Imperial Innovations is a technology commercialization and venture capital investor that focuses on technology. Imperial Innovations no longer invests in startups and now functions as the technology-transfer office of Imperial College. Imperial Innovations is focused on commercialising leading UK academic research sourced from the 'golden triangle' formed between Cambridge, Oxford and London. We are a technology commercialisation company that combines the activities of technology transfer, intellectual property protection and licensing, company incubation and investment.  Innovations is focused on commercialising the most promising UK academic research across a broad range of technology sectors, and has developed particular expertise in: therapeutics, medtech, engineering and materials and information communication technology.

Imperial Innovations

Invesco is an independent investment management firm dedicated to delivering an investment experience that helps people get more out of life. The firm is specialized investment teams managing investments across a comprehensive range of asset classes, investment styles, and geographies. They are privileged to manage more than $926.0 billion in assets on behalf of clients worldwide (as of November 30, 2018 ).  They offer a wide range of single-country, regional and global capabilities across major equity, fixed-income, and alternative asset classes, delivered through a diverse set of investment vehicles. High-quality results begin with specialized insight and disciplined oversight.

Invesco

Woodford Investment Management is a privately owned investment firm manages equity mutual funds. At Woodford, they don’t want to be just another fund management company. They want to create something different and better for their investors and they feel strongly that existing and potential clients are entitled to understand what they are doing with their money. As investors, they are active, engaged, long-term, disciplined, diligent and focused. That’s a lot of things to say about their selves but each word is important in helping you to understand how they manage money  – they will explain in more detail as they move along. Their investment approach and process are focused on value discovery, not price discovery. They believe that financial markets are inherently inefficient and that, through disciplined and diligent analysis, they can identify investment opportunities where market prices do not reflect long-term fundamental value. By exploiting this pervasive market characteristic, they believe they can create real long-term value for their investors.

Woodford Investment Management

SKC Co., Ltd. (Seoul, South Korea) is the parent company of SKC, Inc. (Covington, Georgia, USA). SKC Co., Ltd. began commercial production of polyester films in 1978. The company grew from its 1976 founding to become a global supplier of polyester films. In 1986, SKC established a sales and service branch in Mt. Olive, New Jersey, USA to further accommodate the American market. Recognizing the numerous benefits customers receive through local sourcing, SKC embarked on an ambitious plan to provide those benefits by building a state-of-the-art facility in Covington, Georgia, USA. The multi-year project created a new organization (SKC, Inc.), a new headquarters and a new plant.   SKC, Inc. began production of film in May 1999. The Covington plant currently manufactures a variety of SkyrolÂ:registered: brand polyester films on three production lines. Future plans reveal initiatives to expand the plant to ten lines. SKC has a global production capacity of 300 million pounds of films per year, the most productive and advanced plant in the industry (Covington, Georgia, USA) and the highest volume film plant in the world (Suwon, South Korea). SKC is truly a world leader in polyester films.   SkyrolÂ:registered: polyester films are initially produced in large master rolls and then slit down to smaller rolls according to customer specifications. SkyrolÂ:registered: films are sold to its customers who utilize the films in their processes and end products. For more detailed information on SKCâ€:tm:s broad portfolio of SkyrolÂ:registered: films, refer to the Find A Film Type section, or the Contact Us section of this website. SKC desires to be your key source for polyester films.

IP Group's core business is the creation of value for its shareholders and partners through the commercialisation of intellectual property originating from research intensive institutions. Their strength lies in managing this process from finding suitable intellectual property to commercialise to either helping develop businesses and create value out of them, or identifying and establishing appropriate commercial partnerships to do so. IP Group's extensive expertise in this area combined with its inside knowledge of both industry and finance have enabled the group to create a formidable track record of consistently delivering excellent results for their companies, for their partners and for their shareholders.

IP Group

Shinhan Investment Corp. is a financial services company based out of 여의대로 70, 영등포구, 서울특별시, South Korea.

Shinhan Investment

Daishin Securities is a financial services provider. They are involved in business dealing, brokerage, underwriting, investment trusts, and asset management. They provide securities distribution, online trading, corporate finance, the sale of beneficiary certificates, and investment information.

Daishin Securities

Gly Capital Management is an investment manager seeking to invest in assets that are redefining the global transportation industry.

