The Views of Top R&D Management

Fujifilm Group's core technologies that have been developed based on silver halide photography hold a wide range of possibilities. We are utilizing these to further promote the implementation of growth strategies in the three fields below with the aim of realizing innovation through the creation of new value.
First, in the imaging and printing field including photos, printing and documents, advances in the use of digital technology and IT have brought about significant changes to the technology and content of the business. In order to continue providing products and services with high added value, we are conducting research and development as one with business divisions. Close cooperation between Fujifilm and Fuji Xerox is essential in this field. Collaboration is already underway, but we will further strengthen this in terms of both quality and quantity in the future.

Next is the field of healthcare, which we have positioned as a core business for the future, and we must work on both marketing and R&D with a long-term centered on pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and supplements. We are investing management resources to steadily establish business infrastructure. The Drug Discovery Research Laboratories established in 2009 is utilizing the compound library Fujifilm has accumulated in the photography business, while employing unique simulations and analysis technology to work on the development of new drugs. In the field of diagnosis encompassing x-rays and endoscopes, we established the Medical Systems Research & Development Center for gathering together engineers that were dispersed across multiple organizations. In the future, software and image processing technology will gain importance alongside the development of devices.

Furthermore, another field that we are now strengthening is the field of highly functional materials. In that field, we are thoroughly pursuing the potential of our technologies for organic materials, flexible bases and film coating, and focusing on the development of promising products that continue on from flat panel display (FPD) materials.

We are working on further strengthening incubation functions for launching, developing and assisting new businesses. For example, the Industrial Products Division created in April 2009 through the consolidation of the Electronic Materials Business Division, the Industrial Products Division and the Fine Chemicals Business Division is a division that will expand and establish new businesses in the field of highly functional materials. Collaboration is being strengthened between this Industrial Products Division, the Frontier Core-Technology Laboratories, the Synthetic Organic Chemistry Laboratories and the Product Engineering & Development Center, and we have established the foundation for starting up processes ranging from the planning and R&D of functional materials to their release to the market.
Existing mainstay Fujifilm products have been researched and developed within the company from raw materials to the end products. We have operated our business using a typical vertically integrated business model. However, LCD materials such as "FUJITAC" are the base components for FPDs, which are the end product, and close-knit collaboration with FPD manufacturers is essential. In the field of highly functional materials, open innovation for increasing the technology level for perfecting end products by publicly releasing our own technology at an early stage and collaborating with other companies is becoming more and more important. It is also necessary to strengthen incubator functions in order to "understand what the market wants and respond to this in a timely fashion."
Another aspect that is essential in the R&D workplace is organizational management able to flexibly collaborate horizontally between laboratories as required. In addition to strengthening collaboration between the Synthetic Organic Chemistry Laboratories, the Frontier Core-Technology Laboratories and the Product Engineering & Development Center, we are also pursuing overall optimization spanning across organizations aiming for the same goals by sharing companywide R&D issues in meetings of Laboratory Directors, etc.

There is no quick remedy for improving efficiency and increasing speed. The basic key in R&D is to form a working hypothesis, carefully examine experiment results and utilize the "Plan Do Check Act" (PDCA) cycle to effectively move through the experiment. Once an enormous amount of time has been spent after ignoring negative signs in the early stages of research or interpreting experiment results in a convenient fashion, it is difficult to turn back. This is extremely inefficient. It is necessary to have checks from several perspectives without going it alone. Fujifilm has established the Fujifilm Stage Gate Process with the aim of implementing rational R&D themes and raised the precision of information for decision making at each gate in the process of product development.
People are the source of "working-level research capabilities." In particular, the role of superiors is vital from the perspective of human development. The company lives of subordinates are determined by whether or not they are blessed with superiors able to provide good leadership. Superiors should not only actively provide subordinates with places and opportunities to face challenges and have them perform work, but also continually discuss experiment data and research policy, contribute to the growth of subordinates and also find opportunities for their own growth. The source of growth is continually developing high-quality personnel.
Although obviously the case in new fields, there are some areas where little technology has been accumulated, and the researchers responsible must have the resolve to build experimental methods and assessment methods for themselves. They need to be interested in a wide range of things and act of their own volition.

Research in a company first gains meaning when it provides new value to the world that leads to the growth of the company. The development of new products entails many birthing pains, but the sense of satisfaction derived from encountering phenomena exceeding expectations, making discoveries and overcoming difficulties, along with receiving grateful feedback from customers is what being a researcher is all about. I hope that our engineers will spread their wings in the excellent environment provided by the broad range of research fields and abundant knowledge and personnel of Fujifilm Group.
R&D also requires team play. When I was young, I thought, "I can do anything on my own. I don't see the point of getting any help," but I experienced the smooth resolution of an extremely difficult problem thanks to the assistance of my colleagues. Since then I have made "Be open and obtain advice from others when in trouble" my mantra.
In closing, I would like to say that new products are not created with the power of laboratories alone. All divisions such as marketing, production and sales should work together. It is necessary to decide the type of product the business will be based upon and what business model will be used. In this respect, companywide teamwork such as vertical and horizontal collaboration is also important. I hope the entire Fujifilm Group can work to create countless new products.
Fujifilm Group has used original technologies to continually provide inspiration and joy to people, and also to improve their quality of life. We will work together to face the challenge of building a new Fujifilm Group while also treasuring the tangible and intangible traditions, assets and pride developed by many senior personnel to date.