Exclusive Licence Agreement
Gelion plc has secured exclusive global rights to crucial intellectual property for its sulfur battery technology through a commercial licence agreement with Max-Planck-Innovation GmbH. This agreement, which includes staged cash payments and royalties based on net sales, covers both existing and future foreground intellectual property related to nano-encapsulated sulfur cathode and novel nano-confined anode materials. The deal transitions Gelion from a research collaboration to a commercial framework, strengthening its IP position and reducing commercialisation risk as it progresses towards integrating these advancements into its next-generation battery technologies for market deployment.
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Gelion plc (AIM: GELN), the sulfur battery company, is pleased to announce that its 100% owned subsidiary Gelion Technologies Pty Ltd has signed an exclusive commercial licence agreement ("The Agreement") with the Max-Planck-Innovation GmbH ("MI"), the technology transfer agency of Max-Planck-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Wissenschaften e.V. ("MPG), for intellectual property covering nano-encapsulated sulfur cathode technology and novel nano-confined anode materials.
Under the March 2025 collaboration agreement, Gelion secured an exclusive option to acquire commercial rights to the technology. This new agreement, outlined below, represents the successful transition of that option and the conclusion of those negotiations.
The Agreement represents a pivotal milestone in the Company's roadmap toward commercialisation.
Highlights
- Exclusive access: Gelion secures long-term, exclusive global rights to key intellectual property (IP) critical for its sulfur battery technology offerings.
- Comprehensive IP coverage: The licence encompasses Background IP (existing research) and provides for extension of the licenced rights to include appropriate Foreground IP (new discoveries generated during the collaboration between the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces and Gelion established under a cooperation agreement signed in April 2025) ensuring Gelion has access to (appropriate) possible future improvements.
- Commercial pathway: The Agreement will help Gelion to transition from a research-led collaboration to a commercial-ready framework.
Strengthening the commercialisation pathway
The exclusive licence provides Gelion with long-term access to breakthrough sulfur chemistry of MPG and secures the Company's ability to incorporate these innovations into its proprietary battery architectures.
In consideration, Gelion will make certain staged cash payments to MI based upon (e.g., technical) milestones and grant to MI royalties over net sales of Nano-Encapsulated Sulfur Cathode Active Materials by Gelion. Both the staged payments and royalties are on fair market commercial terms.
By consolidating rights to both Background IP and Foreground IP, Gelion has materially strengthened its intellectual property position and reduced commercialisation risk, providing greater certainty for future industrial partnerships and customer qualification processes.
The Agreement follows the successful collaboration initiated in April 2025, which has delivered significant advancements in energy density, power capability, operating temperature range and cycle life performance. The formalisation of this licensing structure enables Gelion to accelerate integration of these developments into its next-generation sulfur battery technologies as it progresses toward commercial deployment.
John Wood, Gelion CEO, commented:
"The MPG technology has more than delivered on our expectations and by working closely with our supply chain partners, our team have been able to very quickly establish the importance of the NES™ materials. Given the progress, it is now appropriate to conclude a commercial licence for Gelion to have the capability to extend our development and materials testing toward the start of commercial collaboration activities."
- Katharina Thöne, Patent and Licensing Manager at MI, commented:
"We are delighted to have found in Gelion a highly capable industrial partner with the expertise and vision required to bring this outstanding technology from the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces to the market. Advanced battery technologies will play a crucial role in the future of sustainable energy storage, and this agreement demonstrates how excellent fundamental research from the Max Planck Society can be translated into impactful industrial applications through strong partnerships."
| For more information, please visit Next-Generation Sulfur Battery Technologies | Gelion or contact: |
| Gelion plc John Wood, CEO Amit Gupta, CFO | via Tavistock |
| Strand Hanson Limited (Nominated and Financial Adviser) Christopher Raggett / Rob Patrick / Harry Marshall | +44 (0) 20 7409 3494 |
| Oberon Capital (Joint Broker) Nick Lovering / Mike Seabrook / Adam Pollock | +44 (0) 20 3179 5300 |
| Allenby Capital Limited (Joint Broker) Jos Pinnington / Lauren Wright (Sales and Corporate Broking) Alex Brearley / Ashur Joseph (Corporate Finance) | +44 (0) 20 3328 5656 |
| Tavistock (Financial & Corporate PR) Simon Hudson / Nick Elwes / Saskia Sizen | +44 (0) 20 7920 3150 gelion@tavistock.co.uk |
About Max-Planck-Innovation GmbH ("MI")
Supporting the Commercialisation of Breakthrough Battery Technologies
The licensing agreement was facilitated by MI, the technology transfer organisation of MPG. MI is responsible for evaluating, protecting and commercialising inventions from all Max Planck Institutes and supports the translation of cutting-edge research into real-world applications through licensing and start-up creation.
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