Sicona Battery Technologies
Founded 2019 · 39 employees on LinkedIn · 10 known investors
Sicona develops battery materials, including silicon-based anode materials, through in-house R&D, materials production, and a dedicated battery and materials testing laboratory. It aims to supply high-performance, cost-effective battery materials to support the transition to electrified energy.
Also known as Sicona · Sicona Battery Technologies Pty Ltd
Investors · 10
Also in the syndicate · 5
Company profile
researched Aug 2026Sicona Battery Technologies is an Australian battery materials technology company headquartered in Wollongong (North Wollongong), New South Wales, that develops silicon-based anode materials for lithium-ion batteries. Its core product line, marketed as SiCx, is a silicon-carbon composite anode material intended to replace or supplement conventional graphite anodes. The company also developed a water-based polymer binder with a 3D network structure, improved electro-conductivity and self-healing properties intended to increase the cycle life of next-generation anodes, and has described taking multiple products to market including binders, conductive carbons and active anode materials.
The technology originated from more than a decade of research at the Australian Institute for Innovative Materials at the University of Wollongong, including a discovery by UOW electromaterials researchers of a highly conductive and processable form of graphene. Sicona has stated its materials deliver 50-100% higher capacity than conventional graphite anodes, more than 50% higher cell energy density, and charging speeds over 40% faster; its own website cites a +20% energy density increase versus graphite-only cells. Sicona commissioned a pilot plant at its Wollongong site at the end of March 2022 and has been supplying samples to battery manufacturers and automotive OEMs for qualification.
The company is moving from technology development into commercial scale-up. In 2023 it was advancing engineering studies and site selection for a silicon-carbon plant in the south-eastern United States, initially around 5,000-6,700 tonnes per annum and expanding toward 20,000-26,500 tonnes per annum, with Bechtel engaged for front-end engineering design. In June 2026 it announced a A$45 million ARENA grant under the Australian Government's Battery Breakthrough Initiative to build and operate a first commercial-scale silicon-carbon anode production facility in the Illawarra region, producing up to 230 tonnes per annum for customer qualification and commercial sales, alongside an exclusivity agreement with BlueScope Steel to assess development within the Port Kembla precinct.
Founding story
Sicona was founded in June 2019 by entrepreneur Christiaan Jordaan, who serves as CEO, and materials scientist Dr Andrew Minett, who serves as CTO and holds a PhD in electrochemistry. The company commercialises silicon-graphite composite anode and binder process technology developed over roughly a decade at the Australian Institute for Innovative Materials at the University of Wollongong.
Business model
Sicona develops and intends to produce and sell active anode materials and polymer binder materials to lithium-ion battery cell producers and supply chain partners, working through a partnership approach with established supply chain companies. It has also monetised its technology through licensing: a May 2025 licensing and strategic partnership with Himadri in India under which Himadri funds 100% of the capital for an Indian facility and Sicona receives a licence fee based on sales for that project.
Sales of active silicon-carbon anode materials and binder materials to battery manufacturers, supplemented by technology licence fees calculated on sales from licensed projects such as the Himadri facility in India.
Traction
Sicona commissioned its Wollongong pilot plant at the end of March 2022 and has been providing samples to prospective customers, engaging in active dialogue with large EV battery manufacturers and auto OEMs. It received a A$704k Australian Federal Government 'Accelerating Commercialisation' grant in November 2020, participated in the Startmate Summer 2021 climate technology cohort, and is an associate participant of the Future Battery Industries Cooperative Research Centre. In 2025 it signed a licensing and strategic partnership with Himadri in India, and in June 2026 it secured a A$45 million ARENA grant. The Wollongong facility is expected to create up to 36 skilled manufacturing jobs.
Latest developments
In June 2026 Sicona announced a A$45 million ARENA grant under the Battery Breakthrough Initiative to build and operate its first commercial-scale SiCx production facility in the Illawarra region, with an exclusivity agreement with BlueScope Steel to assess siting within the Port Kembla precinct. The facility would produce up to 230 tonnes per annum for customer qualification and commercial sales and create up to 36 skilled manufacturing jobs. The company is also planning a 6,500 tonne per annum commercial facility with longer-term expansion potential to 26,500 tonnes per annum, and is targeting applications in AI data centres, power tools, defence and robotics alongside electric vehicles.
▸Full profile — market position, technology, go-to-market, geography, history, risks & controversies
Market position
Sicona positions itself against silicon anode developers that rely on silane gas-based processes, arguing that a silicon metal feedstock and compatibility with existing manufacturing lines lower capital intensity and cost per kilogram and shorten adoption timelines. Its investor Investible noted that many better-capitalised operators in the space are pursuing more complex technologies requiring supply chain change. ARENA has stated the technology has undergone independent testing and is being evaluated by global battery manufacturers and EV companies.
Use of abundant silicon metal instead of silane gas as feedstock, drop-in compatibility with existing lithium-ion battery production lines and dry electrode processes, a proprietary water-based self-healing binder, and an acquired portfolio of 73 patents in 11 families from Dalhousie University.
