Basic Policy

The Kuraray Group originated with the commercialization of synthetic rayon. Under our mission, “For people and the planet—to achieve what no one else can,” we have consistently worked to fulfill our social obligations and create unique technologies. In commercializing KURALON™, Japan’s first synthetic fiber, we recognized the importance of integrated production—we could not ensure quality unless we were involved from the raw materials stage. We overcame numerous challenges to establish the in-house production of the raw material PVOH resin. We’ve done this since the origin of the Kuraray Group, and it has enabled us to create products that capture a high market share. Since then, we have drawn on our base of unique polymer and synthetic chemistry technologies to transition from being simply a fiber manufacturer. We’ve evolved to become a Specialty Chemical Company creating numerous products and businesses that have won top market share globally in the vinyl acetate sector and beyond.

Under “PASSION 2026,” as part of our ongoing evolution, in January 2022, we established the Innovation Networking Center (INC) as a step to create a new driver of growth. In an age of VUCA—volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity—the mission of the INC is to lead the way in creating frameworks. It is shaping the corporate culture and developing human resources in such a way as to accelerate innovation by integrating internal and external resources, including our ties with customers and partner companies, both worldwide and across the Group. As well as digitalizing collaboration, dialogue, and other customer activities to enable shared access, we will put in place other platforms to drive continued innovation through globally collaborative utilization of the Kuraray Group’s comprehensive strengths. These range from proprietary technologies and equipment to a diverse pool of talent. We also expect this to act as a catalyst to stimulate the corporate culture to create new organizational structures that do not exist under the existing divisional framework.

On the R&D front, we are channeling efforts into “Development based on the customer perspective,” “Development that contributes to sustainability,” and the “Planning and promotion of an intellectual property (IP) strategy.” We have numerous technologies in the R&D pipeline at present and envision that, with the help of INC in obtaining market information and identifying unmet needs, these technologies will feed into the development of materials that offer new value. To promote development that contributes to sustainability, we will further promote the creation of new sustainability-related materials and technologies to gain medium- and long-term competitiveness, and GHG reduction technologies and processes to solve social issues (net-zero emissions).  In January 2022, we established the Environment and Energy Research Laboratory, whose mission includes actively developing biomass-derived new carbon materials. To drive the planning and promotion of an IP strategy, we also established the IP Management Center in January 2022. This Group-wide organization supports the IP strategies of our various divisions. The Center has formulated and implemented a global strategy for the effective use of IP, including monetizing IP rights through expanded out-licensing. In January 2025, this organization was reorganized, with the aim of further strategically utilizing intellectual property to strengthen business competitiveness and increasing profits.

Our greatest mission is to create new businesses. To do so, coordination with other divisions in areas ranging from customer information to the design of large-scale production equipment is vitally important. Through our current initiatives, we plan for the entire Kuraray Group to come together as “One Kuraray” under a framework that enables closer collaboration toward achieving the corporate mission, as we continue pursuing innovation for the next generation.

Toshihiro Omatsu
Officer Responsible for Innovation Networking Center,
Officer Responsible for Research and Development Division,
Officer Responsible for IP Management Center

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 valueadded products are increasing in importance as an essential management resource for maintaining and strengthening global competitiveness.

The Research and Development Division works closely with in-house companies, business divisions, and Group companies to promote projects that contribute to Group-wide business expansion and profit growth under the respective missions of “creating new business,” “strengthening and expanding existing businesses,” and “establishing and deepening core technologies. Our R&D Collaboration Program contributes to the sustained enhancement and expansion of existing businesses, while our New Business Creation Activities have broadened the scope of the business foundation by discovering promising new opportunities in areas peripheral to our businesses.

The Innovation Networking Center is an organization to generate innovation by integrating internal and external resources. The Research and Development Division and Innovation Networking Center work closely together to promote collaboration including outside the Company, such as in the areas of global marketing activities for items under development, the generation of new business ideas through the sharing of R&D seeds and unmet needs*, and collaborative work to accelerate development.

The division is also working with the Portfolio Strategy Department, newly established in January 2024 within the Corporate Management Planning Office, to more closely coordinate R&D activities and the portfolio strategy. These measures are designed to promote the creation of new businesses for the future, including the development of materials and new processes relevant to sustainability.
* Unsatisfied or unidentified potential demand or needs.

“PASSION 2026” set forth the priority issues of “development based on the customer perspective,” “development that contributes to sustainability,” and the “planning and promotion of an intellectual property (IP) strategy.” By steadily addressing these issues, we will accelerate innovation in R&D.