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Star Living’s New Electronic Product Line Debuts Across Showrooms in May


SINGAPORE – Media OutReach Newswire – 21 May 2025 – Star Living, a home furnishing brand in Singapore, is proud to announce its expansion into the electronic product category this May. With a curated selection of everyday appliances and smart home essentials, the move marks a strategic step towards becoming a comprehensive, one-stop destination for modern homeowners.

Electronics Range at Star Living Sungei Kadut Showroom
Electronics Range at Star Living Sungei Kadut Showroom

This milestone is part of Star Living’s broader vision to go beyond furniture and address the evolving lifestyle needs of customers. “We saw a growing need among new homeowners for a convenient shopping experience. Many are furnishing their homes and buying electronic products at the same time. Expanding our offerings was a natural step,” reveals Koh Hong Jie, Group Retail Manager at Star Living.

Smart Living, All in One Place

Launching across Star Living showrooms at Sungei Kadut, Tampines, and Serangoon North, the initial electronics lineup includes:

  • Wells water and air purifiers
  • Roborock robot vacuums
  • Deerma appliances such as dehumidifiers, air fryers, kettles, and hair dryers
  • Standing fans
  • Other everyday smart essentials
The range reflects Star Living’s commitment to quality and purposeful selection, not an overwhelming choice. These electronic products are chosen based on functionality, design synergy, and trusted brand reputation.

Meanwhile, an in-store experience allows customers to test robot vacuums under actual furniture or see how small appliances complement different room layouts. This offers a practical and immersive shopping experience. For Well’s products, upon receiving an order, Star Living will liaise directly with Wells to manage fulfilment and installation, providing a seamless, end-to-end experience for the customer.

On the other hand, Roborock and Deerma products are part of Star Living’s in-house inventory. They are available for immediate cash-and-carry. As such, customers can enjoy instant gratification and trusted after-sales service.

A Glimpse Into the Future

This electronic product launch is just the beginning of Star Living’s journey into broader lifestyle categories. With custom carpentry services already in the pipeline, the brand is exploring new ways to integrate smart living and furniture design— including future possibilities like tech-integrated furniture and smart home systems.

“This expansion reflects a shift in how Singaporeans shop for their homes. By curating electronics that seamlessly integrate into real living spaces, we are hoping to redefine what a modern home store can be,” Koh Hong Jie, Group Retail Manager at Star Living says.

Star Living will evaluate the initiative based on showroom engagement, sales metrics, and customer feedback, particularly the attach rate of electronics purchased alongside furniture.

The brand welcomes media and customers to explore the new electronics range in person at its showrooms, where furniture meets functionality and style meets smart living.
Hashtag: #starliving



The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About Star Living

Star International is a vertically integrated company involved in the design, manufacturing, retail, and export of household furniture and accessories. Their furniture range such as , sofa and caters to urban dwellers seeking practical home living solutions. The brand covers a retail presence of 5 retail points in Singapore, 9 in Taiwan, and 1 in Malaysia.

Elyon Family Clinic Launches STD Testing Packages Amid Rising Sexual Health Awareness

SINGAPORE, May 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Elyon Family Clinic & Surgery, an STD clinic in Singapore, has expanded its diagnostic offerings with the launch of two new testing packages: the STI-7 Multiplex Panel and the Genital Ulcer Assay. These additions are in line with the clinic’s ongoing commitment to improving early detection and clinical outcomes in the area of sexual health.

The introduction of these testing options comes amid rising awareness of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and shifting infection patterns in Singapore and across Asia. Regional medical reports have noted an increase in the prevalence of infections such as Mycoplasma genitalium, Hepatitis C virus, and other lesser-known pathogens. Many of these conditions often present with minimal or no symptoms, making them difficult to diagnose using traditional testing methods.

The STI-7 Multiplex Panel provides simultaneous testing for seven common and emerging STIs in a single lab-based analysis. This includes detection of conditions such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea, and Mycoplasma genitalium, among others. The test is designed for individuals seeking a broad diagnostic overview, particularly those with multiple risk factors or recurring symptoms.

The Genital Ulcer Assay, on the other hand, focuses on identifying pathogens responsible for ulcerative STDs. It helps to accurately diagnose infections such as syphilis and herpes, which are often underdiagnosed despite their increasing presence in the local population.

