Despite the looming crisis of supply chain restructuring and the spread of protectionist trade policies, companies in the cell, materials, and components sectors are coming together to focus on technology development, process innovation, and the development of next-generation batteries to overcome these challenges," said Um Ki-cheon, Chairman of the Korea Battery Industry Association (and CEO of POSCO Futurem).
He made this statement at the opening ceremony of 'InterBattery 2026', which started on the 11th.
InterBattery 2026, the largest battery industry exhibition in Korea, is being held for three days from that day at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. The event, co-hosted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the Korea Battery Industry Association, COEX, and the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), provides a platform to explore the latest technologies and future strategies of the global battery industry. This year's exhibition is the largest ever, with 667 companies from 14 countries participating with 2382 booths.
Chairman Um emphasized the growth potential of the battery industry even amidst the slowdown in the electric vehicle (EV) market.
He stated, "Although there has been a temporary slowdown in the North American EV market, there are emerging markets such as energy storage systems (ESS), humanoid robots, and artificial intelligence (AI) data centers that are opening up even bigger markets than electric vehicles," adding, "Battery technology and applications will expand to meet new demands."
Chairman Um also highlighted that solid-state batteries are a next-generation battery technology that could surpass China in the future, emphasizing the need for strategic joint development by companies and the government. He further explained, "The government and the association will work together to find solutions to ensure that battery ecosystem companies do not move overseas and maintain competitiveness domestically."
At this year's InterBattery, a trend was observed where the application scope of the battery industry, centered around electric vehicles, expanded. Companies are concurrently developing high-energy density high-nickel batteries, cost-competitive lithium iron phosphate (LFP), solid-state, and other next-generation battery technologies, while expanding the scope of utilization to new industries such as data center power infrastructure and robots.
Battery cell makers LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI, and SK On unveiled next-generation batteries such as lithium manganese-rich (LMR), solid-state, and 46 cylindrical cells, as well as solutions for ESS and AI infrastructure. Material companies like POSCO Futurem, LNF, and EcoPro emphasized supply chain competitiveness focusing on high-nickel and LFP cathode materials and recycling.
Choi Moon-ho, CEO of EcoProBM, stated, "Solid-state batteries will play an important role in special-purpose markets such as urban air mobility (UAM), electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOL), humanoid robots, due to their stability and energy density," adding, "As the competition for next-generation batteries is likely to lead to a standard competition, research and collaboration involving both cell and material companies are necessary."
Moon Shin-hak, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy, conveyed, "The government will support the battery industry to maintain its global leadership position through expanding demand, strengthening the supply chain, and securing cutting-edge technologies.