Nevada-based Dragonfly Energy Holdings Corp. has been selected for a second consecutive round of research funding through the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s Nevada Tech Hub (NTH).
The company said the $527,000 award will support continued battery research, development and advanced manufacturing capabilities. Specifically, the funding will support a two-part initiative focused on expanding Dragonfly Energy’s in-house cell prototyping and testing.
Dragonfly CEO Dr. Denis Phares said the project includes purchasing specialized equipment to make cylindrical lithium battery cell prototypes, along with advanced validation systems.
“This second NTH award reflects the progress we have made and the continued confidence in our approach to battery innovation,” Phares said. “This investment strengthens our ability to design, build and validate battery cells in-house, accelerating development cycles and enabling us to more rapidly translate innovation into real-world performance.”
The NTH is a federally designated regional technology and innovation hub under the U.S. EDA, led by the University of Nevada, Reno.
According to the EDA, the NTH’s mission is to build a self-sustaining, globally competitive full lithium lifecycle cluster — from extraction and processing to manufacturing — positioning Nevada as a leader in the lithium battery and electric vehicle materials supply chain.
Dragonfly’s previous NTH Award project focused on enhancing production operations, quality monitoring systems and workforce development.
“With expanded prototyping and testing infrastructure, the company is further integrating its battery pack expertise with cell development,” a Dragonfly spokesperson said, “creating a more efficient feedback loop between lab research, manufacturing and field performance.”
Dragonfly said this level of vertical integration is rare outside of large-scale manufacturers in Asia.
The project is expected to run from the second quarter of 2026 through the second quarter of 2027. The company will contribute an additional internal investment of approximately $432,000 to fund labor, engineering and program execution.
