The head of Samsung SDI's research center stated on March 11 at the opening of InterBattery 2026 in Seoul that the company plans to overcome electric vehicle industry slowdowns through opportunities in energy storage systems and robotics. Joo Yong-lak emphasized that the battery industry will lead growth in ESS, robots, and urban air mobility sectors. The event, South Korea's largest battery trade show, features nearly 670 firms from 14 countries.
InterBattery 2026 opened on March 11 at the Coex Convention Center in Seoul for a three-day run. Hosted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Resources, the event features nearly 670 firms from 14 countries, including the United States, Australia, Germany, China, and Japan, operating more than 2,300 booths. It provides a venue to discuss the expansion of renewable energy and energy storage systems, as well as battery applications in defense, robotics, and urban air mobility, while addressing responses to U.S. tariff schemes and European Union battery regulations.
Vice Industry Minister Moon Shin-hak said at the opening ceremony, "The Korean battery industry is currently facing challenges from a chasm in the electric vehicle market and global trade uncertainties, as well as opportunities from the growth of new demand and restructuring of supply chains," pledging government support for domestic firms' overseas expansions.
Joo Yong-lak, executive vice president and head of Samsung SDI's R&D center, remarked in his speech, "The battery industry has become a key growth engine leading the ESS, robot and urban air mobility sectors beyond EVs." He added, "We plan to proactively find innovative technologies that will lead the transformation of the future energy market and continue to bolster our technology competitiveness," noting efforts to meet demand from the artificial intelligence segment.
According to Joo, the global ESS market is expected to reach 1,232 gigawatt-hours, tripling from 399 GWh in 2024. Robot industry demand will grow from 0.03 GWh in 2025 to 1.4 GWh in 2030, while urban air mobility demand is projected to rise from 3.7 GWh in 2030 to 68 GWh in 2035. Samsung SDI displayed a pouch-type all-solid-state battery prototype for physical AI applications, with mass production slated for the second half of 2027.