Both new packages support Elyon Family Clinic & Surgery’s mission to offer accessible and confidential STD screening options backed by up-to-date clinical protocols. These tests add to the clinic’s existing services that include STD consultations, treatment, and preventive care.

Elyon Family Clinic & Surgery is helmed by Dr. Vincent Chia, a Harvard-trained, board-accredited Family Physician with over 25 years of clinical experience. Under his leadership, the clinic has built a reputation for professionalism, discretion, and evidence-based care. Its services include HIV testing, ensuring timely diagnosis and management as part of its comprehensive sexual health offerings.

With these expanded offerings, Elyon Family Clinic & Surgery continues to strengthen its capacity to address a wide range of sexual health needs in Singapore.

About Elyon Family Clinic & Surgery

Elyon Family Clinic & Surgery is a medical clinic based in Singapore that provides a range of healthcare services with a dedicated focus on sexual health. The clinic adopts a discreet and patient-centred approach, offering testing, treatment, and preventive care designed to meet the healthcare needs of individuals in Singapore.

For more information, please visit https://elyonclinic.com.sg.

Trump Organization Eyes New Tower in Vietnam, Local Authorities say

Trump Organization Eyes New Tower in Vietnam. (Photo: Jon Tyson on Unsplash)

AFP – United States President Donald Trump’s real estate company is seeking to build a tower in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnamese officials said on Tuesday, with his son due to scout locations this week.

Authorities in Vietnam’s southern business hub said in a statement that they met with a representative of the Trump Organization and its local partner, the Kinh Bac City Development Corporation (KBC).

The statement said authorities had already conducted a field survey of two potential locations in the eastern part of the city on Monday and are scheduled to meet leaders of the Trump Organization on Thursday.

The company, which builds luxury developments around the world, has come under scrutiny, with critics accusing Trump of leveraging his political position for personal financial gain.

The state-controlled Tuoi Tre newspaper said the organisation’s senior vice-president, Eric Trump, the US president’s second son, would lead the visit.

It also said the delegation would visit a proposed location for “Trump Tower”.

The Trump Organization did not respond immediately to AFP’s request for comment.

Tuoi Tre said Eric Trump would also attend a ground-breaking ceremony on Wednesday for a USD 1.5 billion luxury resort and golf course developed by the Trump Organization and KBC.

The 990-hectare golf complex in northern Hung Yen province outside Hanoi will feature a 54-hole course and residential villas, the newspaper said.

Project director Charles Boyd-Bowman said in a meeting with Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in March that his group aimed to finish the golf resort in March 2027, before Vietnam hosts the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.

Vietnam and the United States are engaged in trade talks after President Trump threatened a 46 percent levy on Vietnamese goods as part of his global tariff blitz.

Trump visited the Vietnamese capital in 2019 for his abortive second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

He described Hanoi at the time as an “incredible city” and praised Vietnam for “the job they’ve done, economic development.”


© Agence France-Presse

Info-Tech Research Group Expands Annual Awards Program to Spotlight IT Leadership, Excellence, and Innovation

Reflecting the evolving role of IT in driving business success, Info-Tech Research Group, a global IT research and advisory firm, has announced the launch of its expanded Info-Tech Awards program to celebrate exceptional leaders and organisations across five new categories to celebrate both organisational impact and individuals in the industry. Nominations are now open for the 2025 program, with winners set to be announced in November.

SYDNEY, May 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Info-Tech Research Group, a global IT research and advisory firm, has officially launched its newly expanded Info-Tech Awards for 2025. The reimagined program now includes two distinct streams, Leader of the Year and Innovator of the Year, to honour both individual excellence and organisational impact in the field of IT.

Info-Tech Research Group has announced the launch of its expanded Info-Tech Awards program to celebrate exceptional leaders and organisations across five new categories to celebrate both organisational impact and individuals in the industry. Nominations are now open for the 2025 program, with winners set to be announced in November.
Info-Tech Research Group has announced the launch of its expanded Info-Tech Awards program to celebrate exceptional leaders and organisations across five new categories to celebrate both organisational impact and individuals in the industry. Nominations are now open for the 2025 program, with winners set to be announced in November.

