Sumitomo Chemical will start a full-scale study on reorganizing the research laboratories at its Osaka, Tsukuba and Chiba sites, as part of its efforts to accelerate the creation of next-generation businesses. The reorganization plan includes:

- Construction of a new research facility at the Osaka site as a base for incubation and open innovation, planned to be completed by the autumn of 2024;

- Transfer of research functions relating to new materials at the Osaka and Tsukuba sites to the Chiba site; and

- Integration of the research laboratories at the Tsukuba site into the Osaka and Chiba sites

 

The Osaka site has research capabilities for safety assessment, industrial technologies and the business sector-led projects in the fields of ICT and life sciences, while its location also offers convenient access. Through reorganization, Sumitomo Chemical will bring basic research, incubation and open innovation research functions to this site to establish an integrated research and development system spanning the whole process from early-stage research activity to commercialization and further accelerate the creation of new businesses. In addition, the Company plans to construct "open laboratories" at this site to accommodate the increasing number of collaborations with domestic and foreign companies and universities. The design concept for these facilities will incorporate equipment and features to meet anticipated future needs.

 

The research laboratories at the Tsukuba site were established in 1989 as an independent base for basic research in advanced technology. These facilities are located in an area where national and private research institutes are concentrated, offering researchers a free and open atmosphere. In recent years, Sumitomo Chemical has been working to expand the role of these laboratories from basic research to development activity toward creating new businesses, while also enhancing their development capabilities by advancing integrated management with the business sectors and stepping up open innovation. To accelerate these efforts, the Company plans to relocate these laboratories from Tsukuba to the Osaka and Chiba sites.

 

At the Chiba site, as announced in June 2021, Sumitomo Chemical will begin operations at a new research facility in March 2024. As the move toward carbon neutrality gains increasing momentum in many countries and regions around the world, the Company will have this new facility serve as a center for the development of innovative materials and new technologies for reducing environmental impact. In addition to further focusing on the Company’s efforts to develop technologies to reduce environmental burdens, the reorganization plan includes transferring resources related to the development of innovative materials, such as advanced polymeric materials, to this site from the Tsukuba and Osaka sites to strengthen research and development capabilities.

 

Sumitomo Chemical is committed to creating new value by building on innovation, as set out in its Business Philosophy. The Company will continue to work as one to create both economic value and social value in an integrated manner, achieving sustained growth and contributing to building a sustainable society.