(Yicai Global) Feb. 22 -- Anhui Estone Materials Technology, a supplier to Contemporary Amperex Technology, has revealed plans to build a solid oxide fuel cell laboratory at the University of Science and Technology of China, investing no less than CNY2 million (USD290,000) a year to promote the industrialization of technology.

Over the five-year agreement period, Estone will provide the joint lab with research and development funds of at least CNY2 million and up to CNY3 million per annum to carry out scientific research and daily operations, the Bengbu-based company announced yesterday.

The two parties -- Estone and the Hefei, Anhui province-based university -- will carry out joint research in the lab on solid oxide fuel cells and solid oxide electrolytic cells in order to develop related industrial chains and the transformation of scientific research achievements.

According to the company’s disclosure in early February, the solid oxide battery project as a whole has entered the laboratory pilot stage, and some of the sub-projects under research are in the scale-up experimental stage, with the project progressing well.

Estone said that it plans to overcome the technical problems in the industrial application of solid oxide batteries in the next three to five years, and make high-efficiency, low-cost, and long-life solid oxide battery products.

Founded in 2006, Estone mainly produces lithium battery coating materials and is the core supplier to CATL, the world’s largest battery manufacturer.

Editor: Peter Thomas