With five new award categories, the Info-Tech Awards program celebrates leaders and teams who have demonstrated exceptional performance, innovation, and strategic alignment across their IT initiatives. Nominations are now open and will be accepted until July 31, 2025, with winners announced in November 2025.

“Across the Asia-Pacific region, IT leaders are playing an increasingly central role in driving business growth and innovation,” says George Khreish, Managing Partner at Info-Tech Research Group, APAC. “With the expanded Info-Tech Awards program, we’re proud to recognise not only technical excellence but also the vision and leadership required to deliver lasting impact in an exponentially evolving landscape.”

Info-Tech Awards 2025 Categories and Criteria
With expanded criteria and new categories, the Info-Tech Awards 2025 recognises both individual technology leaders and innovative organisations that have driven measurable impact through strategy, execution, and alignment with business priorities. The Info-Tech Awards categories and descriptions are as follows:

  • IT Impact Award This award recognises Info-Tech members who have delivered top-ranking stakeholder satisfaction by aligning IT services with strategic goals, measured through the CIO Business Vision diagnostic. This survey-based program captures stakeholder perspectives on IT performance, priorities, and impact to drive a successful IT strategy that focuses on what matters most to the organisation.
  • IT Excellence Award This category honours leaders who have taken clear, measurable steps to improve IT processes and operational performance using Info-Tech’s IT Management & Governance Program. This survey-based diagnostic is designed to identify strengths and weaknesses across 50 IT processes and guide improvement in the areas that are most important to the organisation.
  • IT Transformation Award – This award spotlights members who have implemented strategic initiatives that drive alignment between IT and broader business goals, guided by Info-Tech’s CIO Playbook, which is a structured, 12-step framework designed to help CIOs systematically improve and transform IT performance.
  • Women Leading IT Award – This recognition celebrates women in IT who exemplify innovation, inclusive leadership, and mentorship within their organisations and the broader industry, inspiring the next generation of leaders. Nominations from the public are welcomed for this category.
  • Innovator of the Year Award – This distinction highlights any organisation that has implemented groundbreaking IT initiatives that drive organisational success. This award honours those who have leveraged technology in innovative ways to solve challenges, enhance efficiency, or set new industry standards, shaping the future of IT and delivering exceptional value. Applications are accepted from both Info-Tech members and other organisations across the globe.

Key Dates and Application Process

  • Nomination Deadline: Nominations for all categories will close on July 31, 2025.
  • Selection Process: Winners will be selected through a combination of diagnostic data, nomination forms, and interviews, with additional evaluations as required.
  • Announcement & Recognition: Awards will be publicly announced in November 2025, with winners receiving a trophy and certificate to recognise their achievements.

For full eligibility criteria and submission details, as well as detailed information about each of the awards, please visit the Info-Tech Awards 2025 page.

To stay up to date with all further announcements, please follow Info-Tech Research Group on LinkedIn and X.

Media Passes for Info-Tech LIVE 2025 in Las Vegas
Media professionals, including journalists, podcasters, and influencers, are invited to attend Info-Tech LIVE 2025 to gain exclusive access to research, content, and interviews with industry leaders. For those unable to attend in person, Info-Tech offers a digital pass option, providing access to live-streamed keynotes, select sessions, and exclusive virtual interviews with speakers and analysts.

Media professionals looking to apply for in-person or digital passes can contact pr@infotech.com to secure their spot and cover the latest advancements in IT for their audiences.

Exhibitors are also invited to be part of Info-Tech LIVE and showcase their products and services to a highly engaged audience of IT decision-makers. For more information about becoming an Info-Tech LIVE exhibitor, please contact events@infotech.com

About Info-Tech Research Group
Info-Tech Research Group is one of the world’s leading research and advisory firms, proudly serving over 30,000 professionals. The company produces unbiased, highly relevant research and provides advisory services to help leaders make strategic, timely, and well-informed decisions. For nearly 30 years, Info-Tech has partnered closely with teams to provide them with everything they need, from actionable tools to analyst guidance, ensuring they deliver measurable results for their organisations.

To learn more about Info-Tech’s divisions, visit McLean & Company for HR research and advisory services and SoftwareReviews for software-buying insights.

Media professionals can register for unrestricted access to research across IT, HR, and software and hundreds of industry analysts through the firm’s Media Insiders program. To gain access, contact pr@infotech.com.

