- LG Energy Solution becomes the first battery company to file over 100,000 global patent applications, securing more than 59,000 granted patents that include both commercialized and next-generation technologies.
- The company aims to lead the industrial battery ecosystem by protecting intellectual property, expanding patent licensing, and promoting fair recognition for technological innovation.
As of May 2026, LG Energy Solution became the first battery company to file more than 100,000 patent applications worldwide, including more than 59,000 granted patents. This milestone was made possible by the company’s strong emphasis on patents as strategic assets that drive future growth, strengthen business competitiveness, and guide sustained increases in research and development (R&D) investment.
LG Energy Solution first surpassed KRW 1 trillion in annual R&D spending in 2023, before reaching a record high of KRW 1.3277 trillion last year. The company plans to continue building on its technological competitiveness through investment as it prepares for the future battery market.
LG Energy Solution’s Battery Materials and Process Patents
LG Energy Solution holds patents covering key battery materials, electrode design, cell and pack technologies, battery management systems (BMS), and manufacturing processes. Over more than 30 years, the company has secured fundamental technologies across the entire battery value chain, building a strong foundation for its differentiated technological competitiveness.
Some of the company’s key patents cover technologies already used commercially and proven in the market. The company’s process technology patents include Safety Reinforced Separator (SRS), which coats ceramic particles and polymer binders onto the separator surface; Double Layer Slot Die Coating (DLD), a world-first anode coating technology; and Carbon Nanotube (CNT) pre-dispersion technology.
The company has also built a solid patent portfolio in core material technologies including high-voltage electrolytes, high-capacity high-nickel cathodes, mid-nickel NCM materials such as NCM523 and NCM622, and silicon anodes.
LG Energy Solution Develops Next-Generation Battery Technologies
LG Energy Solution is advancing next-generation battery technologies to strengthen its technological competitiveness and support future growth in the battery market.
Lithium manganese-rich (LMR) prismatic battery technology is one of the company’s next-generation patent focus areas. LG Energy Solution recognized the potential of LMR cathodes with silicon anodes early and began building a related patent portfolio before the field gained industry attention. The technology is expected to serve as a core platform for the commercialization process of LMR batteries.
Dry electrode technology is another key focus. LG Energy Solution has secured approximately 700 patents related to dry electrode technology as of October 2026. This next-generation manufacturing process eliminates organic solvents and uses solid powders to improve production efficiency and environmental performance.
LG Energy Solution Uses Patents to Protect and Advance Innovation
LG Energy Solution views patents not only as a means of protecting rights, but also as core assets that support future growth. Through its “IP R&D Process,” the company integrates patent acquisition into the early stages of technology development and builds a portfolio of “premium patents” designed to be difficult for competitors to circumvent or imitate.
Furthermore, the company is taking a firm stance against patent infringements to establish a market order where core technology values are fairly recognized. Compensation from patent infringement lawsuits is then reinvested in R&D and the development of future technologies.
LG Energy Solution is also working to support a fairer industrial ecosystem by expanding patent licensing and encouraging technology exchange based on mutual respect. The company plans to lead the sustainable growth and development of the battery industry, ensuring that value generated from its patent assets continues to fuel innovation.
“Reaching 100,000 patent applications is a testament to our unwavering commitment to technological advancement,” said Han Sun Lee, Senior Vice President and IP Group Leader at LG Energy Solution. “We will continue accelerating growth based on our core technologies and premium patents, ensuring that fair compensation for innovation will lead to new breakthroughs.”
Why LG Energy Solution’s Patent Portfolio Matters for the Future of Batteries
LG Energy Solution’s achievement highlights the growing role of intellectual property in shaping competition across the global battery industry. As demand evolves across electric vehicles (EVs), energy storage systems (ESS), and emerging applications, developing differentiated technologies and protecting their commercial value will become essential to long-term competitiveness.
The milestone also underscores how sustained investment in R&D, combined with strategic patent management, helps battery manufacturers translate technological innovation into lasting business value while helping to move the industry forward.
Key Facts & Figures
- LG Energy Solution has filed more than 100,000 patent applications worldwide, including more than 59,000 granted patents, as of May 2026.
- The company has developed battery technologies spanning the entire value chain for over 30 years, covering materials, electrode design, cells, packs, battery management systems (BMS), and manufacturing processes.
- LG Energy Solution’s core technology patents include Safety Reinforced Separator (SRS), Double Layer Slot Die Coating (DLD), Carbon Nanotube (CNT) pre-dispersion, high-nickel cathodes, silicon anodes, and high-voltage electrolytes.
- The company has secured approximately 700 patents related to dry electrode technology as of October 2026.
- LG Energy Solution’s annual R&D investment reached a record KRW 1.3277 trillion in 2025, after surpassing KRW 1 trillion for the first time in 2023.
FAQ
Q: How extensive is LG Energy Solution’s global patent portfolio?
A: As of May 2026, LG Energy Solution had filed more than 100,000 patent applications worldwide and held more than 59,000 granted patents, covering commercialized technologies and next-generation battery innovations.
Q: What battery technologies are covered by LG Energy Solution’s patents?
A: LG Energy Solution’s patents cover the entire battery value chain, including battery materials, electrode design, cells, packs, battery management systems (BMS), and manufacturing processes. Key technologies include Safety Reinforced Separator (SRS), Double Layer Slot Die Coating (DLD), Carbon Nanotube (CNT) pre-dispersion, high-nickel cathodes, silicon anodes, and high-voltage electrolytes.
Q: What is LG Energy Solution’s dry electrode technology?
A: Dry electrode technology is a next-generation battery manufacturing process that replaces organic solvents with solid powders to produce electrodes. Backed by approximately 700 related patents as of October 2026, this technology can improve production efficiency and reduce environmental impacts.
Q: How does LG Energy Solution protect its battery technologies and intellectual property?
A: LG Energy Solution integrates patent acquisition into early-stage technology development through its IP R&D Process, building a portfolio of patents designed to be difficult to circumvent or imitate. To protect its innovations, the company actively enforces its legal rights against patent infringement globally and reinvests compensation from patent infringement lawsuits in R&D and future technology development.
Q: Why is patent licensing important to the battery industry?
A: Patent licensing enables innovators to receive recognition and compensation for their efforts and large-scale R&D investments while supporting technology exchange across the industry. LG Energy Solution champions patent licensing to build a fair battery market in which intellectual property is respected and technological innovation fuels market growth.
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Last Updated: November 2026