By: ICN Bureau
Last updated : October 01, 2026 1:14 pm
Arkema is rapidly advancing next-generation battery technology by expanding its global R&D footprint.
Arkema is expanding its presence in the electric vehicle market with a €10 million expansion of its Global Battery Center of Excellence in Oullins-Pierre-Bénite, France. This investment strengthens the company's commitment to the battery business value chain in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.
This investment advances the Group’s strategy to boost its advanced battery materials research across a global R&D network that spans the entire value chain.
Arkema is rapidly advancing next-generation battery technology by expanding its global R&D footprint. This follows the September 2025 inauguration of a solvent-free electrode laboratory in Normandy, alongside key investments in Asia and the Americas. By uniting its French expertise with research hubs in China, South Korea, Japan, and the United States, Arkema leverages a powerful international network to solve tomorrow's industrial and technological challenges.
The Battery Center of Excellence is entering a powerful new phase. Situated within the Rhône-Alpes Research Center, the facility will triple in size and undergo a major modernization, with a heavy emphasis on digital R&D. This major expansion firmly establishes the French site as Arkema’s global flagship platform for advanced materials, powering both today's batteries and the next-generation technologies of tomorrow.
This project prepares Arkema's R&D teams for upcoming cell manufacturing standards while speeding up the adoption of its advanced materials. By mirroring client manufacturing environments, researchers can proactively address production obstacles. This collaborative approach will drive the creation of safer, more efficient batteries that offer faster charging speeds and higher energy density.
The implementation of this project has been made possible in particular through the support provided by the French Research Tax Credit (Crédit d’Impôt Recherche) and by the French State as part of the France 2030 program.