Photo – https://laotiantimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/info_tech_research_group_info_tech_research_group_expands_annual-1.jpg
Logo – https://laotiantimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/info_tech_research_group_info_tech_research_group_expands_annual.jpg

Thailand Ranks Among Top 10 Countries with Highest LGBTQ+ Population, Laos Data Unavailable

Thailand Ranks Among Top 10 Countries with Highest LGBTQ+ Population, Laos Data Unavailable
Same-sex couples walk on a rainbow carpet at a marriage registration event at Paragon shopping mall in Bangkok on January 23, 2025. (Photo by Lillian SUWANRUMPHA / AFP)

Thailand has been ranked among the top 10 countries with the largest percentage of individuals identifying as part of the LGBTQ+ community, according to the latest data from the World Population Review (WPR). 

1 in 4 Malaysians at Risk: Alpro Pharmacy Leads National Movement to Reverse Prediabetes


KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 21 May 2025 – With one in four Malaysian adults unknowingly living with prediabetes, the country is facing a silent but escalating health crisis. Research shows that one in ten individuals with prediabetes will develop type 2 diabetes within a year, and up to 70% will progress within a decade if no action is taken (Sources: National Health and Morbidity Survey 2019; International Diabetes Federation).

(From left: Dietitian Chua Kai Jia (Professional Care & Development Manager cum Dietitian, Alpro Pharmacy); Pharmacist Anson Tan (Category Manager, Alpro Pharmacy); Mr. Yan Xiangrong (Country Manager, Yuwell Malaysia); Mr. Nicholas Tham (Commercial Director, Ethos Healthcare); Professor Dr. Hasniza (Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic & International), University of Malaya); Ms. Pixie Yee (Managing Director, Merck Malaysia & General Manager, Merck Healthcare Malaysia and Singapore); Ms. Elsie Low (General Manager, Powerlife Malaysia); Pharmacist Ng Yi Ling (Professional Care & Development Manager, Alpro Pharmacy))
(From left: Dietitian Chua Kai Jia (Professional Care & Development Manager cum Dietitian, Alpro Pharmacy); Pharmacist Anson Tan (Category Manager, Alpro Pharmacy); Mr. Yan Xiangrong (Country Manager, Yuwell Malaysia); Mr. Nicholas Tham (Commercial Director, Ethos Healthcare); Professor Dr. Hasniza (Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic & International), University of Malaya); Ms. Pixie Yee (Managing Director, Merck Malaysia & General Manager, Merck Healthcare Malaysia and Singapore); Ms. Elsie Low (General Manager, Powerlife Malaysia); Pharmacist Ng Yi Ling (Professional Care & Development Manager, Alpro Pharmacy))

In response to this urgent need, Alpro Pharmacy has launched the ASAP Programme (Alpro Stand Against Prediabetes) a nationwide health campaign that began in April 2025. This initiative is designed to raise early awareness, promote timely screening, and provide accessible, professional care to help Malaysians reverse prediabetes before it becomes a lifelong condition.

As part of this commitment, Alpro is offering 10,000 free HbA1c tests to high-risk individuals across more than 300 Alpro touchpoints nationwide, from April through June 2025.

With a focus on those with a family history of diabetes and those at higher risk due to age or weight, the ASAP Programme empowers individuals to take proactive steps towards better health. Through early detection and pharmacist-led counseling, nutrition guidance, and lifestyle modifications, participants can potentially reverse their condition.

Beyond individual action, the programme also reinforces the vital role that primary care providers—including community pharmacists, community nutritionists and dietitians, and general practitioners—play in delivering preventive healthcare directly to the public. By bringing early intervention into the heart of the community, the programme ensures that help is accessible, timely, and coordinated.

This national effort is made possible through a strong multidisciplinary collaboration between Alpro Pharmacy, Merck Sdn. Bhd., University of Malaya, Yuwell Malaysia, Ethos Healthcare, and Powerlife Malaysia. United by a shared vision for preventive healthcare, these partners bring together medical innovation, digital health tools, academic research, and nutritional science to combat one of Malaysia’s most pressing chronic health challenges. “Prediabetes is not a life sentence—it’s a second chance,” said Ph. Lim En Ni, Chief Pharmacist and Engagement Director of Alpro Pharmacy. “Through the ASAP Programme, we’re reaching people before diabetes does—offering them the tests, intervention, and ongoing support they need to make lasting changes. Our aim is to stop diabetes before it starts.”

