DBJ investment in TeraWatt Technology Inc.
－Support to accelerate the large-scale pilot-production of next-generation lithium-ion batteries－

Development Bank of Japan Inc. (DBJ) has invested in TeraWatt Technology Inc. (headquarters, United States; business base, Yokohama City; CEO, Ken Ogata).

TeraWatt is a California-based company that produces lightweight, high-power, and safe next-generation lithium-ion batteries. Its subsidiary operates in Japan with the support of Organization for Small & Medium Enterprises and Regional Innovation.

Demand for batteries is increasing on the back of the global trend toward becoming carbon neutral. Batteries are also an important material for economic security, but the market share of Japanese companies is declining. TeraWatt has brought together experienced engineers from major battery manufacturers to develop mass production technology for next-generation batteries.

The investment will strengthen pilot-product lineups for larger applications and newly launch a large-scale pilot-production facility to validate logistics, productivity, and quality control toward mass production, elevating the integrity of the batteries to a more commercially viable phase. In this sense, this investment will be done from the DBJ Startup Innovation Fund*¹ which is part of Special Investment Operations.*²

DBJ will continue to actively support clients' efforts to develop markets, revitalize local economies, and strengthen competitiveness through "Special Investment Operations" for growth capital.

^*1 Special Investment Operations, established as an intensive but temporary scheme to supply growth capital from the perspective of promoting the competitiveness of Japanese enterprises along with regional revitalization, draw only a portion of the investment (industrial investment) from the Japanese government--enough to encourage the private sector to supply growth capital.

^*2 This fund was established to promote the creation and nurturing of startups and the development of innovation ecosystems under the "Special Investment Operations" category.


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