Umicore and HS Hyosung Advanced Materials partner to industrialize silicon-anode materials for EV batteries
Umicore has entered into a strategic partnership agreement with Korea’s HS Hyosung Advanced Materials to advance and fund the industrialization, commercialization and further development of its silicon-carbon composite anode materials for electric vehicle (EV) lithium-ion batteries.
After more than a decade of research and development (R&D), Umicore’s flagship center for anode technology in Olen, Belgium, is ready to transition to industrial-scale production.
The joint venture The Extra Mile will further develop the technology, and scale Umicore’s existing line to an industrial demonstration plant by the end of 2026 in Olen, Belgium. Umicore will hold a minority stake of 20% in The Extra Mile. All of Umicore’s employees working for the anode materials activity will transfer to The Extra Mile and retain their employment terms and conditions.
Umicore’s partnership with HS Hyosung Advanced Materials underscores the value of our extensive know-how and commitment to innovation in next-generation anode battery technologies in this fast-evolving market.
Geert Olbrechts, EVP & CTO of Umicore
This joint venture aligns with our strategy to partner along our battery materials value chain. Scaling and valorizing the anode material technology created by our teams in Belgium demonstrates our commitment to innovation.
Bart Sap, CEO of Umicore
Umicore’s silicon-anode technology, protected by over 30 patent families, is unlocking key benefits for the EV industry, including higher energy density, longer battery range and faster charging, while ensuring supply security at reduced cost and lower carbon emissions. Umicore’s proprietary anode materials are in qualification at multiple globally leading battery cell makers. Umicore and HS Hyosung Advanced Materials expect that closing of the transaction will occur in the coming months, pending customary regulatory approvals.
Umicore has entered into a strategic partnership with Korea’s HS Hyosung Advanced Materials to accelerate the industrialization and commercialization of next-generation silicon-carbon composite anode materials for electric vehicle (EV) lithium-ion batteries. Building on more than a decade of research and development at its flagship anode technology center in Olen, Belgium, Umicore is now ready to transition from innovation to large-scale production.
The two companies have established a joint venture named The Extra Mile, which will focus on advancing the technology and expanding Umicore’s existing production line into an industrial demonstration plant by the end of 2026 in Olen. Umicore will hold a 20% minority stake in the venture, with all employees from its anode materials division transferring to The Extra Mile under their existing employment terms. According to Umicore’s EVP and CTO, Geert Olbrechts, the partnership highlights the company’s deep expertise and long-standing commitment to pioneering new battery technologies for a rapidly evolving market.
CEO Bart Sap added that the collaboration reflects Umicore’s strategic approach of partnering across the battery materials value chain to scale innovative technologies developed in Belgium. With over 30 patent families protecting its silicon-anode innovations, Umicore’s technology promises to deliver significant performance benefits for EV manufacturers—offering higher energy density, extended driving range, and faster charging capabilities, while also reducing costs and carbon emissions. These proprietary materials are currently being qualified by several leading global battery cell producers. The transaction is expected to close in the coming months, subject to customary regulatory approvals, marking a major step forward in advancing sustainable, high-performance EV battery materials.
Umicore has formed a strategic alliance with South Korea’s HS Hyosung Advanced Materials to drive the industrialization and commercialization of its cutting-edge silicon-carbon composite anode materials for electric vehicle (EV) lithium-ion batteries. This collaboration marks a pivotal milestone for Umicore, following more than ten years of intensive research and development at its anode technology hub in Olen, Belgium.
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