LG Energy Solution Asks Labs Worldwide About the Batteries of the Future

[Financial News] LG Energy Solution is stepping up efforts to secure next-generation battery technologies by partnering with universities and research institutions around the world. It is breaking down research fields into areas including materials, cells, battery management systems (BMS) and artificial intelligence (AI), and seeking technologies that can be applied in its business. The strategy is to strengthen its technological competitiveness by building on a decade of experience in industry-academia joint research.
LG Energy Solution said on the 29th that it will hold its global research call, the Battery Innovation Contest (BIC) 2026.
Marking its 10th anniversary this year, BIC has expanded its research topics to the broadest range yet. Launched in 2017, BIC selects outstanding research projects from universities and research institutions around the world and provides funding. LG Energy Solution researchers take part directly, supporting technology development and assessing the potential for commercialization.
This year’s call covers the full spectrum of battery technology, from materials and cells to BMS and AI. Key topics include analytical technologies for diagnosing cell conditions and identifying mechanisms to improve battery safety. Notably, R&D teams from LG Energy Solution’s major business divisions directly selected topics for which they are seeking joint research.
The focus has shifted beyond technology proposals traditionally centered on academia to identifying technologies needed in real-world industrial settings. An LG Energy Solution official explained, “We identify research topics in-house and make them public to invite proposals. The goal is to accelerate growth in the battery business by producing results that can be applied in actual business operations.”
Over the past 10 years, BIC has supported about 50 research projects and accumulated results in technology development. Research whose feasibility has been demonstrated can be expanded into the joint research center FRL (Frontier Research Laboratory), which LG Energy Solution operates with leading universities and research institutions in Korea and abroad. Projects transitioned to FRL receive additional research funding and specialist research staff to carry out in-depth studies.
Last year, a patent application was pursued through BIC for a physics-based model designed to improve BMS processing speed. In 2019, research through an FRL into long-life all-solid-state batteries that operate at room temperature was published in the prestigious journal Science.
This year’s call runs from today through December 6. All universities and research institutions in Korea and abroad can participate by applying through BRIDGE, BIC’s dedicated communication platform. Applicants will be selected after a comprehensive assessment that includes technology readiness and commercialization potential.
LG Energy Solution also plans to use BRIDGE to improve research project management and the efficiency of collaboration between industry and academia. The online, two-way system will enable the systematic management of research records, protect collaborative technologies and reduce unnecessary offline work.
Kim Je-young, LG Energy Solution’s chief technology officer (CTO) and executive vice president, said, “I expect that industry and academia can drive innovation in the battery industry if they join forces. LG Energy Solution will continue to accelerate growth in the battery market based on its differentiated technological competitiveness.”

[email protected] Kim Dong-ho Reporter