Battery Innovation Hub

What Battery Innovation Hub does

Battery Innovation Hub (株式会社BIH) is a Japanese battery technology startup founded in October 2019 as a spin-off from Yamagata University's Next Generation Battery Research Laboratory, headquartered within the university's Faculty of Engineering incubation facility in Yonezawa, Yamagata Prefecture. The company specializes in next-generation lithium-ion battery development with a core focus on semi-solid (gel electrolyte) batteries that replace combustible liquid electrolytes with non-flammable gel, delivering improved safety (eliminated leakage/fire risk), longer charge-discharge cycle life, and suppressed self-discharge compared with conventional liquid Li-ion cells. BIH also produces mass-production-ready liquid lithium-ion batteries in single-cell (3.7V 1500–2000mAh) and 2S pack (7.4V 1500mAh) configurations, targeting wearables, drones, and mobile devices.

The company's business model combines B2B contract services and limited product sales: (1) battery prototyping and performance evaluation services leveraging Yamagata University joint research and proprietary know-how on material combinations (cathode, anode, electrolyte, separator, binders, conductive aids, current collectors); (2) liquid lithium-ion battery product sales in standardized and customized sizes for wearables and drones; (3) battery development consulting covering design, material analysis, and process optimization; and (4) a smaller human resources development stream providing battery developer training, Japanese language education for foreign nationals, interpretation, translation, and website production. Pricing is custom quote-based; individual and small-lot sales are not accepted. Target customer segments are mobile battery/drone/wearable manufacturers (primary), automotive OEMs for hybrid vehicles via the Beijing Xingchuan partnership (primary, starting with the Chinese market), agricultural machinery and drone OEMs (via Go-Tech), and space applications (via JAXA). As of FY2025, the company has ~20 employees (including part-time), 60 million yen in registered capital, and is pre-Series A, with FY2026 targeted as the commercial productization milestone for hybrid-vehicle semi-solid batteries.

Name

Battery Innovation Hub

Legal name

株式会社BIH（バッテリーイノベーションハブ）

Website

https://bih.co.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Battery Innovation Hub is a Japanese university spin-off developing semi-solid and liquid lithium-ion batteries for automotive, drone, wearable, and space applications. It sells custom batteries, prototyping and evaluation services, and consulting, primarily to B2B manufacturers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Lithium-ion battery manufacturing and prototyping

NAICS

Battery Manufacturing (33591)

akta.pro primary industry

Battery Cells (Li-ion, LFP, Sodium-ion, Lead-acid, NiMH) (IMAGAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Battery Modules & Packs (Industrial/Commercial pack assembly) (IMAGAHAB), Automotive Batteries & 12V/Low-Voltage Energy Storage Manufacturing (IMACAJAJ), Battery Pack Manufacturing & Module Assembly (EUAFABAI)

Keywords

• Lithium-ion batteries
• Semi-solid batteries
• Battery prototyping services
• Battery development consulting
• Battery performance evaluation

Headquarters

HQ city

Yonezawa

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Battery prototyping and performance evaluation services: Provides battery prototyping development and performance evaluation services to manufacturers, leveraging Yamagata University joint research. Offers scientific analysis of battery materials and optimization of manufacturing technology for high-performance, low-cost, safe, and durable batteries.
2. Liquid lithium-ion battery product sales: Designs and plans liquid lithium-ion batteries in partnership with battery manufacturers. Offers mass-production-ready products for wearables and drones in standardized and customized sizes/capacities.
3. Battery development consulting: Provides consulting services related to battery development, including battery design, scientific analysis of battery materials, and optimization of manufacturing processes.
4. Human resources development and education: Provides battery developer training programs and Japanese language education for foreign nationals. Registered as a specified skilled worker support institution (21登-005910) with the Ministry of Justice. Also provides interpretation, translation, and website production services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Battery Innovation Hub (株式会社BIH) develops, prototypes, manufactures, and sells next-generation lithium-ion batteries — including liquid lithium-ion cells/packs and semi-solid (gel electrolyte) batteries — primarily targeting mobile devices, drones, wearables, and hybrid electric vehicles. It also provides contract battery prototyping and performance evaluation services and battery development consulting, leveraging joint research with Yamagata University's Next Generation Battery Research Laboratory and a separately operated human resources development (training and language education) business line.

