Honda Research Institute USA (HRI-US) plans to invest $2.6 million to expand its research operations in Ohio, establishing a new Advanced Materials Science Lab that will strengthen its collaboration with The Ohio State University (OSU) on future mobility technologies.
The new facility, to be located on OSU’s SciTech Campus in Columbus, will focus on research in quantum technologies, hydrogen fuel cells, next-generation electric vehicle (EV) batteries, and carbon capture. The lab is expected to open in the fourth quarter of 2025.
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According to Dr. Christopher Brooks, chief scientist and division director at HRI-US, the expansion underscores Honda’s commitment to deepening its partnerships with academic and industry collaborators.
The project also builds on the company’s existing presence at the SciTech Campus, where 99P Labs—founded by Honda in 2018 and now part of HRI-US—conducts research in energy technologies, human-computer interaction, and software-defined mobility. OSU students actively participate in research at the lab, gaining hands-on experience in data science, software engineering, and prototype testing.
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Honda’s partnership with Ohio State dates back to 1987, when it acquired the Transportation Research Center and established a transportation research endowment fund that has since grown to over $50 million. The company also supports six endowed faculty chairs in the College of Engineering.
In 2023, Honda committed $15 million as the lead foundational partner in The Ohio State Battery Cell R&D Center, located on the same campus, complementing broader efforts under the Honda EV Hub to expand EV manufacturing and battery development in the region.
