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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Safire Technology Group Establishes Knoxville, Tennessee, Lithium-ion Battery Lab

01/30/2023
Safire Technology Group, Inc, a venture-backed company developing and manufacturing Lithium-ion battery safety technology, will establish a new laboratory in Knoxville, Tennessee.

The facility, located at the University of Tennessee Spark Innovation Center, will support the company’s research and development division allowing it to continue innovating its patented SAFe Impact Resistant Electrolyte additive for Li-ion batteries.

“The new laboratory, with its close proximity to ORNL and the University of Tennessee, offers a world-class pipeline of talented scientists and engineers,” said John Lee, co-founder and CEO, Safire Group. “The Knoxville area represents an attractive choice to expand our battery R&D capabilities and hire highly qualified talent from the community.”

The location was strategically chosen to allow Safire Group to build on its existing partnership with Oak Ridge National Laboratory, according to company officials.

“The Knoxville Chamber is committed to supporting innovative entrepreneurs that are creating high-wage, high-growth companies,” said Doug Lawyer, vice president of economic development, Knoxville Chamber. “This announcement directly aligns with the Chamber’s efforts to transition Knoxville’s economy. Safire Group is doing a great job of capitalizing on multiple regional assets, including ORNL and Spark Innovation Center. We are excited to see them attracting new talent from out-of-state and retaining local talent through internships.”

Safire Technology Group emerged in 2020 from a 5-year R&D effort led by U.S. Dept. of Energy Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), and a commercialization effort sponsored by FedTech. In 2022, the company and ORNL announced an exclusive licensing agreement for Safire Group to commercialize the ORNL-invented SAFIRE additive.

“The Spark Innovation Center focuses on helping our region’s most promising technology companies gain traction and grow in Tennessee,” said University of Tennessee Research Park President and CEO Tom Rogers. “We are delighted that another cleantech company has decided to call the Research Park and Knoxville home as Safire Group works to commercialize ORNL technology.”

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