POSCO Future M and Factorial Forge Partnership to Advance All-Solid-State Battery Technology
POSCO Future M, a major global supplier of advanced battery materials, has taken another significant step toward strengthening its leadership in the next generation of energy storage solutions. The company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Factorial Inc., a U.S.-based pioneer in solid-state battery technology, to collaborate on the development of all-solid-state battery materials. The landmark agreement highlights the growing importance of technological cooperation in accelerating battery innovation for electric vehicles (EVs) and other emerging industries.
The MOU was formalized during a signing ceremony held at the Future Battery Forum in Berlin, a major global gathering for stakeholders in the energy storage sector. The event was attended by senior representatives from both companies, including POSCO Future M’s Head of the Technology Research Laboratory, Hong Young-Jun, and Factorial’s Chief Executive Officer, Siyu Huang. Their presence underscored the level of commitment behind this partnership and the strategic value each organization sees in advancing solid-state battery solutions.
Under the agreement, POSCO Future M and Factorial will explore joint development of key materials used in all-solid-state batteries. These batteries replace the liquid electrolyte found in traditional lithium-ion batteries with solid materials, enabling enhanced performance characteristics. The companies aim to focus particularly on advanced cathode materials and complementary anode innovations designed specifically for solid-state applications.
The push toward all-solid-state batteries is driven by accelerating global demand for safer, more efficient power storage. Unlike conventional lithium-ion systems, solid-state batteries offer an array of advantages including improved safety due to reduced fire and thermal runaway risks, higher energy density enabling extended driving range for EVs, and faster charging capabilities. These benefits make them especially attractive for the rapidly evolving electric mobility market as well as for robotics, consumer electronics, and stationary energy storage systems that support the integration of renewable power into modern grids.
Factorial’s decision to enter the MOU came after rigorous evaluation of POSCO Future M’s cathode material samples developed specifically for solid-state energy storage. According to the testing results shared by Factorial, these materials displayed strong rate capability—an important performance metric indicating how quickly a battery can charge and discharge without compromising reliability or lifetime. This outcome convinced Factorial that a collaboration with POSCO Future M could accelerate its own technology commercialization efforts.
POSCO Future M views the collaboration as a strategic opportunity to reinforce its position in the competitive landscape for next-generation battery materials. The company has been ramping up research into solid-state battery cathodes as well as silicon-based anode materials, which are regarded as promising innovations capable of delivering substantial performance upgrades over current graphite-based anodes. Additionally, the broader POSCO Group is independently advancing development of lithium metal anode technologies and sulfide-based solid electrolytes—two key elements required to enable solid-state battery systems to reach full commercialization at scale.
Hong Young-Jun emphasized the importance of the partnership, noting that both companies bring complementary strengths that can generate meaningful synergy. “We expect synergy in the next-generation all-solid-state battery business based on Factorial’s battery technology and market presence with global automakers, and POSCO Future M’s competitiveness in cathode and anode materials,” he said.
Factorial, headquartered in Massachusetts, has made substantial progress toward the commercialization of solid-state batteries. The company has attracted investment from major automotive manufacturers and maintains close relationships with global automakers working to transition high-performance vehicle models away from conventional lithium-ion pack designs. To support its innovation pipeline, Factorial has also established pilot production operations in Cheonan, Chungnam, South Korea, enabling deeper collaboration with Asian supply chain partners and faster scaling of future solid-state products.
CEO Siyu Huang highlighted the broader significance of the collaboration in advancing the future of battery manufacturing. “Solid-state batteries are entering a new era of commercial readiness,” Huang stated. “We expect work with POSCO Future M to not only accelerate innovation in critical cathode and anode materials, but also strengthen a resilient global supply chain and drive meaningful cost reductions at scale.” Her comments reflect an industry-wide push to streamline solid-state technology to ensure it can be produced cost-effectively and integrated into electric vehicle platforms within the next several years.
Looking ahead, POSCO Future M intends to continue refining its cathode and anode material strategies to serve a diverse range of electric vehicles—from entry-level EVs to high-performance premium models. The company aims to build a flexible portfolio of materials that can be customized to meet the specific needs of customers, such as higher driving range, faster charging speed, longer battery life, or improved safety features. Additionally, POSCO Future M will continue leveraging the capabilities of the POSCO Holdings N.EX.T Hub and the broader POSCO Group research network to speed up technological advancements, strengthen competitiveness, and lead innovation in the future mobility industry.
While the MOU between POSCO Future M and Factorial is non-binding—with the exception of customary binding provisions—it is expected to serve as the foundation for definitive, commercially binding agreements in the future. Both companies anticipate that the collaboration will evolve into a long-term strategic partnership once the terms of commercial cooperation are finalized.
As the global automotive and energy industries move toward electrification, strategic alliances like this one will play a crucial role in shaping how quickly solid-state battery technology can enter full-scale production. With POSCO Future M’s robust materials expertise and Factorial’s strong technological foundation, this partnership stands poised to accelerate the adoption of safer, more advanced battery solutions that will define the next era of clean transportation and sustainable energy.
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