15 Out of 47 Innovation Award Nominees Are Chinese
China Has 850 Participants... Korea Only 66
At "The Smarter E Europe," the largest energy exhibition in Europe, Chinese companies participated in large numbers and showcased their technological capabilities. In contrast, Korean companies failed to make a strong impression in terms of both participation scale and exhibition content, leading to assessments that their presence was minimal. As Europe emerges as a key market for next-generation battery industries such as electric vehicles and energy storage systems (ESS), there is a growing sense of crisis that Korea's subdued approach may allow China to take the lead.
According to The Smarter E Europe organizers on May 10, this year's event, held in Munich, Germany from May 7 to 9 (local time), featured approximately 3,000 booths and was expected to attract more than 110,000 visitors. The exhibition covers the entire energy industry, including solar power, ESS, charging infrastructure, and smart grids, making it a major business platform that provides insight into the present and future of the global energy sector.
Chinese companies stood out particularly at this exhibition. Excluding the host country Germany, China had the largest number of participating companies, with a total of 850 firms setting up booths. In contrast, Korea only had 66 companies participating.
The Korea Battery Industry Association held "InterBattery Europe" in the same venue to create synergy with the main exhibition. Ninety-three domestic and international companies operated 236 booths. Although the event was 20% larger than last year, considering the overall scale, Korean companies' participation remains relatively low.
A domestic company that did not participate in this event explained, "Each company has its own strategy," adding, "We are focusing on product promotion in other areas." However, some point out that ignoring Europe's largest event, which attracts more than 110,000 visitors, is a complacent response in the face of challenging industry conditions.
Chinese presence was also prominent at the "The Smarter E Awards," which recognize innovative technologies. Of the 47 nominated companies, 17 were Chinese, and they were recognized across all technology categories, including energy storage, e-mobility, solar power, smart energy, and outstanding projects. Among the 15 final award winners, 3 were Chinese companies, demonstrating their comprehensive technological competitiveness. Samsung SDI was the only Korean company to win an award.
According to global electric vehicle battery market share statistics released recently by SNE Research, global EV battery installation volume in the first quarter of this year increased by 38.8% compared to the same period last year, but the combined market share of Korea's three major battery companies fell by 4.5 percentage points. This contrasts with the steady rise in market share of Chinese companies such as CATL and BYD.
Industry insiders are concerned that Korea could lose its lead even in "post-EV" battlegrounds such as solar power, ESS, and smart infrastructure.
Jung Dongwook, a professor at Chung-Ang University's Department of Energy Systems Engineering, commented, "The renewable energy industry is an inevitable global trend, which is a positive sign for the battery sector. Nevertheless, it is difficult for Korea to catch up with China's industrial competitiveness. Korean companies should focus on research and development while also aggressively targeting newly emerging markets from a long-term perspective."
A battery industry official pointed out, "Participating in global exhibitions is not just about promoting products; it is a strategic touchpoint for forming partnerships within the global industrial ecosystem and intuitively understanding market demands. As it is urgent to develop response strategies for the global stage, active government support and attention are needed."
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