Gly Capital Management

Nexeon

Nexeon is a leading international developer and manufacturer of breakthrough silicon-based anode materials for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. These are fundamental to the achievement of ‘net zero’ and a sustainable environment. Nexeon’s battery materials enable significantly higher cell energy density, allowing the design of lighter, smaller and more cost effective batteries. In turn, this leads to enhanced performance for an increasing range of diverse consumer and commercial markets, including electric vehicles, where range and charging times can beneficially be impacted. Nexeon is based in Oxfordshire with operations in Japan. It has a well-established multi-disciplinary technical team with a wide range of expertise. For more details, please visit https://www.nexeon.co.uk

<div>Nexeon is a British developer of enhanced silicon for use in lithium-ion battery anodes as an alternative to the conventional use of graphite. Silicon anodes give a higher battery density compared to graphite but run the risk of swelling while charging. Nexeon&rsquo;s patented enhanced silicon material is designed to overcome this problem. Applications for the company&rsquo;s silicon include EVs, consumer electronics, wearables, and other energy storage applications.</div>

Electrifying passenger and commercial travel

EV Economy

Global Silicon Anode Battery Market Trends and Forecasts 2024-2031 with Amprius, Nexeon, Enevate, XG Sciences, CONNEXX SYSTEM, and OneD Material Dominating

Panasonic

Panasonic Energy collaborates with Nexeon to purchase silicon anode material for lithium-ion batteries, with a focus on improving EV performance and range.

Companies developing Li-ion EV batteries and battery materials. Includes next-gen advancements in Li-ion batteries (e.g. fast charging batteries, graphite-anode substitutes)

Toyota Motor

PPES, a joint venture created by Toyota and Panasonic, recently announced a partnership with Britain-based battery developer Nexeon to develop the next generation of li-ion batteries, which will feature an increased silicon content for improved battery performance.

<div>
 
 Nexeon is a British developer of enhanced silicon for use in lithium-ion battery anodes as an alternative to the conventional use of graphite. Silicon anodes give a higher battery density compared to graphite but run the risk of swelling while charging. Nexeon&rsquo;s patented enhanced silicon material is designed to overcome this problem. Applications for the company&rsquo;s silicon include EVs, consumer electronics, wearables, and other energy storage applications.
 
 
 Nexeon has offices in the UK and Japan. The company&rsquo;s process development and manufacturing facility is located in Oxfordshire, UK.&nbsp;
 
 
 The company&rsquo;s most recent funding event was in 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/12119">
 August 2022
 </a>
 , when it raised USD 90 million in a Series D funding round led by Ingevity Corporation. The new capital is to be used to accelerate the expansion of its manufacturing capabilities.
 
</div>

<div>
 
 SolidEnergy Systems (SES) is a lithium-metal battery developer and manufacturer of battery cells for EVs. SES hybrid Li-metal batteries replace the graphite anode with lithium-metal to improve energy density (to around 400 Wh/kg). SES also uses a hybrid electrolyte&mdash;the battery has a solid protective coating on the lithium-metal anode and a liquid in the cathode, unlike some solid-state batteries (Solid Power and QuantumScape) that are all-solid and free of any liquid. The company&rsquo;s battery is expected to enable a longer driving range (around 500&ndash;600 miles) and is also capable of reaching an 80% charge in under 15 minutes. In 2021, SES was the first company to introduce 100Ah Li-metal cells, globally.
 
 
 SES&rsquo; large format Li-metal EV and eVTOL cells known as &ldquo;Apollo&rdquo; can be customized for different OEM requests. As such, the company has begun pilot-scale manufacturing of 50Ah to 100Ah Li-Metal cells with GM, Hyundai, and Honda at their Shanghai (China) and Chungju (Korea) battery manufacturing facilities. The company aims to commercialize its batteries by 2025. SES 
 <a href="https://investors.ses.ai/news/news-details/2023/SES-to-Host-Battery-World-2023-and-Announce-Worlds-First-Automotive-B-sample-JDA-for-Li-Metal/default.aspx">
 expects
 </a>
 to establish the world&rsquo;s first B-sample Joint Development Agreement (JDA) with an automotive OEM in December 2023.
 
