French-Japanese Perspectives on Battery Research Programs

The “15th France-Japan Symposium on Lithium Batteries and Next Generations” was held at the Jean Rouxel Institute of Materials in Nantes on September 1, 2, and 3, 2026.

This symposium, which has been held alternately in France and Japan since 1997, aims to bring together French and Japanese researchers to present and exchange ideas on the latest advances in next-generation battery technologies.

This 15th edition placed particular emphasis on a significant number of projects from the French PEPR Batteries program: HIPOHYBAT, LIMASSE, HEAL B&B, DISCOVERY, SONIC, UPBEAT, and HIPOBAT (Franco-German), alongside projects from the GteX Battery Storage Area, the Japanese equivalent of the PEPR Batteries program.

A total of 17 Japanese researchers and representatives of the GteX Battery Storage Area travelled to Nantes to present their work and participate in the roundtable discussion, “Crossing Perspectives on Battery Innovation: A Franco-Japanese Roundtable on GteX and PEPR Batteries Programs.” This highlight of the symposium provided an opportunity to discuss the identification of battery research priorities, the training of young researchers, the balance between fundamental research and industrial applications, the freedom of research, and the objectives of funded projects, among other topics.

The event also brought to a close two and a half days of a symposium featuring a rich scientific program, while highlighting the shared commitment of both countries to developing future collaborations.