LG Chem, Hanyang Univ. open industry-academic center for battery materials

South Korea's LG Chem Ltd. on Wednesday said it signed a memorandum of understanding with Hanyang University on industry-academic cooperation in battery materials and human resource development.

Both sides will form an industry-academic cooperation center to conduct joint studies to preemptively secure next-generation technologies. The facility will research raising the capacity and output of cathode materials, which are essential for batteries.

Through 2025, the program will select every year 10 scholarship students to receive support for tuition and thesis production. Those earning a degree are guaranteed jobs with LG Chem barring any disqualification under the company's recruiting standards.

"We will grow with talented people who will lead the next-generation battery industry," said Lee Hyang-mok, LG Chem vice president and head of its cathode materials unit. "We will expand our research support and human resource development to secure source technology to lead the global market."

Write to Jeong-Soo Hwang at hjs@hankyung.com