A new study analysing global competition in next-generation battery technologies for electric vehicles (EVs) has been published by an international research team, including Frank Tietze, Head of the Innovation and Intellectual Property Management (IIPM) Laboratory at the Institute for Manufacturing (IfM), along with colleagues from the University of Münster and Fraunhofer FFB. The study compares patent activity and innovation strategies across China, Japan, South Korea, Europe, and the United States.

Next-generation battery technologies play an important role in the energy and mobility transition. As countries move to electrify their economies, innovation has become a key driver of both environmental progress and economic competitiveness. However, factors such as geopolitical tensions, resource availability, and industrial policy are contributing to an uneven distribution of innovation capabilities across regions.

“The geostrategic race for leadership in future electric vehicle battery technologies”, published in the field-leading journal, Energy and Environmental Sciences, introduces a novel framework for analysing international competition in battery innovation. By integrating patent data with policy analysis, the researchers assess how different regions are positioning themselves in the race to develop breakthrough battery technologies.

Importantly, the study focuses on technologies beyond today’s conventional lithium-ion systems, which face significant limitations including range constraints, degradation over time, safety risks, and reliance on critical raw materials.

“It was a fantastic collaboration with the German colleagues, who complemented our expertise on patent analytics with their expertise in battery technologies,” says Frank.

One of the key findings is the growing divide between Asian and Western countries in innovation focus. Asian nations, particularly China, Japan, and South Korea, are investing heavily in next-generation battery technologies. Strategic approaches differ by region - Japan and South Korea are prioritising high-energy-density battery technologies, while China is investing in both high-performance and low-cost battery solutions. In contrast, Europe and the United States remain largely focused on improving current lithium-ion technologies.

“While we had hoped for some better numbers for Europe, including the UK, unfortunately, the data reveals more than just a slightly worrying picture,” explains Frank

The researchers warn that this growing innovation gap could threaten the technological autonomy and long-term competitiveness of Western economies. Without a shift in strategy, Europe and the United States risk falling behind in both advanced and cost-effective battery technologies.

“Europe and the United States need to urgently increase their investments in future battery value chains and promote the transfer of knowledge and technology with leading battery developers and manufacturers from Asia,” says Stephan von Delft, Professor of Business Chemistry at the University of Münster and co-author on the paper.

Find out more in the full study:

André Hemmelder, Frank Tietze, Simon Lux, Jens Leker, Lars Jahnke, and Stephan von Delft (2025): The geostrategic race for leadership in future electric vehicle battery technologies. Energy & Environmental Science, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D5EE00301F.