The company has developed generative AI that utilises microstructural image data to bridge the gap between the way materials are made and their performance.
The technology allows engineers to characterise materials, quantify microstructural variation, and optimise microstructural designs faster than previously possible. Consequently, this new approach will help in the creation of stronger, lighter and more efficient materials for clean energy, transport and infrastructure.
For battery electrodes, Polaron has shown that its approach enables accelerated parameterisation, accurate measurement of electrode degradation, and streamlined optimisation of manufacturing processes. In a recent study, its technology achieved a more than 10 per cent improvement in energy density which was made possible by evaluating thousands of material designs in under a day, a task that would take current advanced physics-based simulations approximately 50 years.
MORE FROM ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
In a statement, Polaron CEO Dr Isaac Squires, said: “In the last year, we have turned the research we pursued at Imperial College London into a commercial product, using our AI to reduce years of materials development into a matter of days. We are now working with our first customers in the battery manufacturing sector to apply Polaron to improve the performance of EVs by extending range and reducing charge times. While this has been our core market to date, Polaron is material agnostic, and we are already bringing our rapid design capabilities to industrial manufacturing more widely, including alloys, composites and catalysts.”
The Manchester Prize is an annual multi-million-pound challenge prize from the Department of Science, Innovation and Technology, to reward British-led breakthroughs in AI for public good.
For the past year, 10 finalist teams have been developing AI solutions to solve energy, environment and infrastructure challenges. Feryal Clarke, minister for AI, announced Polaron as the winner in Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall at an event celebrating all 10 finalist teams on March 19, 2025.
Nick Jennings, chair of the judging panel for the Manchester Prize and Vice-Chancellor of Loughborough University, said: “Choosing a winner of the inaugural Manchester Prize was an incredibly tough decision. Polaron stood out because of its highly innovative approach to revolutionising a process that will unlock a multitude of possibilities for industry. Advanced materials play an extraordinarily important role across our lives; Polaron’s capacity to transform the pace of materials research and development is truly exciting and is a great example of AI being used for social good.”
In May 2024, 10 finalist teams were awarded £100,000 each to develop their solutions, and a comprehensive support package, including additional funding for computing resources, investor readiness support, and access to a network of experts.
GB Energy unveils £200m solar rollout for NHS and schools
At least the government have abandoned their risible ambition to make Greta British Energy a rival to Oersted & Co. <a...