Technology Developer Accelerator Programme (TDAP)
Ionic Technologies
Rare Earth Separation and Extraction Process (SRESEP)
Ionic Technologies has developed rare earth element separation and refining technology and is applying it to the recovery of rare earth metals from spent permanent magnets. The process is agnostic on feedstock magnet quality and on variability in feed composition and enables the production of high purity, separated rare earth oxides (REOs) that are essential for application in renewable technologies, such as wind power and EVs.
Project Highlights
- Founded in 2016, Ionic Technologies is a leading magnet recycling technology company, and is a spin out from Queen’s University Belfast.
- It’s unique recycling technology can hydro–metallurgically extract, separate and refine REOs from spent magnets.
- Ionic’s aim was to progress their technology towards the recycling of permanent magnets, with a view to enabling commercialisation.
- Our Technology Developer Accelerator Programme (TDAP) provided both business and technology development support. Business support involved strategy mentorship, leadership training, IP strategy advice and investor readiness training. During TDAP, Ionic benefited from engaging with key supply chain stakeholders, which enabled them to validate their value proposition. Moreover, Ionic received funding to progress their technology from the lab bench to a continuous pilot process. The overall result of their work on TDAP influenced an acquisition during the programme.