477 Domestic and International Battery Companies Participate
"Genuine Global Battery Exhibition Growth"
Over 300 Companies Pre-Registered for Next Year
The 'InterBattery 2023,' a showcase of new battery technologies, concluded on the 17th with the largest scale ever.
The exhibition, held from the 15th to this day, attracted over 60,000 visitors. This represents a 150% increase compared to the previous year. Two out of ten visitors were foreigners. According to the Korea Battery Industry Association, not only domestic battery industry stakeholders and the general public but also about 2,000 overseas buyers attended. A total of 477 companies (376 domestic, 101 overseas), including LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI, and SK On, participated.
On the morning of the opening day of 'InterBattery 2023' on the 15th, the Samsung SDI (left) and SK On booths were bustling with visitors. Photo by Choi Seoyoon
Over 20 Side Events Held Simultaneously Including US Electric Vehicle Battery Forum
More than 20 side events were held during the exhibition, providing a variety of attractions. Related organizations such as the US Embassy in Korea, Korea Mine Rehabilitation and Mineral Resources Corporation, NAATBatt (US Battery Association), and BASC (Japan Battery Association) hosted seminars on battery minerals, electric vehicles, and other upstream and downstream battery industries.
At the 'US Electric Vehicle Battery Forum,' hosted by the US Embassy and NAATBatt, speakers from eight state governments, US battery-related organizations, and companies explained investment incentives and market entry strategies related to US electric vehicles. About 200 domestic battery companies and investors attended the event to explore business opportunities.
At the 'Global Battery Minerals Seminar,' co-hosted by the Korea Mine Rehabilitation and Mineral Resources Corporation and the Korea Battery Industry Association, speakers from representative battery mineral countries such as Indonesia, Australia, and Canada explained the status of minerals and mineral projects in their respective countries. Approximately 200 researchers, academics, and related battery organizations, as well as domestic battery companies, participated to listen.
Volvo's large electric truck 'FM Electric' equipped with Samsung SDI cylindrical batteries Photo by Choi Seoyoon
To support domestic battery companies in developing export channels, the 'KOTRA Export Consultation Meeting' was held, attracting visitors from countries including France and Australia to consult with domestic companies at the exhibition hall. The largest scale since COVID-19, 65 overseas buyers from 23 countries visited Korea and conducted one-on-one business meetings with over 80 domestic companies. Compared to last year, consultations increased by 380%, totaling over 460 cases (worth 7 million USD).
A KOTRA official said, "This is the first time in three years that so many overseas buyers have visited," adding, "It truly feels like InterBattery has grown into a global battery exhibition."
At 'The Battery Conference,' themed 'Battery Chronicles,' various topics on the entire battery lifecycle were presented. The conference saw 860 participants, a 68% increase from the previous year. Presentations on next-generation battery technologies and the status and technologies of battery reuse and recycling markets attracted significant attention.
On the morning of the 15th, visitors lined up to enter the battery industry exhibition 'InterBattery 2023' held at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]
The exhibition organizers stated, "We hope this InterBattery exhibition becomes a 'global business platform' where battery industry stakeholders can see new products and technologies from domestic and international battery companies in one place, and a 'learning space' for general visitors to understand how batteries, which may have seemed difficult, are produced through various value chains and applied to electric vehicles, ESS, and ultimately integrated into our daily lives."
A battery industry insider commented, "With a wider variety of exhibits and numerous events, from battery minerals to applications, recycling, and reuse, the exhibition has evolved into a genuine global battery specialized exhibition that reviews the entire upstream and downstream battery industry and provides an outlook on the global battery market."
During the exhibition, the organizers conducted on-site applications for next year's 'InterBattery' through the rebooking center, with over 300 companies pre-registering for the 2024 exhibition. Booths in Halls C and D have been fully booked. Small and medium-sized materials, parts, and equipment companies will be concentrated on the first-floor exhibition hall to enhance participant satisfaction.
'InterBattery Europe' to be Held in Munich, Germany This June
The InterBattery event will also be held in Munich, Germany, from June 14 to 16. This is the first industrial exhibition held overseas. The Korea Battery Industry Association, COEX, and KOTRA plan to actively support domestic battery companies in expanding their overseas networks and creating new business opportunities. It will be held concurrently with Europe's leading energy exhibition, 'The Smarter E Europe,' which is expected to generate significant synergy effects.
Next year's exhibition is scheduled to take place from March 6 to 8 at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, and is expected to be larger than this year, with 600 companies and 1,600 booths. The 'BATTERY Award,' which selects and encourages companies that have greatly contributed to the development of the battery industry with innovative technologies, will also be held. Participation details can be found on the InterBattery website.
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