FundraiseJun 28, 2026, 20:40 UTC

Sicona wins A$45M federal grant to scale battery tech

What's the deal? Sicona Battery Technologies has won a $45 million grant from the Australian federal government to expand production of its silicon-based battery materials.

The Wollongong startup will build a small commercial-scale facility in Port Kembla, where it has an exclusivity agreement with BlueScope.

The funding will boost Sicona's capacity to make silicon-based anodes by up to 300 times and create up to 36 manufacturing jobs.

Why now? At the time of the grant, Sicona was operating at pilot scale, and founder and CEO Christiaan Jordaan called the funding a "key stepping stone" to full commercial deployment of thousands of tonnes.

Its silicon-based anode partially or fully replaces graphite in lithium-ion batteries, lifting energy density by 20% to 100%.

In electric vehicles, that means longer range and 40% faster charging.

The technology can drop into existing battery factories. It also works in drones, laptops, electric scooters, and an emerging field Jordaan is excited about: humanoid robotics.

The signal: The government says backing Sicona strengthens Australia's place in global battery supply chains.

Industry and Innovation Minister Tim Ayres said the investment ensures "Australia captures more value from its resources while creating jobs, driving innovation, and strengthening economic resilience."

Sicona joins a cluster of Illawarra clean-energy firms — including Hysata, Green Gravity, and Gravitas — putting the region on the global map.

For Jordaan, the backing is "huge" for his 33-person team. "We're still a small, modest startup team, but we have phenomenal people," he said.