Our R&D activities take place in a two-tiered functional system; some undertaken by our five major business sectors, and the rest conducted by the corporate research establishment.

The business sector research activities are focused on developing new products and core basic technologies, indispensable for maintaining, strengthening and expanding their respective business specialties. They are planned and implemented in close coordination among production departments, sales and marketing groups and research laboratories of each business sector.

Corporate research activities, on the other hand, pursue the objectives of entering new areas of business and enhancing the technical competencies of the Company’s core businesses. The corporate research laboratories are also engaged in the long-term and high-risk projects aimed at developing new-generation products and processes. At present, we are concentrating our research resources on three main domains; life sciences, IT-related electronic chemicals and catalysts. Those domains were selected because of their great long-term growth potential , and their ability to play a leading role in bringing about technical innovations. We actively utilize eminent talents from outside, collaborate and make alliances with various partners and take the initiative to cultivate new business opportunities.