Samsung SDI establishes 2nd overseas battery R&D center in U.S.

[Source: Samsung SDI Co.]

South Korean battery major Samsung SDI Co. has set up its second overseas research and development (R&D) center in the United States, less than two months after opening its first foreign R&D center in Munich, Germany, as it seeks to accelerate the development of more advanced and new battery technologies to win a EV battery race against rivals.

Samsung SDI announced Tuesday that it established SDI R&D America (SDIRA) in Boston on Monday, its first R&D center in the U.S. The Korean battery major under Samsung Group also set up SDI R&D Europe (SDIRE) in Munich on July 1. It plans to open another R&D center in China by 2023.

Samsung SDI’s move to set up R&D research centers overseas comes in line with its efforts to secure super-cap technology competitiveness in new battery technologies catering to different demands from various regions.

SDIRA plans to join hands with universities and startups in the U.S. with lithium-ion battery innovative technologies and active next-generation battery research capacities. SDIRE will carry out assignments with universities and research institutions with outstanding presence in battery processing and facility R&D in Europe. The company will use an upcoming R&D center in China to build network with battery-related universities, research institutions, and entities in the country.

Samsung SDI has been focused on the development of next-generation battery technologies to stay competitive against rivals amid intensifying competition.

Samsung SDI spent 877.6 billion won ($669.5 million) on R&Ds in 2021, according to a disclosure in March. It was the largest-ever R&D spending by the company. It also organized a Tech & Career Forum for professionals in the field, which was attended by its chief executive Choi Yoon-ho and executive vice president and head of R&D Center Chang Hyuk among others. The forum was held to secure future outstanding professionals to become a global battery leader in 2030.

“We are setting up overseas R&D centers to secure super-gap technology competitiveness and strengthen the best quality via utilizing global state-of-art technology and overseas talents,” Choi said. “Starting from the U.S. and Europe, we will continuously increase regional R&D strongholds.”

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