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Hyundai Motor Group, SNU open battery research center to secure global EV leadership
Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Euisun, third from right, and Seoul National University (SNU) President Ryu Hong-lim, third from left, pose with SNU students in the lobby of a battery research center set up jointly by the two organizations on the university campus in southern Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group
By Lee Kyung-min
By Lee Kyung-min
Hyundai Motor Group announced the establishment of a Joint Battery Research Center set up jointly with Seoul National University (SNU), Tuesday.
This collaborative effort between the local automotive titan and SNU aims to advance battery technologies and foster industry-academia cooperation to establish global leadership in the battery sector.
The opening ceremony for the center took place at SNU's main campus and was attended by esteemed guests, including Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Euisun.
“Our mission to develop a diverse range of mobility solutions equipped with advanced batteries is driven by our strong commitment to a sustainable environment for future generations,” he said. “Through pioneering joint research and development efforts, we hope to empower all researchers to lead the way in propelling the transition to electrification of the mobility industry.”
SNU President Ryu Hong-lim also gave a congratulatory speech at the event. “The Joint Battery Research Center will be the starting point for battery technology with improved performance and robust safety in line with Hyundai Motor Group's preemptive innovation in the field of electrification,” he said. “We expect that the best faculty and graduate students will create synergy with Hyundai Motor Group's competent researchers, laying the groundwork for various innovations ranging from the basics of batteries to applications.”
The center began to take shape in November 2021, when the automotive group and SNU signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the establishment of a joint battery research center and medium- to long-term joint research based on the consensus of realizing carbon neutrality and creating a battery research platform.
To foster close research cooperation, the new facility will secure a dedicated space for battery-only research within SNU's expanded Institute of Chemical Processes, spanning three floors.
It will consist of seven laboratories and conference rooms for battery development, analysis, measurement and processes. This is the first research facility specializing in electric vehicle (EV) batteries to be established within the university.
With the opening of the center, Hyundai Motor will work with the nation's top battery experts to lay the groundwork for research and development of battery-related technologies.
The center aims to focus on advanced research into leading next-generation battery technologies that can dramatically increase EV driving distance and shorten charging time, as well as research on battery condition monitoring technology and innovative process technology.
A total of 22 joint research projects will be carried out in four divisions, including lithium metal batteries, solid-state batteries, battery management systems (BMS) and battery process technology.
A total of 21 professors and master's and doctorate-level experts from local universities will participate in the research.