 
 &nbsp;
 Funding and financials
 
 
 In February 2023, SES received an undisclosed amount of cash grants from the South Korean Central Government. Prior to this in April 2021, the company raised USD 139 million in a Series D funding round led by General Motors, while in July 2021, it raised USD 100 million from Hyundai.&nbsp;
 
 
 SES was listed on NYSE through a SPAC merger in February 2022. The deal raised USD 275 million at a valuation of USD 3.6 billion. The proceeds were to be used to accelerate growth and fund key development initiatives.&nbsp;
 
 
 
</div>

Addionics, a British next-gen battery-tech company, develops smart 3D electrodes for EV batteries by optimizing AI-based algorithms. The company states that its tech could improve the cost and performance of any EV battery. The company collaborated with leading automotive OEMs and suppliers in the US and Europe to integrate its technology with lithium-nickel-manganese-cobalt-oxide (NMC), lithium iron phosphate, silicon, lithium polymer battery chemistries, and solid state batteries.In <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/27236">February 2024</a>, Addionics reported a planned USD 400 million investment into its US manufacturing facilities to expand domestic EV battery production in the country. The new facilities will produce 3D copper foils to support 90 GWh of battery capacity, annually. The company’s first factory is set to begin production in 2027, with additional plants expected to come online in 2032.Key customers and partnershipsIn June 2022, Addionics <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/11083">partnered </a>with Blitz Motors, an Israel based smart electric moped manufacturer, to provide smart 3D electrodes and develop Li-ion batteries. In August 2021, Addionics partnered with the Center of Process Innovation (CPI) and the University of Warwick’s WMG to improve lithium-ion battery cell performance and manufacturing processes. In April 2021, Addionics also partnered with Saint-Gobain Ceramics, a manufacturer of materials for construction, mobility, healthcare, and other industrial segments to develop high-power, high-capacity solid-state batteries for EVs.Funding and financialsIn January 2022, the company raised USD 27 million in Series A funding. The proceeds were to be used to redesign existing battery architecture with Addionics’ Smart 3D Electrodes. The company planned to commercialize its solution by 2024.

Addionics

InoBat is a Slovakian next-generation battery technology company. In November 2020, the company announced the launch of an “intelligent” EV battery. According to the company, this was the first of its kind and was developed through the combination of AI and high throughput (HTP) technology. The use of AI enables the company to develop bespoke batteries within a short period of time, making it possible to cater to the unique needs and power demands of different vehicles and applications. The company’s technology also reduces reliance on cobalt, resulting in higher energy density, with a goal of reaching 330 Wh/kg by the end of 2023 (compared to 250–270 Wh/kg of the highest-density lithium-ion batteries).Key customers and partnerships&nbsp;In November 2021, InoBat partnered with Chinese equipment manufacturer Wuxi Lead to deploy a lithium-ion pilot battery production line in Slovakia. The first batch of batteries was expected to be produced by the end of 2022. In April 2021, the company entered into a partnership with SOR (a producer of city and inter-city buses in Central Europe) to design, develop, and supply batteries for a new electric bus fleet. InoBat also planned to expand its geographic footprint across Europe and globally by building several gigafactories through 2024. In March 2022, Inobat announced plans to deploy a <a href="https://inobatauto.eu/newsroom/inobat-auto-announces-intention-to-build-its-third-gigafactory-in-western-europe/">third facility </a>in Western Europe.In April 2022, InoBat partnered with <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/9677">Gigamine</a>, a British battery recycling startup, to reprocess lithium-ion batteries from EVs. In September 2022, Inobat partnered with <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/12909">Cosworth</a>, to supply InoBat battery cells for Cosworth’s battery packs in the high-performance automotive marketIn October 2022, InoBat signed an agreement with <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/13944">GUS Technology</a>,, for the latter to produce and deliver InoBat’s batteries. During the same month the company signed declarations of intent with the <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/13942">Spanish government </a>to construct a new EV battery production facility in Valladolid, Spain. In November 2022, InoBat partnered with <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/14473">Ricardo </a>to jointly supply battery cells, modules, and packs to high-performance automotive manufacturers.Funding and financialsIn <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/21481">September 2023</a>, InoBat reported that Gotion High-Tech, a Chinese battery developer, acquired a 25% stake in the company. The two companies intend to focus on developing localized battery value chains in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa and will also accelerate R&amp;D across the value chain.In January 2022, InoBat raised an undisclosed amount in a funding round led by Ideanomics, a company promoting electric mobility. The proceeds were to be utilized to support the completion of InoBat’s pilot battery plant in Slovakia by the end of 2022.

