Dr A.K. Ola Hekselman awarded Innovate UK Purple Plaque

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Dr A.K Ola Hekselman standing in front of the Purple Plaque

Dr A.K. Ola Hekselman receives a Purple Plaque for her pioneering research in sustainable battery recycling and innovative work as CEO of Solveteq.

Launched in 2016, the Purple Plaques initiative celebrates the achievements of Women in Innovation Award winners. Each awardee receives a £50,000 cash prize and bespoke mentoring to help winners scale up their pioneering business ideas.

Awarded by Innovate UK, Purple Plaques aim to inspire girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), empower women entrepreneurs, and drive economic growth, as part of its efforts to encourage a vibrant innovation ecosystem that supports businesses in developing life-changing technologies.

Dr Ola Hekselman standing in front of the Solveteq facility
Dr A.K Ola Hekselman standing in front of the Solveteq facility

The plaque for Dr Hekselman was unveiled in the Department of Materials on Monday 27 January. Dr Hekselman, who is the CEO and co-founder of Solveteq and a visiting researcher in the Department of Materials, was recognised for her groundbreaking work in sustainable battery recycling.

Solveteq, the startup co-founded by Dr Hekselman, offers a revolutionary solvent-based process for extracting various metals at near room temperature. This proprietary technology utilises Deep Eutectic Solvents and their derivatives, which are cocktails of readily available, affordable, environmentally friendly chemicals. It provides metal producers with a more reliable and sustainable alternative to currently used pyrometallurgical methods, reducing energy costs by up to 90%, cutting CO2 emissions by up to 75%, and minimising all other environmental pollutants. Solveteq is currently working closely with leading metals companies and looking to raise a new round of funding to scale its technology to the next level.

Dr Hekselman said: "I am delighted that the Plaque will be hosted in the Department of Materials at Imperial. I hope it will inspire more women to pursue entrepreneurship and scientific research to help build a sustainable future for generations to come."

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Dr Hekselman joined the Department of Materials as a Li-ion battery researcher in 2016. In 2018, she joined Professor David Payne's group to focus on battery recycling and lead recovery. During this time, she participated in Imperial Enterprise's Techcelerate programme, where she won the Showcase Prize for the innovative green battery recycling process.

Techcelerate is a three-month programme designed to equip Imperial postdoctoral researchers with the tools and support needed to explore industry opportunities and accelerate the commercial development of their ideas, helping bring innovative technologies to market. 

In 2021, Dr Hekselman led the spinning out of Solveteq with further support from Imperial’s Venture Mentoring Service, the Faraday Institution’s Entrepreneurial Fellowship, and pre-seed investment led by SFC Capital.

Following its spinout, the Department of Materials continued to support Solveteq’s commercialisation journey as an Innovate UK grant partner, providing access to cutting-edge research facilities and labs, as well as hosting the company’s first bench-scale prototype.

  • Alex Elkins, Professor Sandrine Heutz, Dr A.K Ola Hekselman and representatives from Innovate UK, Marius Stancu and Jonathan Grinbaud.

    Alex Elkins, Professor Sandrine Heutz, Dr A.K Ola Hekselman and representatives from Innovate UK, Marius Stancu and Jonathan Grinbaud.

  • Dr A.K Ola Hekselman and Marius Stancu looking at the Purple Plaque

    Dr A.K Ola Hekselman and Marius Stancu looking at the Purple Plaque

  • Professor Sandrine Heutz, Dr A.K Ola Hekselman and Victoira Nicholl

    Professor Sandrine Heutz, Dr A.K Ola Hekselman and Victoira Nicholl

  • Two Purple Plaques in the Department of Materials for Dr Bakul Gupta and Dr A.K Ola Hekselman

    Two Purple Plaques in the Department of Materials for Dr Bakul Gupta and Dr A.K Ola Hekselman


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Kayleigh Brewer

Kayleigh Brewer
Department of Materials

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