Mitsubishi Chemical Signs Patent Licensing Agreement with CATL

BEIJING, May 17, 2025 — Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation announced on its official website on May 15, 2025 that its subsidiary, MU Ionic Solutions Corporation (MUIS), has signed a patent licensing agreement with Chinese battery giant Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL). The agreement grants CATL access to MUIS’s proprietary MP1 technology, a lithium-ion battery innovation centered on cathode interface control using difluorophosphate compounds.

According to Mitsubishi Chemical, MUIS developed difluorophosphate-based cathode interfacial control technology (MP1 Technology), resulting in the accumulation of numerous patents in this domain.

This agreement marks the first publicly disclosed patent licensing deal between CATL and a Japanese or South Korean firm. Analysts speculate that the deal could pave the way for Mitsubishi Chemical to license its MP1 technology to other Chinese battery manufacturers, leveraging its patent portfolio amid declining market share for traditional Japanese and Korean lithium battery players in China’s rapidly expanding domestic industry.

The move aligns with a broader trend among Asian battery incumbents to monetize patents. For instance, Tulip Innovation Kft., a patent pool led by LG and Panasonic, has begun licensing efforts targeting Chinese manufacturers, sparking legal disputes. Lithium battery patent licensing remains a nascent field, with few precedents beyond existing licensing frameworks for lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) technologies.

It is reported that the last patent in the LFP patent pool will expire this year, with the licensing fee rate reportedly around 1.5% of sales revenue. As a result, the licensing fee rate agreed upon between CATL and Mitsubishi Chemical has drawn significant industry attention.

Industry stakeholders are closely watching the financial and contractual terms of the Mitsubishi-CATL agreement, as it may set benchmarks for future licensing models in the evolving lithium battery sector. The deal underscores shifting dynamics as established players seek new revenue streams while Chinese manufacturers accelerate innovation and scale.

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