Pouch-type batteries are drawing renewed interest in defense and robotics as battery companies expand beyond slowing EV demand into sectors such as energy storage. The format offers high energy density and design flexibility but has faced concerns about rapid heat transfer between cells during thermal runaway. With all-solid-state solutions still years away, competition is shifting to external safety materials such as thermal barriers. Demand is also emerging from submarines and robots, though high material costs remain a hurdle for mass adoption.

Korea’s three telecom operators are stepping up efforts to apply their in-house capabilities to AI data centres as competition shifts from capacity expansion to operational execution. As centres scale up, heat and power consumption rise, putting cooling efficiency, stable power supply and network connectivity at the centre of competitiveness. SK Telecom is building an AI data centre unit and developing server solutions and resource-linking architecture. KT is focusing on data centre interconnection and liquid cooling. LG Uplus is combining group technologies in cooling, power and AI-based infrastructure management.