[Panasonic New Energy sets up global battery R&D center in Japan] On September 16, Panasonic New Energy Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Panasonic Group, announced the launch of a new lithium-ion battery R&D facility "Energy Innovation Plaza" in Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture. The facility will become the company's global battery R&D and production center, covering material development, cell design and prototype production. Panasonic New Energy stated that the Energy Innovation Plaza will collaborate with the Osaka Suminoe Production and Development Center to accelerate the development and mass production of next-generation batteries for automobiles and data centers, and promote related technologies and manufacturing processes to factories in Japan and Nevada, Kansas and other places in the United States.