Our Austrian subsidiary, EM Plus, has been selected to participate in KAUST’s ScaleX program, supporting the deployment of our vanadium solid-state battery technology across Saudi Arabia’s industrial and oil refinery sectors.
Jeddah, Saudi Arabia / Güssing, Austria — May 5, 2025 — Vanadis Energy has reached an important milestone in its strategy to expand across the Middle East.
Our Austrian subsidiary, Ewig Macht Plus (EM Plus) GmbH, has been selected as one of only 10 startups worldwide to participate in the prestigious ScaleX program, led by King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST).
The selection will directly support Vanadis Energy’s plans to manufacture and deploy vanadium solid-state batteries in oil refineries and petrochemical facilities across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
EM Plus was selected under the program’s “Renewable Energy and Storage Technologies” category. Participation in ScaleX gives Vanadis Energy a strategic foothold within Saudi Arabia’s rapidly developing innovation and industrial transformation ecosystem.
Our battery technology is expected to contribute to Saudi Arabia’s goals of improving energy efficiency, strengthening grid resilience, enhancing operational safety, and advancing decarbonization across key industrial sectors.
Participation in the ScaleX Program
The eight-month ScaleX program consists of an online boot camp, a multi-week intensive program in Saudi Arabia, and a five-month “Orbiting Phase” that provides ongoing strategic support.
As part of the initiative, the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia (MISA) develops a tailored pathway to support each company’s market entry and business development in the Kingdom.
Support includes introductions to key government and industry stakeholders, assistance with regulatory and market readiness, and guidance toward commercialization.
Atanas Zhelev, Chief Commercial Officer of Vanadis Energy, said:
“Being connected to the KAUST ScaleX ecosystem is extremely important to our global growth strategy. The program gives us access to strategic networks across the Middle East and enables us to accelerate the deployment of vanadium solid-state battery energy storage solutions in Saudi Arabia and the wider region.”
Battery Deployment in Oil Refinery Operations
Saudi Arabia continues to introduce, test, and scale innovative technologies as part of its national innovation and energy transition strategy.
Vanadis Energy’s vanadium solid-state batteries offer high stability, rapid charging capability, long service life, and inherent resistance to fire.
These characteristics make the technology particularly well suited to demanding industrial environments such as oil refineries and petrochemical facilities, where operational continuity, reliability, and safety are critical.
As part of the expansion supported by ScaleX, Vanadis Energy is preparing to launch a joint pilot project with Saudi Aramco and an energy industry partner to integrate vanadium solid-state batteries into refinery operations.
We also plan to establish business operations in Saudi Arabia in 2026 and set up a pilot battery assembly line at KAUST.
Abdulrahman Basaqr, Partnerships and Developmental Programs Lead for KAUST’s ScaleX Program, said:
“We are excited about the potential of vanadium solid-state batteries in the Kingdom. The technology has demonstrated promising results and is well aligned with the industrial ambitions of Saudi Vision 2030. We see a clear opportunity to enable local manufacturing and supply of next-generation battery technologies in Saudi Arabia.”
EM Plus’ participation in ScaleX provides Vanadis Energy with access to KAUST’s deep-tech ecosystem and Saudi Arabia’s industrial innovation landscape.
This foundation will support Vanadis Energy’s ambition to become a leading provider of reliable energy storage solutions for critical infrastructure and demanding industrial applications across the Middle East.
About KAUST ScaleX
KAUST ScaleX is a market-entry and business expansion program operated by King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia for innovative technology startups from around the world.
The program is designed for global technology companies seeking to scale their businesses and innovations in Saudi Arabia’s dynamic market.
ScaleX provides strategic support, access to advanced infrastructure, and exclusive networking opportunities with leading Saudi government organizations and corporations.
Through the program, participating companies receive comprehensive support for establishing operations in Saudi Arabia, expanding their businesses, and developing meaningful partnerships both within the Kingdom and internationally.
About Vanadis Energy
Vanadis Energy is a next-generation battery technology company specializing in vanadium-based solid-state energy storage systems.
Building on MKPLUS’ international business activities, the Vanadis Energy brand reflects our increased focus on durable, fire-safe, and long-life energy infrastructure.
With research and development and pilot manufacturing activities in Japan and Europe, we are working to support the global adoption of stable, scalable renewable energy solutions.