Honda Research Institute USA, Incorporated (HRI-U.S.) is set to invest $2.6 million to grow its advanced research efforts in Ohio by creating a new Advanced Materials Science Laboratory at The Ohio State University’s SciTech Campus in Columbus. Expected to open in late 2025, the new lab will deepen Honda’s collaboration with Ohio State and support the development of future mobility technologies.
The upcoming lab will concentrate on several innovative areas such as quantum and nanotechnology, hydrogen fuel cell development, carbon capture solutions, and next-generation electric vehicle (EV) batteries and recycling. This initiative aligns with Honda’s larger mission to promote sustainable innovation and drive progress in power systems and materials science.
Established in 2003 and based in Silicon Valley, Honda Research Institute works closely with academic institutions and industry leaders to fuel innovation aligned with Honda’s global technology strategy. This latest expansion further strengthens Honda’s decades-long relationship with Ohio State, which started in 1987 through a $6 million endowment, now exceeding $50 million, benefiting the university’s College of Engineering.
Honda is already active at the SciTech Campus through 99P Labs, a joint research initiative established in 2018 that focuses on energy and battery innovation, mobility software, and human-computer interaction. Ohio State students engage directly in the lab’s projects, playing a key role in Honda’s efforts to advance software-driven mobility and advanced prototyping.
This new investment adds to Honda’s extensive presence in Ohio, where the company runs five manufacturing plants with over 12,000 employees and has invested a total of $13 billion. The company’s recent efforts also include a $15 million contribution to The Ohio State Battery Cell R&D Center and a $3.5 billion joint venture with LG Energy Solution to manufacture EV batteries in Fayette County, Ohio.
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