One of three companies chosen for first US lithium-focused accelerator.

Selected to help launch the United States' first lithium-focused supply chain initiative, Canada-based Nano One Materials Corp. has joined the Arkansas Lithium Technology Accelerator to support the development of a fully domestic ecosystem linking U.S. critical minerals to lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cathode production and downstream cell manufacturing.

With over a decade of process development and scale-up behind it, Nano One has spent the past year accelerating the deployment of a modular, licensing-based approach to lithium iron phosphate cathode production – targeting multiple, critical chokepoints in global battery supply chains.

Home to the only operational LFP cathode facility in North America, Nano One's Candiac plant has shifted from demonstration to execution – backed by $12.9 million in U.S. Department of Defense support and bolstered by federal and provincial funding from Canada.

With pilot-scale production underway, materials being validated with strategic partners, and a licensing approach aimed at breaking China's hold on LFP supply chains, Nano One's One-Pot process is gaining traction as a practical solution for bringing cathode manufacturing back to allied markets.

Now positioned as a foundational link in establishing domestic LFP production, Nano One has drawn increased strategic recognition for its modular approach to cathode manufacturing – culminating in its selection to the Arkansas Lithium Technology Accelerator as part of a broader U.S. effort to localize battery supply chains and reduce reliance on foreign-controlled inputs.

The recently launched Arkansas Lithium Technology Accelerator (ALTA) is the first U.S.-based program of its kind focused exclusively on advancing lithium battery supply chain independence.

Led by The Venture Center, a nonprofit entrepreneur support organization specializing in startup acceleration, ALTA is backed by Standard Lithium Ltd., the Walton Family Foundation, and a coalition of Arkansas producers, academic institutions, and government agencies working to fast-track commercialization of lithium-focused technologies and close domestic gaps in processing, cathode production, and battery assembly.

Nano One Materials Corp.

"Participating in ALTA positions Nano One as a strategic contributor to lithium-ion battery supply chain independence," said Nano One CEO Dan Blondal. "We are the only OBBB-ready (One Big Beautiful Bill) solution for LFP-linking upstream mineral extraction to downstream cell manufacturing."

Selected as one of only three participants in the accelerator's inaugural cohort, the company joins a focused effort to localize battery materials manufacturing across North America.

"Without localized cathode production in the supply chain, critical minerals risk being sent offshore for processing or worse yet, idled while U.S. battery plants source elsewhere," said Blondal. "Our One-Pot process eliminates chokepoints and reliance on foreign-controlled inputs, processing technologies, wastewater and byproducts that will not scale here."

Already scaling toward initial sales for defense and energy storage, the Candiac plant is also being positioned to support licensing and joint venture models targeting commercial markets.

"Purpose-built for North America, it vertically integrates PCAM (precursor cathode active material) with CAM-cutting costs, reducing permitting barriers, and unlocking a scalable, modular platform at the core of the lithium-ion battery ecosystem," added Blondal.

Chosen for its potential to close critical supply chain gaps, Nano One brings to the program a demonstrated pathway for scaling domestic cathode production in step with upstream and downstream battery operations – a position that directly aligns with Arkansas' push to establish itself as a national center for next-generation battery innovation.

"We're thrilled to have Nano One join the ALTA program. Their One-Pot LFP technology represents the kind of breakthrough innovation that supports the national goal of reshoring supply chains," said Arthur Orduña, executive director of The Venture Center. "It's a strong fit for Arkansas' rapidly growing lithium ecosystem."