Dongwha Electrolyte is joining a major national research initiative to develop sodium-ion batteries, as Korea seeks to advance alternatives to lithium-based energy storage and strengthen its position in the next generation of battery technology. The company, an affiliate of Dongwha Enterprise, said Tuesday that it would participate in the Market-Leading Next-Generation Secondary Battery Innovation Strategic Research Group, known as K-BIC, under the government's Global TOP Strategic Research Group support program. The initiative has a total budget of 130 billion won ($95 million) and brings together major players from industry, academia, research institutions and government to overcome technical barriers, secure foundational technologies and build a collaborative research platform. Dongwha Electrolyte is currently the only electrolyte manufacturer among the participating institutions, according to the company. The company will join the second phase of a project aimed at developing low-cost, long-life, nonlithium secondary batteries, targeting sodium-ion technology with production costs be