For Merck Sdn. Bhd., the programme aligns with its commitment to early intervention in chronic disease.“The ASAP Programme puts prevention into action—on the ground, led by pharmacists,” said Ms. Pixie Yee, Managing Director of Merck Malaysia and General Manager of Merck Healthcare Malaysia and Singapore. “It’s meaningful because it reaches people before complications begin. As healthcare leaders, we must shift the focus from delayed treatment to early empowerment.”

A core component of the campaign is a research collaboration with the University of Malaya to evaluate the impact of pharmacist-led interventions in identifying and managing prediabetes. The study explores how HbA1c screening, paired with pharmacological and lifestyle guidance, can delay or even prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes. Findings are expected to help shape future national healthcare strategies and support the standardisation of pharmacy-based chronic disease prevention in Malaysia. “This campaign is more than awareness—it’s a chance to validate the impact of pharmacists in chronic disease prevention,” said Professor Dr. Hasniza, Deputy Vice Chancellor, University of Malaya.

The ASAP Programme aims to amplify a clear and urgent public health message: prediabetes is reversible, early action matters, and no one should wait for symptoms before seeking help. With professional support and free screening made easily available across the country, this campaign proves that diabetes can be stopped—before it starts.

Malaysians are encouraged to participate by visiting any Alpro Pharmacy outlet during the campaign period. For full campaign details, eligibility information, and outlet locations, please visit: https://bit.ly/AlproASAP

Let’s act ASAP — because the best way to fight diabetes is to stop it before it starts.
Hashtag: #alpro

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Alpro Pharmacy

With a humble beginning starting with a single pharmacy outlet in the small town of Port Dickson in 2002, Alpro Pharmacy is now a diversified community chain pharmacy that provides comprehensive primary healthcare solutions via over 300 outlets including Alpro Pharmacy, Alpro Clinic, Alpro Physio and Alpro Baby, both online and offline, nationwide. It is supported by a team of more than 650 healthcare professionals, ranging from doctors, pharmacists, nutritionists, dietitians to physiotherapists and many other healthcare professionals.

Serving more than 3 million families in Malaysia, Alpro Pharmacy is the first and only community pharmacy in the country to provide RM1 million product liability insurance to safeguard the supply of genuine medications. With over 500,000 prescriptions filled per year, Alpro Pharmacy is also the largest prescription pharmacy chain in Malaysia.

For more information, please visit .

LG PARTNERS WITH CSC SERVICEWORKS TO BOOST NORTH AMERICAN COMMERCIAL LAUNDRY MARKET

Company to Supply Commercial Washers and Dryers to North America’s Leading Provider of B2B Laundry Solutions 

SEOUL, South Korea, May 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — LG Electronics (LG) has signed a distribution agreement with CSC ServiceWorks (CSC), the North American market leader in laundry solutions, to supply its commercial washers and dryers. The new agreement will further strengthen LG’s presence in the North American commercial laundry market and accelerate the expansion of its growing B2B appliance business.

LG has signed a distribution agreement with CSC ServiceWorks (CSC), the North American market leader in B2B laundry solutions, to supply its commercial washers and dryers.
LG has signed a distribution agreement with CSC ServiceWorks (CSC), the North American market leader in B2B laundry solutions, to supply its commercial washers and dryers.

CSC, headquartered in New York, is the largest B2B laundry solutions provider in North America, supplying and managing over 1 million commercial washers and dryers across the U.S. and Canada.

The agreement was formalized at a signing ceremony attended by Sam Kim, vice president of LG’s Home Appliance Solution Company, and Rod Castellanos, CEO of CSC, highlighting the significance of this strategic collaboration for both companies.

This partnership marks a significant step for LG as it seeks to expand its presence and grow awareness of its outstanding laundry products and tailored B2B solutions in the highly competitive North American commercial appliance market. It is also expected to accelerate the growth of LG’s home appliance business, which continues to dominate the global market through its commitment to quality and leadership in design and technology innovation. For CSC, the agreement ensures a stable supply of high-efficiency LG products – all designed to provide easy maintenance and maximum operational efficiency in demanding commercial environments.

