As a pioneering company that provides green energy and cutting-edge materials solutions, Samsung SDI is dedicated to securing 'super-gap' technological competitiveness via continued, robust R&D investments. With a wide spectrum of business that includes cutting-edge materials and parts manufacturing, Samsung SDI has successfully made a leap forward to becoming an energy solution specialist that makes batteries for power tools, IT gadgets, electric vehicles and energy storage systems. In particular, 2014 was a cornerstone year for Samsung SDI since its R&D Center and the Electronics Materials Business arm joined the Samsung Future Technology Campus to create synergy through joint research and development activities with Samsung affiliates. We also continue to expand our world-wide R&D network in a bid to facilitate technological collaborations on a global scale.
How do we create value?
R&D Hub
Samsung SDI is operating the SDI R&D Center and development departments under Small Battery Business and Automotive &
ESS Battery Business with a strong drive for developing technologies for lithium-ion battery (LIB)'s ultra-high performance
(Ultimate LIBs) and the next-generation products (beyond LIBs). Maintaining organic collaboration among the divisions, we are
fortifying our global technological leadership. The battery research is being carried out in Samsung Future Technology Campus
whereas the development units are operating at the Headquarters in order to boost the operation efficiency. The development
partof Electronics Materials Business, working to develop next-generation semiconductor and display materials, joined
Samsung Future Technology Campus along with the SDI R&D Center in order to create synergy through joint research and
development activities with Samsung affiliates.
R&D Investments
Samsung SDI’s continued and solid investments in R&D
serve to enhance its competitive edge. As of 2023, the
annual R&D spending recorded KRW 1.14 trillion, which
accounted for 5% of the annual revenue of KRW 22.7
trillion.
Researchers and Developers
As of late 2023, Samsung SDI retains approximately 3,200
R&D experts, which account for 10% of the entire
employee demographics (31,700 employees globally).
Samsung SDI is strengthening its collaborative ties with a myriad of top-standing parties to better accommodate rapidly changing market needs and technological trends.
We have been leveraging many academia-industry partnership programs for years to secure differentiating battery technologies and nurture top talent. Also our crucial undertakings are numerous, continuous partnerships with leading universities in lithium-ion battery research through which Samsung SDI seeks to develop the beyond-lithium-ion battery technologies.
Samsung SDI's global R&D network encompasses the United States, Europe, China, and Japan, effectively catering our battery development to technological specialization of each advanced country.
We are resolved to achieve 'super-gap' technological competitiveness with our technologies hard-earned through such vigorous efforts in operating valuable partnerships and R&D network.
Fast-growing automotive and energy storage system (ESS) markets call for even more demanding specifications for electric car batteries, such as a longer range and faster charging while a longer life is required for ESS batteries; not to mention the tall order of achieving higher cost edge and environmentally friendly application for any battery products.
To accomplish such ultimate battery improvements, Samsung SDI strives to develop our proprietary technologies as follows:
Five Core Technologies: cathode materials, anode materials, separators, electrolytes, electrodes
Three Basic Technologies: simulation, analysis, evaluation
Already in retention are high nickel cathode and silicon anode technologies primed for increasing the battery time (range) and life. The focus is on developing cobalt-free cathode materials, fast-charging anode materials, materials that assure long life and safety, as well as core materials for all-solid state batteries, a next-generation battery solution.
Samsung SDI develops core materials for high-tech IT products such as semiconductors, displays, new energy solutions in collaboration with customers. In particular, our focus is on instilling our unrivalled technology into the products so that they can stably run through state-of-the-art processes at our customers.
Our semiconductor materials portfolio includes:
- Spin-on-hardmasks (SOH) that enable precise micro-patterning,
- Slurry that polishes the wafer surface,
- Spin-on-dielectrics (SOD) that serves as an insulator to prevent interference within semiconductor devices,
- Epoxy molding compounds (EMC) that dissipates heat in chips,
- CMOS image sensor color resists for high-definition and ultra-thin camera modules, and
- Materials for a cutting-edge extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUV) process.
Our display materials portfolio includes:
- Polarizer films that enhances visual angles and light leakage in LCD displays for higher resolutions,
- Self-luminous organic materials and auxiliary materials for organic light emitting diode (OLED) displays, and
- Functional adhesive materials that enable bending in foldable displays.
In terms of battery materials, we are working on ensuring thermal resistance and top-notch quality of separators, which play an integral part in battery stability.
As such, Samsung SDI will continue its innovation endeavors in electronic materials technology so as to bring us the leadership that caters to the needs of markets, customers and technological trends.
Patents
Creating synergy for intellectual property
Samsung SDI has been pressing ahead with patenting activity in order to protect proprietary technologies that are embedded in our market-leading products and to mitigate patent risks that may arise in the normal course of business. From early on, we have built a diversified patent portfolio in a holistic range of rechargeable batteries and electronic materials. Our competitive patents secured as such allow us to create market-pioneering innovations.
With respect to technologies of the next generation, not only do we develop our internal technology capabilities, but also partner with leading universities and research institutes in Korea and overseas to secure patents in promising future technology areas.
As of late 2023, Samsung SDI maintains 20,991 patents registered home and abroad. 14,636 of those patent registrations have been secured in major markets such as the US, Europe, and China, enhancing our responsiveness therein.
