05-May-2021 - BASF SE

BASF and Umicore enter into a patent cross-license agreement

“This agreement with Umicore enables even faster, more sustainable and innovative battery materials development to serve our customers including battery cell manufacturers and automotive”

BASF and Umicore have entered into a non-exclusive patent cross-license agreement covering a broad range of cathode active materials (CAM) and their precursors (PCAM), including chemistries such as nickel cobalt manganese (NCM), nickel cobalt aluminum (NCA), nickel cobalt manganese aluminum (NCMA) and lithium rich, high manganese high energy NCM (HE NCM).

CAMs are critical for the performance, safety and cost of lithium-ion batteries used in modern electromobility and other applications. The interplay between PCAM and CAM and the development of these materials are crucial to maximize battery cell performance. For many years, BASF and Umicore have been investing intensively in product innovation for low, medium and high nickel PCAM and CAM resulting in each company owning sizeable and largely complementary patent portfolios.

Building on each other’s strong product technology expertise to support the technological needs of their customers, BASF and Umicore have entered into a landmark patent agreement allowing both partners to combine a wider range of IP-protected technologies related to features such as chemical composition, powder morphology and chemical stability. The agreement increases both parties’ ability to customize their materials to meet the increasingly diversified and complex customer requirements at the battery cell and application level. Furthermore, through this agreement both parties can increase even more their product development speed demonstrating their commitment to addressing the main challenges e-mobility is facing, such as energy density, safety and cost while enhancing transparency and reducing IP-risks for battery cell manufacturers and their customers.

The agreement covers more than 100 patent families filed in Europe, US, China, Korea and Japan. Both parties retain the right to enforce their own IP-rights against third parties in the future.

“This agreement with Umicore enables even faster, more sustainable and innovative battery materials development to serve our customers including battery cell manufacturers and automotive,” said Dr. Peter Schuhmacher, President of BASF Catalysts. “The continuous development of battery materials will accelerate the transformation towards full electrification and thus support the world’s efforts to fight climate change.”

Marc Grynberg, CEO of Umicore, commented: “This agreement with BASF is an important step in promoting cathode material innovation. It strengthens our technology positioning and further increases our ability to develop bespoke solutions which meet the most stringent performance and quality standards of our battery and automotive customers.”

Facts, background information, dossiers
  • BASF
  • Umicore
  • cathode materials
  • lithium batteries
  • electromobility
  • battery cells
  • battery materials
More about BASF
  • News

    BASF to invest in its aroma ingredients business by expanding its global production footprint with new plants in China and Germany

    BASF announced its investment in a new citral plant as part of its Verbund site in Zhanjiang, China, and menthol and linalool downstream plants at its Verbund site in Ludwigshafen, Germany. These plants are expected to come on stream from 2026 onwards. The investment is driven by a growing ... more

    BASF shows resilience in a challenging market environment

    BASF Group has shown resilience in the 2022 business year in a challenging market environment that was dominated by the consequences of the war in Ukraine and in particular by increased raw material and energy prices. As Dr. Martin Brudermüller, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors, ... more

    Efficient recovery of lithium from end-of-life batteries and battery production scrap

    BASF has entered into a long-term collaboration agreement with Tenova Advanced Technologies (TAT) of Yokneam, Israel, for its battery recycling prototype plant in Schwarzheide, Germany. Both companies agreed to jointly optimize the hydrometallurgical recycling process, leveraging TAT’s nove ... more

  • Videos

    Industrial implementation of the ammonia synthesis - How does it work?

    In September 1913, the first industrial-scale ammonia production plant came on stream at BASF in Ludwigshafen. The Haber-Bosch process for ammonia synthesis, which was first successfully operated at BASF Ludwigshafen in September 1913, was the decisive step into the age of mineral fertilize ... more

  • Companies

    BASF Construction Solutions GmbH

    BASF Construction Polymers GmbH, Trostberg, Germany, is a leading innovator and producer of construction and oilfield polymers. Our product portfolio for construction chemicals consists of superplasticizers, dispersants, plasticizers, rheology modifying agents, stabilizers, defoamers and ai ... more

    BASF Fuel Cell GmbH

    2007 Formation of BASF Fuel Cell as leading supplier of fuel cell components 2006 BASF acquires PEMEAS 2005 E-TEK becomes division of PEMEAS 2004 Celanese and investors form PEMEAS 2003 BASF starts development of HC-membrane 2002 Strong IP position and manufacturing facility for Celt ... more

    BASF Mexicana, S.A. de C.V.

    In order to be able to take advantage of the opportunities for profitable growth throughout the world, BASF is represented with production and sales facilities in all economic regions. Even though Europe is BASF's home market, the dynamic regions of North America, Asia and South America are ... more

More about Umicore
  • News

    Umicore expands production capacity for fuel cell catalysts

    Umicore announced that it will be expanding its production capacity for fuel cell catalysts in South-Korea to support the growth of Hyundai Motors Group as well as other automotive customers. The low double-digit million euro investment entails the construction of a new production plant clo ... more

    Umicore to acquire cobalt refinery and cathode precursor operations in Finland

    Umicore announced that it has reached an agreement to acquire Freeport Cobalt’s cobalt refining and cathode precursor activities in Kokkola, Finland, for a total consideration of $ 150 million on a debt and cash free basis, plus the value of the working capital to be taken over at closing, ... more

    Umicore expands production capacity for fuel cell catalysts

    Umicore announced that it will be expanding its production capacity for fuel cell catalysts in South-Korea to support the growth of Hyundai Motors Group as well as other automotive customers. The low double-digit million euro investment entails the construction of a new production plant clo ... more

  • Companies

    Umicore S.A.

    Umicore is a materials technology group. Its activities are centered on four business areas: Advanced Materials, Precious Metals Products and Catalysts, Precious Metals Services and Zinc Specialties. Each business area is dividedinto market-focused business units. Umicore focuses on applic ... more

    Umicore AG & Co. KG

    more