Sicona Battery Technologies has entered into a technology licensing agreement with Himadri Speciality Chemical Ltd, including an AUD 15 million investment by Himadri to support the scale-up of Sicona’s SiCx Silicon Carbon anode material. The funding will be used to expand Sicona’s pilot operations in Australia and support global commercialisation efforts through new production facilities.
Under the agreement, Himadri will licence Sicona’s intellectual property to establish a SiCx production plant in India. The facility, to be fully funded by Himadri, will focus on supplying the automotive sector. Sicona will receive royalties from sales, supporting a capital-light commercialisation model.
“This partnership enables us to commercialise SiCx at an unprecedented speed and scale, without shouldering the burden of the first-of-a-kind (FOAK) facility funding alone,” said Christiaan Jordaan, CEO and Co-Founder of Sicona.
Sicona’s SiCx is a mechanical Silicon Carbon anode material that does not rely on silane gas. According to the company, when blended with graphite at 5–20%+, SiCx can increase energy density by over 20% and reduce charging time by more than 40%, while remaining compatible with current lithium-ion battery manufacturing processes.
“This partnership proves that early-stage climate tech startups can overcome the challenges of FOAK commercialisation with the right partners,” said Jordaan. “We’re now laser-focused on delivering the facilities in India and the USA.”
“Sicona’s SiCx delivers two core advantages—higher energy density for longer driving range, and faster charging capability that dramatically reduces wait time for EV users,” stated Himadri’s Chairman and CEO, Anurag Choudhary.
Sicona Battery Technologies, founded in 2019 and based in Wollongong, Australia, develops Silicon Carbon anode materials for lithium-ion batteries. The company focuses on scaling advanced battery technologies through partnerships and direct production.