Toray Industries Inc. (Tokyo, Japan) held an opening ceremony on Dec. 11 for its R&D Innovation Center for the Future on the premises of its Shiga, Japan plant. The new facility will spearhead Toray’s global research as its functional materials headquarters, and is the location where Toray will pursue technology R&D projects in collaboration with its domestic and overseas production and sales units.

During the opening ceremony, Toray President Akihiro Nikkaku said that the center “will play a vital role in helping resolve such global issues as climate change, water shortages and resource depletion. I also look for the facility to serve as a vehicle for joint research and development collaborations with universities and public research institutions around the world.”

Toray research and development center

The ribbon-cutting ceremony for Toray’s R&D Innovation Center for the Future was held on Dec. 11. Toray President Akihiro Nikkaku is pictured third from the left. Source | Toray

The center comprises two buildings. One will undertake integrated research to generate ideas for the revolutionary materials, ideas and systems, and the other will engage in empirical research through prototyping, assessments and demonstrations.

On the research development side, Toray says it plans to integrate its fine polymers and nanofabrication from its proprietary polymer technology with materials informatics and artificial intelligence. The goal is to advance research and technological development by creating advanced materials, devices and systems in advanced medical, renewable energy, filtration and separation systems, as well as other eco and lifestyle innovation areas.

One ongoing research project includes Toray’s porous carbon fiber with nano-sized continous pore structure, announced last month.

The facility will also serve as an innovation hub through its international conference hall, exhibition and demonstration areas, and open laboratories. Toray says this center will serve as a space to engage and collaborate with with academia and key partners in diverse fields.（來源： Toray）