Samsung SDI goes after EV battery talent via university program

South Korean players step up recruitment as Chinese rivals gain ground

Samsung SDI seeks to secure talent for EV batteries by forming an engineering department at a South Korean university. (Photo by Samsung)

NAMI MATSUURA, Nikkei staff writer

December 25, 2024 06:16 JST

SEOUL -- Battery maker Samsung SDI will open South Korea's first university battery department in 2026, guaranteeing employment to graduates in a bid to secure the skilled workers necessary to catch up with Chinese rivals.

Samsung SDI, the country's second-largest battery manufacturer by sales, is planning the new department at Sungkyunkwan University, a prestigious private school in Seoul.