LG Energy Solution is moving to strengthen competitiveness in battery-focused AI software by appointing 17 new research and expert fellows, its largest number ever. The appointments include the youngest research fellow since the spinoff, its first foreign research fellow and the first selection of an expert in the AI field. The company said on April 15 the decision reflects its intent to foster talent and reinforce technology leadership to secure future competitiveness despite a difficult business environment.

Jun-ho Lim (임준호), appointed as a research fellow, was born in 1989 and is 36 years old. He is the youngest since the spinoff and the first research fellow in the AI field. Lim joined the company in 2022 after completing undergraduate, master's and doctoral programs in electrical and electronic engineering at KAIST. He was recognized for research capabilities in AI and machine learning and for publishing international academic papers on machine vision applications. He was appointed in his fourth year at the company. He will be responsible for introducing AI performance prediction models across battery prediction, design and verification and for research to raise companywide AI capabilities.

The company also appointed its first foreign research fellow since the spinoff. The fellow is Govindaraj Kannan Aravindaraj (고빈다라즈 카난 아라빈다라즈), an Indian national. An expert in electrochemical analysis and evaluation, he has conducted research on battery performance evaluation, design suitability and risk analysis since joining in 2018. The company cited his work in responding to customer evaluation requirements, including deriving fast-charging conditions and establishing new evaluation criteria, as well as achievements in cost reductions and profitability improvements.

The average age of this year's newly appointed research and expert fellows is 44, with a higher share of younger researchers. The company said it also increased diversity by evenly including global and female talent. By job function, the group consists of 6 in cell development, 4 in AI and software, 3 in production and 2 in materials. Another feature this time is a significant increase in the number of appointments in the software field.

LG Energy Solution has operated a research and expert fellow system since 2008. Under the system, it directly selects specialized talent in each field, offers executive-level treatment and supports them so they can focus on research and professional areas. The 12 research fellows appointed this time are Dong-wook Ko (고동욱), Dae-su Kim (김대수), Jun-ho Lim (임준호), Sang-geun Lee (이상근), Ho-jin Ryu (류호진), Yong-ju Lee (이용주), Chang-ho Kim (김창호), Oh-jung Kwon (권오정), Govindaraj Kannan Aravindaraj (고빈다라즈 카난 아라빈다라즈), Nak-gi Sung (성낙기), Hye-hyun Kim (김혜현) and Yong-geon Lee (이용건). The five expert fellows appointed are Hyeong-seok Cho (조형석), Seong-gwan Do (도성관), Eun-joo Lee (이은주), Ji-eon Kim (김지언) and Su-ung Oh (오수웅).

Kim Dong-myeong (김동명), CEO of LG Energy Solution, said, "Together with young and diverse next-generation technology leaders in each field, we will accelerate growth beyond simple cell manufacturing in future core technology areas such as AI, and build differentiated competitiveness as a Total Solution Provider."