Filipino innovation firm Nascent Technologies Corp. has been recognized in the Volta Foundation’s 2025 Battery Report as one of only five full-system sodium-ion battery players in Asia.
Nascent was recognized in the Volta Foundation’s Annual Battery Report 2025, considered one of the most comprehensive global references on battery technologies. The company was featured in its “2025 Sodium-Ion Battery Players by Region” map.
The local startup is the only Philippine-based company included in the global listing, alongside established international battery manufacturers such as Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) and BYD Company Limited (BYD). The company is also recognized by UNIGRID battery, further underscoring its global footprint.
The company was part of the Philippine delegation to the recent Battery Show Asia & Mobility Tech Asia 2025 in Hong Kong led by the DTI-Export Marketing Bureau (EMB), in coordination with BOI and the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in Hong Kong.
The delegation engaged with battery and e-mobility stakeholders, showcased Philippine capabilities, gathered market intelligence, and explored strategic partnerships across the battery supply chain. Nascent reported potential business leads exceeding USD 1 million from the event.
A pioneer in sodium-ion (Na-ion) in Southeast Asia, Nascent is the only lab in the region pursuing a full-cell Na-ion battery system—from materials and cell design to downstream applications. The company positions Na-ion batteries as a safer, cost-effective, and sustainable alternative to lithium ion technologies.
Pilot testing its Na-ion battery packs is set to begin this year, with initial at applications targeted at the starting, lighting, ignition (SLI) market or internal combustion engine vehicles. Na-ion batteries offer improved sustainability through extended lifetimes and lower carbon footprint compared with currently available options. Existing alternatives include rechargeable lead-acid SLI batteries, which are inexpensive but have low energy efficiency, and lithium-ion batteries, which are more efficient but carry higher costs.
Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary and Board of Investments (BOI) Chair Cristina A. Roque cited the innovation efforts of Nascent.
“Innovations such as those being pursued by Nascent are especially important given current global pressures on energy systems and supply chains,” Secretary Roque said. “Strengthening the global presence of innovative Filipino companies supports our goals under the Philippine Export Development Plan (PEDP 2023-2028) to expand high-value exports and enhance the country’s competitiveness in emerging technologies.” She added that the Department is studying opportunities to participate in additional international exhibitions and trade missions in 2026 to further promote advanced Philippine capabilities and strengthen integration into global value chains.
In January, Trade Undersecretary and BOI Managing Head Ceferino R. Rodolfo met with Nascent’s founders to discuss ongoing research activities, scaling plans, and potential avenues for government support, including assistance for pilot cell production lines and access to innovation-focused funding programs.
He noted that the company’s inclusion in a major global battery industry report and its active participation in international industry forums reflect the steady progress of the country’s innovation ecosystem and its growing capacity to engage in next-generation energy technologies. Nascent’s development pipeline covers SLI batteries, motorcycle battery solutions, and battery energy storage systems (BESS) for residential and commercial use. These initiatives align with the administration’s broader objectives to enhance clean energy technologies, upgrade national industry capabilities, and strengthen domestic manufacturing.
As the national government continues to advance policies and programs that encourage innovation, R&D, and high-value manufacturing, the DTI–BOI remains committed to enabling an environment where technology-driven enterprises can thrive and support the country’s growing role in emerging and sustainable industries.
