Panasonic Energy has opened a new lithium-ion battery research and development facility in Kadoma, Osaka, creating a major new hub for next-generation battery technology and production development.

 

The company said its new Energy Innovation Square will bring together capabilities spanning battery material development, cell design and prototyping, with a focus on accelerating technologies for automotive and data center applications.

 

Working alongside Panasonic Energy’s Suminoe Production Development Facility in Osaka City, the new site will connect battery development with manufacturing technology. Technologies and production processes developed through the two facilities will be deployed across Panasonic Energy’s global manufacturing network, including plants in Japan and in Nevada and Kansas in the United States.

 

The new facility will house approximately 500 employees working in cell product planning, technology development and analysis. Combined with the Suminoe facility, which focuses on manufacturing technology development, the two sites will form one of Japan’s largest dedicated battery development operations, with a combined workforce of about 800 people.

 

Panasonic Energy aims to double development efficiency by fiscal 2031, compared with fiscal 2024, as it seeks to accelerate product development and respond more quickly to increasingly diverse customer requirements.

 

The push comes as demand for advanced batteries expands beyond electric vehicles. EV makers are seeking higher energy density and durability, while the rapid growth of AI data centers is creating demand for higher-output battery systems. Panasonic Energy also points to emerging applications including drones, robotaxis and humanoid robots as potential drivers of future battery demand.

 

The Japanese government has described batteries as the “heart of industry,” highlighting their strategic importance to energy and economic security.

 

Panasonic Energy said Energy Innovation Square will consolidate development and prototyping work previously spread across multiple locations. The move is expected to improve operational efficiency, optimize workforce requirements and cut development lead times involving transportation by more than 15%.

 

The facility is also equipped with an enhanced digital transformation platform designed to integrate simulation and physical-test data. By continuously monitoring processes and applying statistical analysis, Panasonic Energy said it expects to improve simulation accuracy and design maturity while reducing the time needed to move new products into mass production.

 

Kazuo Tadanobu, CEO of Panasonic Energy, said, “Energy Innovation Square will serve as a core hub for Panasonic Energy’s battery development, strengthening collaboration from next-generation product development through mass production and enhancing our global competitiveness. 

 

"As battery markets and applications evolve, we will continue to respond swiftly and flexibly to customer needs, drawing on our technological expertise and experience. Through innovative battery technologies, we remain committed to contributing to a more sustainable society.”