This press release is an English version of the previously published Swedish version, which has interpretive precedence.
Smoltek Nanotech Holding AB (publ) ("Smoltek" or "the Company") announces that Maria Persson Gulda has been engaged as a senior advisor for the commercialization of Smoltek Hydrogen's electrode technology for PEM electrolyzers. The assignment focuses on industrial customer requirements, the product's competitiveness, and partnerships that can accelerate the path to market.
Maria Persson Gulda has experience with industrial technology selection and the design of large-scale hydrogen plants. As a co-founder and former Chief Technology Officer of Stegra (formerly H2 Green Steel), she was responsible for plant design, including the layout of hydrogen production and the selection of process equipment and technology. This experience brings an industrial customer perspective to Smoltek regarding product performance, operational stability, and cost-critical factors when qualifying the technology for commercial use.
"Our goal is to translate technical advances into paid development collaborations and long-term industrial partnerships. Maria has experience with the technology choices and requirements that new technology faces in major industrial projects. With her on board, we are strengthening our efforts to meet customer requirements and develop competitive business models, while maintaining clear control over capital requirements," says Oskar Säfström, Acting CEO of Smoltek.
The assignment entails providing advice to the company's CEO, the Board of Directors, and the CTO of Smoltek Hydrogen. This engagement builds upon Maria's strategic review of Smoltek Hydrogen, which covered the market, the competitive landscape, the industrialization strategy, and commercial prerequisites.
Commercial activities are proceeding in parallel with Smoltek Hydrogen's development and validation collaboration with Heraeus Precious Metals. The companies have previously announced a 3,000-hour test to evaluate the technology's long-term operational stability. The validation is intended to provide the basis for customer qualification and future industrialization.
"Smoltek's technology addresses a key competitive issue for PEM electrolysis: how to reduce the need for iridium while meeting performance and operational stability requirements. Having worked with the company's technical and commercial prerequisites, I look forward to working with the team to develop the business potential I see in the technology," says Maria Persson Gulda.
Maria's contribution will be to provide the leadership, the board, and the Smoltek Hydrogen team with an industrial perspective regarding customer quality requirements, the prerequisites for a cost-competitive product, and potential partnerships that can accelerate development toward a commercial product on the market.
About Maria Persson Gulda
Maria was previously a partner at McKinsey & Company and holds a PhD in Applied Physics from Harvard University.
Facts Smoltek Hydrogen
Smoltek Hydrogen is developing a nanostructured porous transport electrode (PTE) for PEM electrolyzers. The company's corrosion-resistant carbon nanostructure creates a large active surface area. The technology is being developed with the aim of reducing the need for iridium while meeting industry requirements for performance and durability.