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. By outlining a future corporate vision based on the consumer and customer perspective and then undertaking a backcasting process to identify research themes, we will make inroads into new areas beyond the scope of our current research domains. To promote development that contributes to sustainability, we will not only accelerate the development of greenhouse gas reduction technologies, which is a Group policy, but also continue to offer solutions and develop materials that contribute to improving the natural and living environments. Our efforts will be in the areas of waste reduction, use of biomass and biodegradable products, health and beauty, and high-speed telecommunications. 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 will formulate and implement a global strategy for the effective use of IP, including monetizing IP rights through expanded out-licensing.

Our greatest mission is to create technologies that lead to 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 Supporting Project has contributed 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.
Under “PASSION 2026,” we established the Innovation Networking Center (INC) in January 2022 as an organization to generate innovation by integrating internal and external resources. The Research and Development Division and INC work closely together to promote collaboration both within and outside the Company, such as in the areas of global marketing activities for items under development and the generation of new business ideas through the sharing of R&D seeds and unmet needs*. We are also looking ahead to the society and living standards we hope to see 20 to 30 years down the road from the perspective of consumers, and backcasting from there to set more challenging R&D themes. In this way, we intend to incorporate new foundational platforms and extend our reach into new fields, not limited to conventional R&D areas. * 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.