Samsung SDI Establishes R&D Lab in China to Strengthen Global Research Capabilities

Samsung SDI has strengthened its global R&D capabilities by establishing R&D research centers in Europe and the United States last year, and this year, it has set up an R&D research center in China.

Samsung SDI announced on the 1st that it established 'SDI R&D China (SDIRC)' in Shanghai, China. Previously, on July 1st last year, Samsung SDI established 'SDI R&D Europe (SDIRE)' in Munich, Germany, and on August 15th, it set up 'SDI R&D America (SDIRA)' in Boston, USA.

Data provided by Samsung SDI

By establishing research centers in major overseas hubs such as Europe, the United States, and China, Samsung SDI has completed the construction of a global R&D network. Additionally, by early acquisition of regionally specialized battery manufacturing processes, equipment, next-generation batteries, and material technologies, it has been able to strengthen its ultra-competitive technological edge.

SDIRC plans to strengthen its cooperative network with China's top universities and research institutions to secure specialized technologies and monitor industry trends. It will also establish a battery material verification lab within the research center to discover and verify new functional and low-cost materials.

Furthermore, based on the established network, it will carry out industry-academic cooperation projects with universities and accelerate the discovery of new materials through the construction of its own evaluation infrastructure.

China has been focusing on the battery industry under government leadership by announcing plans such as the 'New Energy Vehicle Industry Development Plan' in 2020. It nurtures battery specialists at more than 30 universities and possesses numerous battery cell and material companies as well as research institutions.

Samsung SDI is investing the industry's highest level of R&D expenses and concentrating on developing next-generation battery technologies, which are future growth engines. According to the Samsung SDI business report disclosed in March, Samsung SDI's R&D expenses in 2022 reached a record high of 1.0764 trillion KRW.

Moreover, Samsung SDI has signed agreements for battery talent development with prestigious domestic and overseas universities such as Seoul National University, POSTECH, and KAIST. It also holds the 'Tech & Career Forum' for domestic doctoral-level personnel, focusing all efforts on securing and nurturing outstanding future talent to become a global top-tier company by 2030.

Choi Yoon-ho, CEO of Samsung SDI, said, "The establishment of global R&D research centers is aimed at securing regionally specialized global technological capabilities and outstanding talent." He added, "Through cooperation with excellent universities and research institutions, we plan to further strengthen Samsung SDI's unique ultra-competitive technological edge."