TORONTO - NEO Battery Materials Ltd., a Toronto-based developer of silicon-enhanced lithium-ion battery technology, has entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Korea Institute for Defense Industry, a Ministry of National Defense-approved organization that supports South Korea’s defense sector.
The agreement establishes a formal partnership intended to accelerate NEO’s engagement with South Korea’s defense industry ecosystem, including military, government, academic, and research organizations. The collaboration aims to evaluate the use of silicon-enhanced battery technology in defense and uncrewed systems applications for the South Korean military, while also supporting potential use in commercial drone platforms that share similar performance requirements.
As part of the agreement, NEO and the Korea Institute for Defense Industry will form a joint task force focused on defense drone and uncrewed aerial system applications. The task force will coordinate technical evaluations of NEO’s battery technology for potential use in military and government intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions, including testing for deployment on operational and commercially derived UAS platforms.
Related: Beta Technologies to deploy charging systems for Abu Dhabi AAM network
"Our partnership with KOIDI provides an entry point into South Korea’s defense industry stakeholders," said Spencer Huh, president and chief executive officer of NEO Battery Materials. "By understanding operational requirements, the joint task force will align our battery development efforts with real-world needs for defense drones and uncrewed systems."
The two organizations also plan to cooperate on defense-related research and development, technical education initiatives, and government-industry programs. The framework is intended to provide NEO with insight into performance requirements associated with South Korean defense and security programs, while supporting broader commercial adoption of advanced battery technologies in uncrewed systems.
Silicon anode tech
NEO develops silicon anode lithium-ion battery technology designed to increase energy density and improve charging performance compared to conventional graphite-anode lithium-ion cells.
Related: Military researchers ask industry to grow single-crystal inorganic material for microsystems
Silicon anodes can store substantially more lithium than graphite, enabling longer operating time and faster recharge for size-, weight-, and power-constrained platforms such as drones and uncrewed aerial systems.
Engineered silicon materials are used to manage anode expansion during charge and discharge, a known technical challenge in silicon-based batteries. Higher-capacity batteries can support extended endurance, increased payload power, and improved sortie generation for both defense and commercial UAS missions.
