Pohang, the City Leading the Battery Technology Supergap, Hosts International Conference

Sharing Trends in the Secondary Battery Industry and Building a Global Network

Launch Ceremony of the Task Force, Discovering Follow-up Projects and Strengthening Industry-Academia-Research Cooperation

Pohang City has created a platform to diagnose the present and future of the global battery industry and to share battery industry trends through technical exchanges with experts from industry, academia, and research institutes.

On the 14th, Pohang City held the 'Battery Leading City Pohang International Conference 2023 (POBATT 2023)' with the theme of Pohang as a city leading the battery technology gap at the POSCO International Hall international conference room.

On the 14th, Pohang City held the ‘Battery Leading City Pohang International Conference 2023 (POBATT 2023)’ under the theme of Pohang as a city leading the battery technology gap at the POSCO International Hall’s international conference room.

The event was attended by about 300 domestic and international businesspeople and industry-academia-research officials, including Lee Kang-deok, Mayor of Pohang; Baek In-gyu, Chairman of Pohang City Council; Lee Dal-hee, Deputy Governor for Economy of Gyeongbuk Province; Kim Byung-hoon, CEO of EcoPro Materials; Jung Wang-mo, Executive Director of LG Energy Solution; Park Joo-young, CEO of IMERYS; and Lee Jin-wook, Executive Director of Sungil Hightech.

Before the conference began, a launching ceremony for the task force was held to discover follow-up projects and promote industry-academia-research cooperation for the secondary battery national advanced strategic industry specialized complex, which was designated last July. The ceremony was conducted with the participation of about 20 local institutions and organizations, pledging successful project implementation.

In the keynote speech of this conference, Jung Wang-mo, Executive Director of LG Energy Solution, presented LG Energy Solution’s battery strategy and technology under the theme of ‘LG Energy Solution’s Materials and Battery Technology.’

Following this, P?l Runde, President of the Norwegian Battery Association, and Andreas Maier, Vice President of Morrow Battery, introduced the Norwegian battery industry and presented the vision and prospects of the global battery market through the European market. Roger Martinsen, Minister-Counselor of the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Korea, also attended the event, drawing attention.

In the second part, Professor Choi Won-chang of Konkuk University presented ‘Next-generation Sodium-ion Battery Cathode and Anode Material Technology,’ and Dr. Jung Hoon-ki of KIST presented ‘Current Status and Prospects of Next-generation Anode Material Technology,’ providing an opportunity to understand the current status and future of the Korean battery industry.

In the third part, Park Joo-young, CEO of IMERYS, presented ‘Product Development and Material Innovation of Lithium-ion Batteries,’ and Hong Jung-jin, Executive Director of POSCO Future M, presented ‘Future Strategy of POSCO Future M’s Secondary Battery Material Business.’

Following this, Jung Ho-il, Research Fellow at POSCO Research Institute, presented ‘The Era of Electric Vehicle Popularization and Issues in the Battery Industry,’ and Lee Jin-wook, Executive Director of Sungil Hightech, presented on ‘Battery Recycling Market and Technological Changes,’ analyzing next-generation cathode material technology and recycling market prospects.

In the final fourth part panel discussion, Jeong Myung-sook, Head of the Battery Advanced Industry Division of Pohang City, presented ‘Overview and Promotion Plans for the Designation of the Secondary Battery Specialized Complex.’ Kim Kwang-joo, CEO of SNE Research, and Professor Lee Sang-min of POSTECH participated as panelists, engaging in a heated discussion about the future path following the designation of the secondary battery specialized complex.

Mayor Lee Kang-deok emphasized, “Since 2020, we have continuously created forums for fostering the battery industry outside the metropolitan area. Through this conference, we will expand both the scale and content to become Korea’s representative conference that combines exhibitions and discussions, ensuring that the solid network built leads to business.”

Pohang City, together with Gyeongbuk Province, has attracted many national projects, including the battery regulatory free zone, the completion and operation of the secondary battery comprehensive management center, and the post-use battery resource circulation cluster. In July, it was designated as the secondary battery national advanced strategic industry specialized complex.

Pohang City and Gyeongbuk Province plan to solidify their status as a battery hub city by building on the achievements of the battery regulatory free zone, which was selected as an excellent special zone for four consecutive years?a first in history?and by challenging the global innovation special zone, which applies comprehensive minimum regulation (negative regulation) for the first time in Korea and supports companies’ global expansion.