Basic Policy
Competition is increasing in the chemicals industry due to the entry of companies from emerging countries, and the commoditization of specialty chemicals is also underway. Technological development capabilities to create value-added products are increasing in importance as an essential management resource for maintaining and strengthening global competitiveness.
The Research and Development Division promotes projects that contribute to Group-wide business expansion and profit growth by:“creating new business,”“strengthening and expanding existing businesses,” and“establishing and deepening core technologies, including structural analysis technologies and digital technologies.”
Under the Medium-Term Management Plan “PASSION 2026,” the basic strategies of the Research and Development Division include “resource allocation and development for high-priority projects aimed at enhancing new business creation,” “development that contributes to sustainability (carbon neutrality and a circular economy),” and “promotion of digital-related measures, open innovation, and human resource development” as foundations for these activities.
To facilitate the creation of new businesses, the Research and Development Division has teamed up with the Innovation Networking Center (INC) and the IP Management Center to conduct global marketing for high-priority projects, accelerate development through collaboration, and generate new business ideas. In addition, we concentrate R&D resources on themes at advanced stages of development and on themes where we can demonstrate our strengths across the entire value chain, starting from raw materials, with the aim of achieving early commercialization.
To advance our development projects, our digital initiatives are expanding the utilization of technology to include materials informatics, advanced simulation technology, proprietary AI development, and robotics. Together with the promotion of open innovation, these initiatives are transforming the very nature of our R&D activities.
Through these initiatives, we aim to generate new materials based on unique technologies and create new businesses for the future.
R&D Organization
Aiming to become a specialty chemical company achieving sustained growth, the Research and Development Division plays a core role in implementing R&D and new business development activities as a key organizational function. We have two facilities, the Kurashiki Research Center and the Tsukuba Research Center, to plan, develop, and promote R&D themes. We also maintain the Tokyo Lab within the Tokyo Women’s Medical University–Waseda University Joint Institution for Advanced Biomedical Sciences (TWIns) to promote open innovation in regenerative medicine and strengthen collaboration between industry and academia.
In January 2026, we transferred responsibility for advancing the commercialization of two materials in the preparatory stage—SCAPOVA™ PVA microcarriers and a new functional carbon material—to the Functional Materials Company. Development aimed at early commercialization will be carried out within the Company’s newly established Life Innovation Development Division and Carbon Innovation Development Office.
Talent Development
The Research and Development Division is committed to the systematic development and effective use of human capital in order to sustainably advance its R&D capabilities. Through a range of initiatives—including rotational assignments between research and business units, mid-career recruitment, and structured talent development programs—we seek to enhance organizational capabilities and ensure optimal allocation of talent across the organization. In addition, to support the creation of new business opportunities, we provide researchers with opportunities to gain diverse professional experience. These include global exposure through collaboration with overseas operations, such as international research assignments and overseas postings, which help accelerate commercialization processes and facilitate the acquisition of advanced technologies. We also support researchers in pursuing doctoral degrees while working at the Company, including opportunities for study abroad, with the aim of fostering expertise in emerging technological fields and strengthening our long-term innovation capabilities.
Through these initiatives, we aim to enhance individual expertise, strengthen organizational resilience, and support sustainable growth and long-term competitiveness.