Product overview

株式会社BIH (Battery Innovation Hub) operates as a battery development company offering a portfolio of three interconnected products and services. The core offerings include: (1) Liquid Lithium-Ion Batteries available in single-cell and 2S pack configurations for wearable and drone applications; (2) Semi-Solid Batteries using non-flammable gel electrolyte technology providing enhanced safety and durability; and (3) Contract prototyping and performance evaluation services that support battery development optimization. These offerings are designed to work together, with the company leveraging Yamagata University's next-generation battery research laboratory to advance battery material combinations and manufacturing technologies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Liquid Lithium-Ion Batteries (液体リチウムイオン電池)

Quantifiable outcome

• Established world's first mass production technology for hybrid vehicle semi-solid batteries
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and secondary.

• Beijing Xingchuan New Energy Battery Technology (北京星川新能源電池科技)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 November 2025Jointly established the world's first semi-solid battery mass production technology for hybrid vehicles. Beijing Xingchuan is an in-vehicle battery manufacturer. BIH CEO Hasegawa stated they will start automotive deployment in China (world's largest EV market) and offer samples to European and American manufacturers, with plans to expand to Japan and the West. Productization planned for fiscal year 2026.
• Yamagata University — Organic Electronics Innovation Center, Next Generation Battery Research Laboratory (山形大学 有機エレクトロニクスイノベーションセンター 次世代電池研究室)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 August 2023Core academic partner and co-development engine. BIH was founded as a startup from this laboratory. The laboratory's research专职教授 室長 Dr. Masanori Morishita (森下 正典, 工学博士) leads joint research. BIH leverages the laboratory's accumulated know-how on battery material combinations (cathode, anode, electrolyte, separator) for prototyping and development services. The partnership forms the foundation of BIH's R&D capability.
• National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) — Battery Systems Research Group (国立研究開発法人 産業技術総合研究所 電池システム研究グループ)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 August 2023Participates in the Go-Tech government R&D project as a subordinate research institution. AIST contributes battery systems research expertise to the semi-solid battery mass production development program alongside BIH and Yamagata University.
• Agricultural machinery and drone manufacturers (advisory participants)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 August 2023Participate as advisors in the Go-Tech R&D project, providing end-user requirements and application perspective for semi-solid battery development targeting agricultural machinery and drone applications.
• JAXA (宇宙航空研究開発機構)secondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 July 2023Three-party joint research agreement with JAXA and Yamagata University for battery development suitable for lunar rover robots and space exploration. Targets batteries that can operate in vacuum and low-temperature environments. BIH contributes its battery development expertise to this specialized application.
• Osaka Soda (大阪ソーダ)secondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 December 2021Joint development partner for semi-solid batteries with Yamagata University. Osaka Soda brings chemical/materials expertise to the joint development effort for practical application and commercialization of semi-solid batteries.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• APB Corporation: Japan-headquartered developer of bipolar/all-polymer semi-solid lithium-ion batteries for mobility and stationary storage; competes directly with BIH in the same Japanese semi-solid battery innovation ecosystem.
• 24M Technologies: US-based semi-solid battery technology platform (LFP and lithium-metal chemistries) targeting EVs and stationary storage; directly comparable in semi-solid architecture and cell-format innovation.
• EnPower: US-based developer of semi-solid-state lithium-ion batteries with chemistry and form-factor focus comparable to BIH, including automotive and aerospace use cases.

Emerging players

• Solid Power: US solid-state battery developer with automotive OEM partnerships (BMW, Ford); highly comparable to BIH's hybrid-vehicle battery ambitions though pursuing sulfide-based solid-state rather than semi-solid.
• QuantumScape: US solid-state lithium-metal battery developer targeting automotive OEMs (VW/PowerCo); addresses the same electric-vehicle battery need as BIH's hybrid-vehicle semi-solid program.

Broad incumbents

• Murata Manufacturing: Major Japanese manufacturer of small lithium-ion cells for wearables, IoT, and consumer devices; broader portfolio but directly comparable to BIH's small-format Li-ion cell offerings for wearables and drones.
• Maxell: Japanese battery manufacturer with established small-format and industrial Li-ion cell products; comparable to BIH in the consumer/industrial small Li-ion cell segment while operating at much greater scale.
• Hitachi Zosen: Japanese industrial systems maker with energy storage and battery system businesses; adjacent to BIH's battery technology development in the same domestic industrial/energy ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Battery Innovation Hub