Sicona, a pioneer in next-generation battery materials, today announced a landmark strategic partnership and technology licensing agreement with Himadri Speciality Chemical Ltd (BSE: 500184 | NSE: HSCL), a leading specialty chemical conglomerate in India. The deal includes a AU$15 million cornerstone investment by Himadri and marks a major step toward commercializing Sicona’s flagship Silicon Carbon anode material, SiCx®.
The funds will expand Sicona’s pilot plant in Australia and accelerate production to meet growing demand from global battery cell manufacturers serving the electric vehicle (EV), consumer electronics, defense, and space sectors. These industries are actively qualifying SiCx® for next-generation battery platforms.
“This collaboration marks a turning point in the world’s advanced battery materials journey,” said Mr. Anurag Choudhary, Chairman, Managing Director and CEO of Himadri Speciality Chemical Ltd. “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.”
Licensing Agreement to Fast-Track Indian Production
As part of the agreement, Himadri will license the full intellectual property portfolio to build and operate a SiCx® production facility in India. Fully funded by Himadri, the plant is being fast-tracked to meet rising global demand, primarily targeting the automotive sector. This positions both companies at the heart of the global EV supply chain.
“This deal is transformative for Sicona,” said Christiaan Jordaan, CEO and Co-Founder of Sicona. “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.”
For Sicona, this licensing model provides a capital-light path to revenue, enabling it to focus on scaling its own production facilities. Royalties from SiCx® sales in India will create a steady income stream, while Sicona advances plans for a 6,500 tonnes-per-annum commercial facility in the southeastern United States—with ambitions to expand to 26,500 tpa on a single site.
With surging demand from EV manufacturers worldwide, Sicona is now poised to scale operations across three continents, leveraging a mix of direct operations and strategic partnerships to drive global impact.
