SK Minerals & Additives Limited has entered into a Technical and Commercial Cooperation & Collaboration Agreement with iPOOL S.r.l., Italy, to promote technical cooperation, joint research and development, and commercial collaboration in the area of flame-retardant additives and compounds.

The partnership brings together complementary technical expertise and market capabilities, with a focus on developing innovative, high-performance and application-oriented flame-retardant solutions. The collaboration will cover joint R&D initiatives, technical development, formulation support, application development and identification of new commercial opportunities, with emphasis on evolving customer requirements and next-generation material solutions.

Through the strategic partnership, the company expects to strengthen its technical capabilities, application-development expertise and innovation platform, while enhancing its R&D capabilities and infrastructure. It also aims to accelerate the development and commercialisation of value-added products for high-growth and technology-intensive applications.

The collaboration is expected to open opportunities across specialised applications, particularly in the wire & cable, electric vehicle (EV) and automotive sectors, where demand for advanced flame-retardant materials and compounds is increasing due to growing requirements related to safety, performance, sustainability and regulatory compliance.

Commenting on the development, Mohit Jindal, Chairman & Managing Director, said the collaboration with iPOOL S.r.l. marks an important milestone in the company's efforts to build a stronger, technology-led and innovation-driven business. He added that technological collaboration and innovation would be key drivers of the company's next phase of growth, while the partnership would help strengthen R&D capabilities, accelerate product development and tap opportunities in high-value specialty material applications.

The company said it looks forward to working closely with iPOOL S.r.l. on joint R&D and technical cooperation by combining their capabilities, experience and market understanding. The objective is to accelerate innovation and develop products addressing the evolving performance, safety and regulatory requirements of customers, particularly across the wire & cable, EV and automotive industries.

The company also expressed its appreciation to Dr. Camillo Cardelli of iPOOL S.r.l. for the trust and confidence placed in the partnership, describing the collaboration as a long-term technology and innovation association rather than merely a commercial relationship. It expects the partnership to contribute to sustainable growth and create value for stakeholders.

SK Minerals & Additives said the collaboration is expected to further strengthen its R&D and application-development capabilities, broaden its technological expertise and enable greater participation in emerging, high-value industrial opportunities. The company added that partnerships focused on innovation will remain an important component of its growth strategy as it continues to develop increasingly sophisticated material solutions.