Ilika PLC (AIM:IKA, OTCQX:ILIKF) this week outlined the objectives of its PRIMED programme, which is designed to accelerate progress on the company’s Goliath solid-state battery roadmap.
Chief executive Graeme Purdy joined the studio and told Proactive that the programme represents “a fantastic piece of support” to help Ilika deliver a key milestone of producing 50Ah A-Sample batteries.
He explained that achieving this requires large-scale production equipment, which the company will access through its collaboration with the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UK BIC).
Proactive: I'm joined by Ilika CEO Graeme Purdy. Graeme, very good to speak with you. Could you start by explaining the main objectives of the PRIMED programme and how it builds on your earlier projects?
Graeme Purdy: Hi, Stephen, great to be back. Many thanks for the invitation. The PRIMED programme is a fantastic piece of support in order to deliver one of the key milestones of the Goliath roadmap, which is 50Ah A-Sample batteries. You need quite large-scale production equipment in order to achieve that.
We’re able to do this in collaboration with the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre (UK BIC). We’re also working with HSSMI to produce a production-scale model, which gives insights into cost modelling and operational detail. It also provides a business case review for Gigafactory-scale manufacturing, to ensure this can be done at a price point that makes sense for the business and the industry.
Perhaps the most compelling aspect of the collaboration announced this morning is that we have real expert industrial input into the programme from Jaguar Land Rover, and from Professor Paul Shearing at Oxford University. So we’ve got real automotive expertise being deployed into this programme.
Proactive: As you mentioned, Jaguar Land Rover and Oxford University are part of the steering committee. How will their involvement shape the development of Ilika’s solid-state batteries?
Graeme Purdy: We have regular meetings with the steering committee during the programme, as well as informal interactions between quarterly meetings. This means we’re getting detailed input and guidance on design and process decisions as we move towards P2 release.
Proactive: What milestones should investors watch for over the next 12 months as the PRIMED programme progresses?
Graeme Purdy: We’ll be announcing technical progress as we move forward. There will be updates from our interactions with UK BIC, as well as performance data from prototypes going through testing in preparation for release. There may also be additional commercial interactions and collaborations as we go forward.
Proactive: Graeme, I hope you’ll continue to keep us updated on progress.