Framework Agreement with UKBIC

Ilika plc

("Ilika" or the "Company")

Framework Agreement with UK Battery Industrialisation Centre

Ilika (AIM: IKA), a pioneer in solid-state battery technology, announces the signing of a framework agreement with the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC) for the production of Goliath solid-state pouch cells.

The framework agreement will support the of scale up of Ilika's production of large-format solid-state lithium-ion cell technology, which has the potential to transform the performance and safety of domestic appliances as well as electric vehicles (EVs).

Currently operating from a pre-pilot production line capable of producing 1kWh per week, Ilika has plans to scale up its current site in Romsey, UK to an automated facility producing 10 kWh per week by 2022. The next stage of scale-up will involve it reaching 5 MWh per week to satisfy increasing customer demand. The signing of the framework agreement with UKBIC is a significant and important step towards achieving that goal.

Solid-state technology is required to achieve the continuous performance improvements expected by industry and consumers. Faster charging times, higher energy density and longer lifetimes are all benefits expected to be delivered by the transition to solid-state. Many companies involved in the manufacture of cordless domestic appliances are demanding performance exceeding the capability of traditional lithium-ion technology. In the automotive sector, Ilika is collaborating on three projects, supported by over £5m of grant funding from the UK Government's Faraday Battery Challenge, which is managed by Innovate UK.

UKBIC is a publicly-funded battery product development facility in Coventry, in the West Midlands, which welcomes manufacturers, entrepreneurs, researchers and educators. Support from UKBIC can be accessed by any organisation with existing or new battery technology so long as that technology brings 'green jobs' and prosperity to the UK.

Jeff Pratt, Managing Director of UKBIC, stated: "I am delighted that Ilika, one of the UK's leading companies in solid-state cell production, will be working with us to develop their plans for the industrialisation of their cell technology."

Graeme Purdy, Ilika's CEO, added: "Our Goliath programme is perfectly aligned with the UK's Industrial Strategy and we intend to work closely with the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre to scale up our technology for market introduction in the most agile manner possible."

Notes to editor:

Ilika plc (LON: IKA) is a pioneer in solid-state battery technology with their innovative Stereax micro batteries designed for Industrial IoT and MedTech markets, and their Goliath large format batteries for the electric vehicle and consumer electronics markets. Stereax battery technology offers compelling advantages over conventional lithium ion batteries, including smaller footprint, high energy density, non-toxic materials, faster charging, increased cycle life, low leakage and reduced flammability. Stereax solid-state batteries are also customisable in shape and form, stackable and operational at high temperatures.

The £130 million UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UKBIC) is a pioneering concept in the race to develop battery technology for the transition to a greener future.  The unique facility provides the missing link between battery technology, which has proved promising at laboratory or prototype scale, and successful mass production. Based in Coventry, the publicly-funded battery product development facility welcomes manufacturers, entrepreneurs, researchers and educators, and can be accessed by any organisation with existing or new battery technology - if that technology will bring green jobs and prosperity to the UK.

UKBIC is a key part of the Faraday Battery Challenge (FBC), a Government programme to fast track the development of cost-effective, high-performance, durable, safe, low-weight and recyclable batteries.

In addition to funding from the Faraday Battery Challenge through UK Research and Innovation and the Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund, UKBIC is also funded through a consortium of Coventry City Council, Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership, and WMG, at the University of Warwick. UKBIC was created in 2018 following a competition led by the Advanced Propulsion Centre with support from Innovate UK.

Contacts

UKBIC: [email protected] 

Ilika: [email protected]