real bad boy - the largest energy consumer and third largest source of direct CO₂ emissions. If we can help them reduce their use, we can make a huge impact," says Charlotte Stigen, CEO of Digiclean. 

PTC as a stepping stone 

For Digiclean, the PTC has been a central meeting place to showcase the technology and reach new partnerships in the industry. 

- I had the opportunity to round off a networking event on AI and it was great to talk about our technology and be met with great interest. And now I will be attending a business session at the PTC. I think PTC is a great forum to share our technology and the possibilities for users. 

- "The PTC is one of the environments that we at Innovatum Science Park hold together and where companies can develop. Through the participation of companies like Digiclean, both concrete solutions and an innovative approach are spread," says Tommy Christensen, project manager at Innovatum Science Park and director of the Production Technology Center. 

From research to business 

Charlotte Stigen has over 15 years of experience in the chemical engineering products industry. During her time in the industry, she started to question the business model.  

- I started to question our business model when I met our customers. There were huge losses in value because industries didn't know how to handle the chemicals and were using a lot unnecessarily. 

In 2018, she therefore initiated a research project together with RISE and Chalmers, and work on sensor development took off in 2022. In 2024, Digiclean was established as a separate company, and today the company offers its services regardless of which chemicals its customers use. The goal is to ensure that the chemicals are used in the most optimal and sustainable way possible. 

Measurable results 

A concrete example shows how technology can make a difference in practice. 

- Parker Hannifin changed chemicals every four weeks. With our technology, we could do it at longer intervals, 14 months. This meant that we could halve costs and reduce chemical consumption by 60%. It became clear that the thesis we have, that we use a lot unnecessarily, was correct. 

Digiclean at Automation Day 2025 

If you would like to know more about Digitclean, please join Charlotte Stigen as she presents Digiclean's journey and technology during Automation Day 2025 at the Production Technology Center. Read more through the link below!