InoBat

<div>
 
 Lightyear is a Dutch solar electric car startup. The company develops long-range electric cars that are grid-independent and are equipped with built-in solar panels, permitting longer charge cycles.&nbsp;
 
 
 The company&rsquo;s flagship electric car Lightyear 0 (formerly Lightyear One) has a battery range of 625 km (versus Tesla Model S&rsquo; ~400 km) and has an energy use of 10.5 kWh per 100 kms. Lightyear 0 has a built-in five-square-meter solar panel and was available for pre-order at EUR 250,000 (~USD 272,278) excluding taxes (versus Tesla Model S&rsquo; USD 90,000) as of June 2022.&nbsp;
 
 
 The company reported that Lightyear 0 had begun production in 
 <a href="https://lightyear.one/articles/impact-has-started-lightyear-0-has-gone-into-production">
 November 2022
 </a>
 . However, subsequently in 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/15885">
 January 2023
 </a>
 , it announced that the production of Lightyear 0 has been suspended to instead direct resources towards Lightyear 2.&nbsp;
 
 
 Key customers and partnerships
 
 
 The Lightyear 2 model has received over 40,000 subscriptions from individual customers, as well as 21,000 pre-orders from fleet owners such as 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/15722">
 Arval
 </a>
 , Athlon, LeasePlan, and MyWheels.
 
 
 In July 2022, Lightyear partnered with 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/11799">
 Valmet Automotive
 </a>
 to produce Lightyear 0 at Valmet&rsquo;s manufacturing facility in Uusikaupunki, Finland. A maximum of 946 Lightyear 0&rsquo;s will be produced. Additionally, in August 2022, Lightyear 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/12007">
 partnered
 </a>
 with Koenigsegg, a Swedish high-performance sports car manufacturer, to jointly develop innovative EV technologies and optimize Koenigsegg&rsquo;s proprietary technologies to improve the energy efficiencies of Lightyear&rsquo;s second model, Lightyear 2. Additionally, in October 2022, the company acquired the technological design for drivetrain inverters from 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/14036">
 Next Level Electronics
 </a>
 .
 
 
 In December 2021, Lightyear announced a 3 year partnership with LeasePlan where it promised 5,000 Lightyear 2 vehicles for its fleet. The company is also partnering with The Sharing Company (Netherlands) to supply 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/9823">
 5,000 
 </a>
 Lightyear 2 vehicles for its MyWheels car-sharing platform by 2025.&nbsp;&nbsp;
 
 
 Funding and financials
 
 
 In 
 <a href="https://sp-edge.com/updates/12809">
 September 2022
 </a>
 , Lightyear raised EUR 81 million (~USD 80.4 million) in funding for the production of Lightyear 0 in late 2022 and to also ensure the continued achievement of development milestones for Lightyear 2. In May 2021, Lightyear received a strategic investment of EUR 20 million (~USD 23 million) from the Dutch trading company SHV. In March 2021, the company raised EUR 40.2 million (~USD 48 million) in a venture round led by Zero Point Holding. The funds were expected to support commercialization and growth.
 
</div>

Lightyear

<div>
 
 India-based ION Energy provides battery management system (BMS) hardware and battery intelligence software solutions. The company&rsquo;s &ldquo;Maxwell&rdquo; BMS optimizes lithium-battery use in electric two and three-wheelers, passenger and commercial EVs, industrial EVs, and stationary battery energy storage systems to improve efficiency, safety, and longevity of batteries. The company&rsquo;s battery simulation software Altergo leverages data science and machine learning to extract data from batteries and to mirror its performance on a digital platform for remote monitoring and predictive analysis.
 
 
 As of June 2021, the company had deployed over 60,000 Maxwell units for more than 75 mobility and energy storage customers across 15 countries including India, France, Spain, and the US. Altergo also focused on helping owners and operators of battery fleets to improve the operational efficiency of their assets after deployment. It partnered with the US energy storage developer esVolta to deploy the software across its entire portfolio of battery storage systems totaling 581 MWh.&nbsp;
 
 
 In June 2021, the company raised USD 3.6 million in pre-Series A funding to expand its team, invest in product development, and grow its software business in North America and Europe. 
 
 
 
</div>

ION Energy

Companies developing battery electric cars, SUVs, and pickup trucks

Companies developing commercial BEVs. Includes electric LCVs, trucks, buses, etc.

Companies developing EV battery technologies that do not fall under the definition of Li-ion (e.g. solid-state batteries, lithium substitutes, etc.)

Companies offering software solutions to optimize the performance of EV batteries (e.g. charging optimization software, Digital Twin solutions, etc.)

Companies that facilitate EV charging. Includes both charging infrastructure providers and network operators. Also includes vehicle-to-grid technologies.

Battery electric vehicles (BEV) promote sustainable transportation

EV charging networks support the adoption of EVs for sustainable transportation

Nexeon

EDGE Insights

About EDGE

Contact Us

Resources

Area of Focus

Technology Research Made Effortless