Technology
Sicona's SiCx silicon-carbon composite anode technology uses abundant, low-cost silicon metal rather than silane gas, which the company describes as expensive, supply-chain constrained and hazardous. The material design addresses silicon's volume expansion problem and is stated to deliver 50-100% higher capacity than graphite anodes, more than 50% higher cell energy density (company website cites +20% energy density) and over 40% faster charging. The process is designed to use off-the-shelf equipment and to drop into existing lithium-ion battery production lines as well as next-generation dry electrode systems. Sicona also developed a water-based binder with a 3D network structure and self-healing properties. The underlying IP derives from University of Wollongong research and from an acquired international patent portfolio developed at Dalhousie University comprising 73 patents across 11 patent families.
Go-to-market
The company qualifies its materials with global battery producers and EV manufacturers through sample supply and larger-scale battery testing programs, using its Wollongong pilot plant and planned commercial-scale facilities to progress toward offtake agreements. It pursues jurisdiction-specific supply strategies, including US production intended to be Inflation Reduction Act compliant, and licensing arrangements for markets such as India.
Lithium-ion battery cell manufacturers and automotive OEMs, with additional end markets including AI data centres, power tools, defence, robotics, drones, consumer electronics and stationary energy storage.
Geography
Headquarters, pilot plant and laboratory in Wollongong/North Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia, with a planned commercial facility in the Illawarra region (potentially at BlueScope's Port Kembla precinct), a planned commercial plant in the south-eastern United States, a licensed facility in India with Himadri, and stated ambitions to deploy production in Europe and North America.
History
Founded in June 2019, Sicona raised a A$1 million seed round in July 2020 and received a A$704k Accelerating Commercialisation grant from the Australian Federal Government in November 2020. It took part in the Startmate Summer 2021 climate technology cohort and raised A$3.7 million in a pre-Series A round in August 2021. Its Wollongong pilot plant was commissioned at the end of March 2022. The company acquired a silicon anode patent portfolio developed at Dalhousie University, and in June 2023 closed a A$22 million Series A led by Himadri Speciality Chemical. It was incubated at the University of Wollongong's iAccelerate. In May 2025 it agreed a licensing and strategic partnership with Himadri in India including an A$17.5 million follow-on investment, and in June 2026 it was awarded a A$45 million ARENA grant for a commercial-scale facility in the Illawarra region.
Risks & controversies
Sicona's founder has publicly described the difficulty of scaling deep-tech hardware in Australia, citing the absence of local lithium-ion battery customers, limited non-dilutive funding and fewer manufacturing and tax incentives than in the United States, and has identified capital constraints and runway as the company's principal challenges. Commercial-scale plans remain contingent on customer qualification, offtake agreements and project financing.
Compiled by commissioned research from 8 cited public sources — announcements, filings, and press listed under research sources below.
Key figures
latest reportedCompany-reported or press-reported figures, each dated to when it was claimed — not independently audited.
Timeline · 8
launches, deals, and filingsThe Australian Renewable Energy Agency awarded Sicona $45 million under the Battery Breakthrough Initiative to build and operate its first commercial-scale silicon-carbon anode production facility in the Illawarra region, producing up to 230 tonnes per annum.
Sicona and BlueScope Steel Limited entered an exclusivity agreement to assess potential development of the anode materials facility within BlueScope's Port Kembla precinct.
Sicona entered a licensing and strategic partnership with Himadri to build a SiCx facility in India, with Himadri funding the project capital and Sicona receiving licence fees based on sales; the arrangement included an AU$17.5 million follow-on investment.
Sicona announced plans for a first US commercial manufacturing facility in the south-eastern United States with initial capacity of 6,700 tonnes per annum, expanding to 26,500 tonnes by the 2030s, including a partnership with Bechtel for front-end engineering design.
Sicona acquired an international patent portfolio developed at Dalhousie University comprising 73 patents across 11 patent families covering silicon anode materials.
Sicona commissioned its pilot production plant at its Wollongong site at the end of March 2022, enabling larger-scale production for customer qualification and battery testing programs.
Sicona took part in the Startmate accelerator's Summer 2021 climate technology cohort.
The Australian Federal Government awarded Sicona a A$704k 'Accelerating Commercialisation' grant.
Dated company events from announcements, filings, and press; legal rows summarize public dockets and regulator releases.
▸Research sources · 8
primary sources listed
- Sicona Battery Technologiessiconabattery.com · web
8 public sources were cited for this profile; the first-party ones are listed here.
Frequently asked questions
- What does Sicona Battery Technologies do?
- Australian battery materials company commercialising SiCx silicon-carbon anode materials for lithium-ion batteries.
- Who are Sicona Battery Technologies's investors?
- Sicona Battery Technologies's investors include Artesian, Chaos Ventures, EnergyLab, NSW Clean Technology Innovation Grants, SDGx.