Rydena & TUfast Eco: A Strategic Partnership for the lux027 Solar Vehicle

August 2026

Rydena, the advanced composites company headquartered in Armenia, is proud to announce the signature of a sponsorship agreement, marking its first European partnership with TUfast Eco, the student racing team of the Technical University of Munich (TUM). This collaboration centers on the lux027 project, the team's next-generation solar vehicle, set to be unveiled in March 2027.

Under this agreement, Rydena is supplying its RDN-114 flexible cure aerospace-grade prepreg system, a highly toughened epoxy material developed for primary and secondary aerospace structures. For TUfast Eco, this means access to a material that combines exceptional mechanical performance, high-temperature resistance, impact resistance and is compatible with autoclave and out-of-autoclave manufacturing processes, all critical for a vehicle designed to race 3,000 kilometers across the Australian outback.

Illustration from Lux2025 vehicle project, courtesy of TUfast Eco.

Global Reach, European Commitment

While Rydena is headquartered in Armenia, our operations are deeply integrated with the European composites industry – its primary market. We maintain manufacturing partnerships in Italy, a planned strategic logistics hub in Europe, and a growing worldwide network that includes a technology partnership in India focused on new generation of hot-melt phenolic prepreg systems for aircraft interiors.

“This European partnership with TUfast Eco represents a significant milestone for Rydena, our collaboration with a European university team, and underscores our commitment to develop our footprint in Europe, supporting innovation and education”, said Rydena founders Dmitry Kogan and Alexander Shleynikov.

A Partnership Built on Engineering Excellence

Rydena's collaboration with TUfast Eco is rooted in a shared commitment to engineering excellence. The TUfast Eco team has already demonstrated a remarkable level of professionalism in their approach to design, manufacturing, and project management qualities that immediately impressed us.

This partnership is about providing the next generation of engineers with hands-on experience in advanced composite materials and structural design. By working directly with RDN-114 prepreg, a material typically found in demanding aerospace applications, TUfast Eco students gain practical knowledge that bridges academia and industry, preparing them for careers in high performance engineering, alongside other partners contributing to this project.

The feedback and test data generated by the team will also inform Rydena's ongoing product development, creating a true exchange of value between industry and the academic world.

Supporting the Next Generation

For the TUfast Eco students, building a solar car for the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge is an extraordinary undertaking. It requires not just technical knowledge, but also teamwork, perseverance, and the ability to solve complex problems. We are proud to support these young engineers.

We are looking forward to the first delivery of test batches of RDN-114 prepreg and the initial curing trials by TUfast Eco. We are excited to see the first test results and, ultimately, the completed lux027 prototype. The professionalism and dedication we have observed in the TUfast Eco team give us great confidence in the success of this project and the future of sustainable and high-performance engineering.

About Rydena

Rydena is an advanced composites company headquartered in Yerevan, Armenia, with manufacturing partnerships in Italy and India. The company develops high performance prepreg systems including aerospace-grade epoxy and phenolic hotmelt technologies – for aerospace, automotive, sporting goods, maritime, medical and industrial applications. Founded in 2024, Rydena is committed to innovative chemistry, reliable supply, and technical excellence.

About TUfast Eco

TUfast Eco is a student scientific association at the Technical University of Munich, founded in 2009. The team designs, builds, and races solar powered vehicles in international competitions including the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge and Shell Ecomarathon.