R&D Special Feature

Japan's scientific technologies are of crucial importance to the country, supporting Japan in its role as the world's third-largest economy. And the country's materials sector is a particular standout here, holding a world-leading position as the Japanese chemical firms at the core of this field expand their R&D investments to create new materials and technologies.

Fiscal 2018 saw many of the key players in this sector boost their R&D budgets by nearly 10 percent over the previous year. Further, R&D budgets are coming to make up a higher proportion of total sales among Japanese firms.

One major factor behind this trend has been a foreboding sense that merely improving on existing products and technologies will not be enough to meet the needs of society. Japan's industry giants have therefore been proactively adopting cutting-edge technologies like AI and materials informatics, looking to use these in developing the technologies that will shape the world of the future.

All articles in this R&D Special Feature are Free to Read.