The South Korean battery maker Samsung SDI has opened a new battery research and development centre in China to boost its technological competitiveness. The SDI China Research and Development Center (SDIRC) was opened on Saturday.
According to Samsung SDI, the new research lab will focus on building partnerships with local universities and research institutes to “secure core battery technologies”. In addition, the research centre will focus on “discovering new functional and affordable materials”.
“By leveraging global technological competence and talent pools, we will further bolster our pursuit of outstanding technological competitiveness,” said Samsung SDI President and CEO Choi Yoon-ho.
The announcement comes not long after Samsung SDI had committed to supply General Motors with cylindrical battery cells, as well as announcing the construction of a joint battery factory with the company in the USA. However, the USA is not the only location where the South Korean battery manufacturer is looking to set up shop – a battery manufacturing facility in Hungary was announced in January. In August last year, Samsung SDI also announced plans to invest in research and development capacities around the globe, which is when the facility in Shanghai had initially been announced.
Source:batteryindustry
