Asahi Kasei has entered into a non-exclusive licensing agreement with HighChem Shanghai for the manufacture and distribution of Asahi Kasei’s novel battery electrolyte Acetolyte for the Chinese market. This collaboration is a significant milestone in Asahi Kasei’s licensing strategy and will help to significantly accelerate sales of the product to battery manufacturers in China.
The Chinese market for high-performance lithium-ion batteries is growing rapidly, driven by the increasing demand for electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage systems (ESS). The agreement between the two companies marks Asahi Kasei’s first licensing partnership for its innovative electrolyte technology in China and grants HighChem Shanghai a non-exclusive license to manufacture and distribute the electrolyte in the Chinese market. HighChem Shanghai has an extensive customer network within the Chinese battery industry. The partnership aims to accelerate the market launch of the electrolyte while ensuring a reliable supply for local customers.
“HighChem has focused on the lithium-ion battery business for nearly 20 years and has built up extensive expertise and broad business experience in the Chinese market,” said Yueyuan Long, General Manager of HighChem Shanghai. “Acetolyte offers outstanding low-temperature performance. We are confident that our collaboration with Asahi Kasei will allow us to fully leverage the value of this technology and open up new opportunities for the battery industry.” Osamu Matsuzaki, Senior Executive Officer of Asahi Kasei and Head of Corporate R&D, added: “We have continuously expanded the Acetolyte business through licensing partnerships in Europe. This first licensing agreement in China represents a significant step forward in the global expansion of our technology. By partnering with HighChem Shanghai, we can offer customers in this important market innovative solutions while further strengthening our licensing-based growth strategy.”
Asahi Kasei’s Acetolyte electrolyte is characterized by its high ionic conductivity. This enables higher battery power output at low temperatures and improved durability at high temperatures—two ongoing challenges for today’s lithium-ion batteries. Because Acetolyte allows for smaller battery packs with higher energy density, the technology can also help reduce costs for battery manufacturers. As part of its current medium-term management plan, published in April 2025, Asahi Kasei is pursuing a “Technology-value Business Creation” (TBC) initiative to monetize the company’s extensive intangible assets. These include patents, know-how, data, and algorithms, which will be made available and commercially exploited in various forms, including through licensing models. This approach enables rapid, low-capital, and low-asset commercialization, accelerates the development of new business areas, and maximizes value for customers and partners. As part of this license-based business development, Asahi Kasei aims to conclude at least ten new license agreements during the fiscal year 2025 to 2027 and to achieve a cumulative profit contribution of at least 10 billion yen by approximately 2030.
