Ottawa / Ontario, November 3, 2025
Canadian natural graphite producer Northern Graphite Corporation and carbon technology company Rain Carbon Canada Inc. have been awarded funding under the Canada–Germany Collaborative Industrial R&D Program.
The two-year project, with a total budget of approximately CAD 2.2 million and a grant of up to CAD 860,000, aims to develop sustainable battery anode materials (BAM) and strengthen North America’s local supply chain for critical minerals.
Project Overview and Technical Objectives
The initiative, jointly supported by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) and Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), focuses on upgrading fine graphite by-products into high-performance battery-grade anode materials while minimizing energy consumption and carbon emissions.
The research will:
- Improve material utilization in spheroidization and coating processes;
- Apply Rain Carbon’s LIONCOAT® carbon-coating technology to enhance conductivity and cycling stability;
- Integrate Northern Graphite’s mining and refining expertise to establish a closed-loop “mine-to-anode” supply chain.
Pilot-scale testing will take place in Ontario, where Rain Carbon plans to validate the performance and scalability of the new anode material.
Policy Background and Market Impact
As global energy transition accelerates, natural graphite has become increasingly strategic.
Currently, about 90% of natural graphite anode materials are supplied by China.
In this context, Western countries are intensifying efforts to build independent, resilient critical mineral supply chains.
Hugues Jacquemin, CEO of Northern Graphite, commented:
“This collaboration combines the strengths of mining and carbon technology to create a sustainable and reliable graphite supply for Western markets while improving by-product utilization.”
Tim Hodgson, Canada’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, added:
“Through international partnerships like this, Canada is reinforcing its leadership in critical mineral development, supporting clean energy transition, and strengthening our manufacturing and defense industries.”