Yamagata University established a venture company, Iide Battery Research Institute Co., Ltd. (Iide Town, Yamagata Prefecture), at its home town on July, 27, aiming to promote industrial clusters for lithium-ion battery technology. The university started to develop the battery business for robot,  electric automobile and agricultural machinery etc with the cooperation of Yamagata Bank.

Prof Hideya YOSHITAKE, who is central to this project, has structured a system and enhanced the technological capabilities for battery research development for 5 years with 47 domestic companies. In 2017, the battery and automobile companies from Europe and America are also expected to join this team.

Nikkei Sangyou Shimbun       July, 28, 2016       Thursday