LITHOPS SRL

Their core work

Lithops SRL is an Italian private company specializing in advanced materials characterization and electrochemical energy storage technologies. They provide expertise in material testing, modelling, and non-destructive characterization for battery and energy storage applications. Their work spans from graphene-based materials to polymer electrolytes and lithium-ion battery components, contributing technical services and applied materials science to large European research consortia.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their early H2020 period (2015–2018), Lithops focused on graphene and advanced layered materials through the Graphene Flagship, alongside their first lithium-ion battery project (eCAIMAN). From 2019 onward, their work shifted decisively toward applied electrochemical energy storage — silicon anodes, polymer electrolytes, hybrid electrodes, and materials characterization infrastructure. This evolution shows a company that moved from fundamental materials research toward industrially relevant battery technologies and testing services.

Lithops is consolidating around battery materials testing and characterization services, positioning itself as a go-to partner for next-generation lithium-ion and post-lithium battery development projects.

How they like to work

Lithops operates exclusively as a project participant — they have never coordinated an H2020 project, suggesting they contribute specialized technical expertise rather than leading research agendas. With 291 unique partners across 28 countries, they are well-networked through large flagship-scale consortia (e.g., Graphene Flagship). Their consistent role as a specialist contributor in large teams makes them a low-risk, experienced partner for consortium builders who need materials characterization or battery expertise.

Lithops has collaborated with 291 unique partners across 28 countries, largely driven by participation in the massive Graphene Flagship consortia. This gives them an unusually broad European network for a small Italian company.

What sets them apart

Lithops combines hands-on materials characterization capabilities with deep domain knowledge in electrochemical energy storage — a combination that is valuable but uncommon among smaller Italian firms. Their dual background in graphene research and battery technologies means they can bridge fundamental materials science and applied energy storage. For consortium builders, they offer a tested, reliable specialist partner with an extensive collaborative track record and no ambition to compete for coordination roles.

Highlights from their portfolio

• eCAIMAN
  Their largest funded project (EUR 463,365), focused on market-near lithium-ion battery improvements — their most commercially oriented work.
• GrapheneCore2
  Part of the EU Graphene Flagship (EUR 251,875), one of Europe's largest research initiatives, covering graphene applications across energy, electronics, photonics, and sensors.
• TEESMAT
  An Open Innovation Test Bed for electrochemical storage materials — directly aligned with their characterization expertise and closest to an infrastructure/service offering.