LG commercial laundry solutions incorporate its advanced Inverter Direct Drive™ motor, delivering premium performance, durability and efficiency. The machines also feature LG’s innovative 3D Gyro Sensor and Gyro Balancing System, which precisely monitor drum movement to reduce unnecessary motion, vibration and noise – extending component lifespan and ensuring smooth, stable operation. Ideal for high-usage environments, the units offer fast cycle times, rapid spin initiation and a front-access design that simplifies maintenance by allowing most servicing to be done without disassembly, minimizing downtime and improving technician efficiency.

The partnership with CSC is the latest milestone in LG’s ongoing efforts to lead the commercial laundry market. Additionally, in November 2024, the company unveiled the LG Professional lineup of large-capacity commercial washers and dryers at Texcare in Germany. Fully committed to servicing the B2B market, LG now boasts a full portfolio of commercial laundry solutions, from compact units to larger models with capacities exceeding 15 kilograms.

“We are thrilled to partner with one of the leading B2B laundry solution providers in North America and look forward to delivering new customer value through this strategic collaboration,” said Lyu Jae-cheol, president of the LG Home Appliance Solution Company. “Leveraging our industry-leading technologies and stellar brand reputation, we will continue to strengthen our leadership in the commercial laundry appliance market.”

About LG Electronics Home Appliance Solution Company

The LG Home Appliance Solution Company (HS) is a global leader in home appliances and AI home solutions. By leveraging industry-leading core technologies, the HS Company is committed to enhancing consumers’ quality of life and promoting sustainability. The company develops thoughtfully designed kitchen and living appliance solutions and has recently integrated LG’s Robot Business Division to incorporate advanced robot technologies into its home solutions. Together, these products offer enhanced convenience, exceptional performance, efficient operation and sustainable lifestyle solutions. For more news on LG, visit www.LGnewsroom.com.

 

LG has signed a distribution agreement with CSC ServiceWorks (CSC), the North American market leader in B2B laundry solutions, to supply its commercial washers and dryers.
LG has signed a distribution agreement with CSC ServiceWorks (CSC), the North American market leader in B2B laundry solutions, to supply its commercial washers and dryers.

Sicona Signs Transformational Licensing Agreement with Himadri to Scale SiCx® Production

AU$15M investment to accelerate global commercialisation of SiCx® anode technology

SYDNEY, May 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Sicona, a leading innovator in next-generation battery materials, today announced a landmark strategic partnership and technology licensing agreement with Himadri Speciality Chemical Ltd (BSE: 500184 | NSE: HSCL), one of the foremost specialty chemical conglomerates in India. The deal includes AU$15 million cornerstone investment by Himadri and marks a pivotal milestone in the commercialisation of Sicona’s flagship Silicon Carbon anode material, SiCx®.

The proceeds will be used to expand Sicona’s pilot plant operations in Australia and scale up production to meet surging demand for sampling materials from major global cell manufacturers who service the electric vehicle (EV), 3C (consumer electronics, communications and computers), defence and space industries, who are actively qualifying SiCx® for next-generation battery platforms.

Licensing Deal Overview: Accelerating Global Production

Under the agreement, Himadri will licence the full suite of intellectual property required to establish and operate a SiCx® production facility in India. The plant, which will be fully funded by Himadri, is being fast-tracked to meet rising global demand. Sales from the facility will be targeted primarily in the automotive sector—positioning Himadri and Sicona at the centre of global EV supply chains.

“This deal is transformative for Sicona,” said Christiaan Jordaan, CEO and Co-Founder of Sicona. “This partnership enables us to commercialise SiCx® at an unprecedented speed and scale, without shouldering the burden of the first-of-a-kind (FOAK) facility funding alone.” Himadri’s manufacturing pedigree and global reach make them the ideal partner.”

Strategic Benefits: Cost-Effective Global Commercialisation

For Sicona, this licensing model offers a capital-light pathway to revenue generation, accelerating its timeline to commercial scale production. Royalties from SiCx® sales in India will provide a steady income stream, while Sicona focuses on delivering its own large-scale facilities—cementing Sicona’s position as a global leader in Silicon Carbon (Si/C) anode materials.

