SAMSUNG SDI established Global R&D Network and secured technological competitiveness and quality-based dominance in a bid to enhance research capabilities. In addition to the SAMSUNG SDI Labs at home, SAMSUNG SDI established R&D centers in four different countries, including Germany, the US, China and Singapore in the recent three years. SAMSUNG SDI are strategically researching and developing next-generation product development, manufacturing and equipment research based on five R&D centers.

SAMSUNG SDI has been continuous in building foreign R&D centers since 2022, securing top-tier foreign talents. In July 2022, SAMSUNG SDI established SDI R&D Europe in Munich, Germany, followed by SDI R&D America in Boston, US, in August. The following year, in April 2023, SDI R&D China was established, followed by SDI R&D Singapore in September 2024, creating a global R&D network.

[Global R&D Centers of SAMSUNG SDI]

Global R&D centers are securing technologies that each country has their strengths in by cooperating with local prestigious universities, research centers and startups. SDI R&D Europe focuses on battery manufacturing and equipment research and development, SDI R&D America on lithium-ion battery innovation and next-generation battery research and development, and SDI R&D China on securing specialized technologies and battery material verification.

In Suwon, South Korea, SAMSUNG SDI’s R&D center is located. It was established in 1983 and has played a major role in the development of battery and electronic material technologies since then. In particular, until the establishment of the ‘ASB Commercialization Promotion Team’* in December 2023 within Automotive & ESS Battery Business, it was the center of all-solid-state battery research and development. In June 2023, the ‘S Line’, an all-solid-state battery pilot line, was completed at the Suwon Plant, where the R&D center is located. In the second half of the year, SAMSUNG SDI will begin producing samples, which will pave the way for mass production.

* ‘ASB Commercialization Promotion Team’ promotes commercialization of all-solid-state battery.

[SAMSUNG SDI’s R&D center in Suwon includes ASB, the next-generation battery, S Line pilot line.]

In addition, SAMSUNG SDI continues to expand its R&D expenditure. In 2022, it invested KRW 1.763 trillion (5.4 % of sales) and KRW 1.363 trillion (5.0 % of sales) in R&D in 2023. In the first half of 2024, SAMSUNG SDI invested KRW 693.2 billion (7.2 % of sales) in R&D to develop next-generation products.

[R&D expenditure in the recent 3 years]