Battery technology leader Samsung SDI Co., Ltd. has established SDI R&D America (SDIRA) in Boston, Massachusetts in the United States. SDIRA is the first research & development center of Samsung SDI located in the United States. The establishment of SDIRA succeeds SDI R&D Europe (SDIRE), which was created on July 1 in Munich, Germany. In addition, SDI plans to establish an R&D center in China in 2023.

Secure Super-Gap Technology Competitiveness

Samsung SDI has been establishing overseas R&D centers to secure super-gap technology competitiveness via region-specific research and development of new battery technology.

SDIRA will cooperate with outstanding local universities and start-ups that show vibrant innovative battery technology and next-generation battery research and development. Throughout the cooperation, Samsung SDI expects to acquire overseas talents and build R&D infrastructure.

Beef up Global R&D Capability

Meanwhile, through the establishment of the R&D center in 2023 in China, Samsung SDI will increase its global R&D capability. China has the biggest number of battery-related universities, research institutions, and companies.

Specifically, Samsung SDI is focusing on developing the next-generation battery technology, which is a future growth engine. It plans to achieve this by allocating R&D budget on top of industry level. According to Samsung SDI’s business report released in March, last year’s R&D expenditure was a record KRW 877 billion (US$663 million).

In addition, this July, Samsung SDI launched the Tech & Career Forum to recruit local PhD students. Major executives from Samsung SDI’s development departments, including President and CEO YOONHO CHOI and Head of R&D Center Chang Hyuk, participated in the forum. Samsung SDI has spared no effort to recruit and train outstanding future talents to become the Global Top Tier Company by 2030.

YOONHO CHOI said, “We are establishing overseas R&D centers to secure super-gap technology competitiveness and strengthen the best quality by utilizing global state-of-art technology and overseas talents. We will do this starting from the United States and Europe, and continuously increase regional R&D strongholds.”