“This partnership proves that early-stage climate tech startups can overcome the challenges of FOAK commercialisation with the right partners,” Jordaan added. “We’re now laser-focused on delivering the facilities in India and the USA.”

SiCx® Technology Edge

Sicona’s SiCx® is a non-silane, mechanical Silicon Carbon material that delivers industry-leading electrochemical performance. Unlike silane-based products, which rely on expensive, volatile and emissions-intensive gas processes, Sicona’s proprietary method uses inert and safe raw materials, allowing for location-agnostic manufacturing and competitive pricing. Furthermore, SiCx® makes no compromise in key specifications and performance.

SiCx® has been engineered to directly tackle two major barriers to EV adoption: limited range and long charge times. When blended with graphite (typically in proportions of 5–20%+), SiCx® boosts energy density by over 20% and cuts charge times by more than 40%, all while maintaining compatibility with today’s lithium-ion battery manufacturing lines.

These improvements contribute meaningfully to reducing carbon emissions in transport, while also diversifying the critical minerals supply chain away from high-risk, concentrated regions and inputs.

Himadri: A World-Class Manufacturing Partner

With over 30 years of manufacturing excellence, Himadri Speciality Chemical Ltd brings deep experience, robust infrastructure and global distribution capabilities to the partnership. Operating eight zero-liquid discharge pitch facilities and with product availability in around 56 countries, Himadri has established itself as a key player in the advanced materials value chain.

“This collaboration marks a turning point in the world’s advanced battery materials journey,” said Mr. Anurag Choudhary, Chairman, Managing Director and CEO of Himadri Speciality Chemical Ltd. “Sicona’s SiCx® delivers two core advantages—higher energy density for longer driving range, and faster charging capability that dramatically reduces wait time for EV users.”

“By integrating Sicona’s technological might with Himadri’s global scale and operational excellence, we are creating a blueprint for innovation-led clean energy leadership. We are throwing all our resources behind this project to get it operational on an accelerated timeline.”

Global Impact: From Pilot Plant to Global Leader

This agreement is the latest in a string of strategic milestones for Sicona, which recently announced plans to build a 6,500tpa commercial production facility in the southeastern United States with long-term plans to expand capacity there to 26,500 tpa on a single site.

With demand from EV manufacturers continuing to surge, Sicona is now positioned to scale rapidly across three continents—leveraging both direct operations and high-value partnerships to drive global impact.

“We thank Himadri for their unwavering belief in our team, our technology, and our mission,” said Jordaan. “Despite challenging capital markets, we are forging ahead, delivering on our goal to be the largest global producer of Si/C materials. This is how we win in climate tech, through smart partnerships, fast execution, and solutions that scale globally.”

About Sicona

Founded in 2019 and headquartered in Wollongong, Australia, Sicona is a next-generation battery materials company developing and commercializing advanced Silicon Carbon (Si/C) anode materials. SiCx®, Sicona’s flagship product, delivers breakthrough energy density and charging speed for lithium-ion batteries at industry leading cost and scale. Sicona’s mission is delivering high-performance battery materials at mass-market scale, aiming to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and mitigate climate change.

About Himadri Speciality Chemical Ltd

Himadri Speciality Chemical Ltd is a global speciality chemical conglomerate with a strong focus on research and development (R&D), innovation and sustainability. As pioneer in the production of lithium-ion battery materials in India, it continuously develops and innovates raw materials of lithium-ion battery value chain. It’s diverse product portfolio includes speciality carbon black, coal tar pitch, refined naphthalene, advance materials, SNF, speciality oils, clean power, etc. catering to various industries such as lithium-ion batteries, paints, plastics, tyres, technical rubber goods, aluminium, graphite electrodes, agrochemicals, defence and construction chemicals. Himadri operates in both domestic and international markets, with its products available in around 56 countries across the globe. With a strong commitment to corporate governance, safety and sustainability, it has 8 zero-liquid discharge manufacturing facilities and utilizes in-house clean power for 100% of its electrical energy needs. Himadri is a people first organization and is making a positive impact on the industry, both in India and globally through its focus on innovation fuelled by extensive R&D, new business opportunities and sustainability.

ENDS

For more information, interview requests or images please contact Julian O’Brien, Sicona PR and Comms manager, +61 419 155 376 or jobrien@southbreakmedia.group