Sicona has signed a “transformative” agreement. Photo: Sicona.
A major international deal is set to put the Illawarra at the centre of the global battery revolution, with local innovation helping power the next generation of electric vehicles around the world.
Illawarra battery materials innovator Sicona has signed a transformative licensing and investment deal with Indian chemical giant Himadri Speciality Chemical Ltd, in a move set to supercharge the global rollout of its breakthrough silicon-carbon anode technology, SiCx®.
The agreement marks a pivotal milestone in Sicona’s rapid growth, with Himadri investing $15 million to become a cornerstone backer and exclusive manufacturing partner in India.
This will allow the Illawarra success story to expand its pilot plant operations in Australia and scale up production to meet surging demand for sampling materials from major global cell manufacturers servicing the electric vehicle, consumer electronics, communications and computers, defence and space industries.
The deal also paves the way for a new SiCx® production facility on the subcontinent, bringing high-performance battery tech a major step closer to global commercial scale.
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For Sicona, the deal represents more than just funding. By licensing its technology and partnering with a global-scale manufacturer, the company avoids the immense cost and complexity of building its first commercial facility alone.
“This deal is transformative for Sicona,” Sicona CEO and co-founder Christiaan Jordaan said.
“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.
“Himadri’s manufacturing pedigree and global reach make them the ideal partner.”
The India plant, fully funded by Himadri, will target the fast-growing electric vehicle market. Revenues from the partnership — delivered via royalties — will enable Sicona to focus on scaling its own operations, including a major production facility planned for the southeastern United States.
“This partnership proves that early-stage climate tech startups can overcome the challenges of FOAK (first-of-a-kind) commercialisation with the right partners,” Jordaan added.
SiCx® offers next-gen battery performance. Photo: Sicona.
Sicona’s SiCx® anode material offers a clean, cost-effective alternative to traditional silane-based silicon products. Using a proprietary mechanical process and inert raw materials, SiCx® avoids toxic gases and emissions-intensive manufacturing, allowing for flexible, location-agnostic production.
But the real game-changer is performance. When blended with standard graphite in lithium-ion batteries, SiCx® can deliver more than 20 per cent more energy density and reduce charging times by more than 40 per cent. That’s a major leap forward in solving two of the EV sector’s biggest pain points: range anxiety and long charge times.
The timing couldn’t be better. Demand for EV batteries is surging across industries — from cars and consumer electronics to defence and space.
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For Himadri, the agreement is a strategic leap into the heart of the global energy transition.
“This collaboration marks a turning point in the world’s advanced battery materials journey,” Himadri Chairman, CEO and Managing Director Anurag Choudhary said.
With a presence in 56 countries and eight zero-liquid discharge manufacturing facilities, Himadri is bringing serious operational muscle to the partnership.
“We thank Himadri for their unwavering belief in our team, our technology, and our mission” Mr Jordaan said.
“Despite challenging capital markets, we are forging ahead, delivering on our goal to be the largest global producer of Si/C materials.
“This is how we win in climate tech, through smart partnerships, fast execution, and solutions that scale globally.”
