Premier Graphene, a US-based advanced materials company focused on graphene production and formulation, has announced that its affiliate HGI Industrial Technologies has formed a joint venture with Canada's Nova Graphene to develop and commercialize graphene-enabled ballistic protection products for the North American market.
Under the agreement, HGI contributes its proprietary graphene production intellectual property and manufacturing capabilities, while Nova Graphene brings its graphene materials expertise and experience developing ballistic protection technologies, including five active research contracts with Defense Research & Development Canada (DRDC), among them a $1 million Phase II project on 3D-printed body armor. The joint venture will initially target advanced personal ballistic protection systems, including Level IIIA+ and Level IV hard plates, alongside vehicle, marine and architectural ballistic protection products.
The partnership builds on Premier Graphene's broader vertical integration strategy, which spans graphite resource access, graphene production and downstream advanced materials manufacturing, with applications the company is targeting across defense, aerospace, transportation, infrastructure and energy storage. It follows earlier ballistic protection collaborations between Premier Graphene, HGI and Defense Atomics, and comes shortly after Premier Graphene and its joint venture partners completed and delivered an initial military order to Mexico's Secretaria de la Defensa Nacional (SEDENA) in May 2026.
Commercialization of products developed under the joint venture remains subject to regulatory approvals, certifications and defense compliance requirements. The companies noted that no assurance can be given regarding the timing of these processes or eventual commercial outcomes.
