Special Issue

Technologies supporting the achievement of Furukawa Electric Group
Medium-term Management Plan 2022 - 2025〉〉Opening Remarks

Technologies Supporting the Achievement ofFurukawa Electric Group
Medium-term Management Plan 2022-2025
Akira Fujisaki *Ichibei Furukawa, the founder of Furukawa Group,
made great strides in the mining industry through aggressive introduction of technological innovation. Based on
his wish to “brighten Japan” with the utilization of frontier
technology of the time, he started the electric wire andcable business and has succeeded in solving the social
issues of the time. The technology development inFurukawa Electric Group Medium-term Management Plan
2022-2025 announced in May 2022 has formulated itsdirection based on the four domains of core technologies
of metals, polymers, photonics, and high-frequency thathave been accumulated and intensified through the corporate activities of Furukawa Electric Group. In parallel, it
has defined its direction based on backcasting theresearch on the social issues and solutions which wereforeseen in Furukawa Electric Group Vision 2030 established in 2018. (Namely, in order to build a sustainable
world and make people’s life safe, peaceful, and rewarding, Furukawa Electric Group will create solutions for the
new generation of global infrastructure combining information, energy, and mobility.).
In the information field, Furukawa Electric Group has
supported the development of the information and communication society with photonics technologies such as
optical fibers and semiconductor lasers. Through further
development of this core technology, in a society where
the introduction of 5G/6G begins, we will be achieving
next-generation optical networks with ultra-large capacity.
Photonics-electronics convergence technology will be
indispensable for expanding data centers in the future,
and along it through deploying high-performance thermal
technologies as well, we will achieve a significant reduction in system power consumption. The application fieldof photonics technology is not limited to terrestrial opticalcommunication networks. We are also working to expand
to the field of space satellite communication. Applicationsof high-power laser technology are expected not only forindustrial applications such as metal processing but also
for new applications such as the maintenance of infrastructure structures and energy transmission.
In the energy field, the commercialization of new-age
power cables to support the growth of renewable energy
is in progress. DC microgrid and high-frequency powerelectronics technology will also become important, andthese will be developed into new energy infrastructures*

including power storage systems based on new-age batteries such as bipolar lead batteries, as well as EV charging facilities. As the only company working on both lowtemperature and high-temperature superconducting
wires, we are supporting the future of quantum technology and nuclear fusion. Green LP gas creation technology
utilizing a catalyst technology is the spearhead of Green
Transformation (GX) technology that we are promoting.
Through this technology, we will also be working to solve
regional issues such as creating a new infrastructure toachieve “Succession of local resources and local culture
for the future” of energy based on carbon-neutrality.
In the mobility field, a once-in-a-century major innovative change called CASE (Connected, Autonomous/Automated, Shared, Electric) is causing a major tectonic
revolution. By fusing Furukawa Electric Group’s core technologies of metals and polymers, we will create lightweight and eco-friendly technologies with built-in highquality and originality, also we will create sensing technologies applying photonics and high-frequency technologies. In addition, in further collaboration with infrastructuretechnologies, we are also developing technologies on theinfrastructure side by expanding wireless technologies
such as MaaS (Mobility as a Service) and V2X (Vehicle toeverything).
Regarding new domain, in life science, maintaining
social infrastructure, expansion of our technologies in thefield of aerospace, and others, we are promoting technological developments based on equipment development
and also service provision. In addition, we are promoting
innovative changes through a wide range of digital transformation (DX) and design in order to support businessdevelopments and technology expansion.
Drawing on more than a century of expertise, ourresearch and development, has supported the Sustainability Transformation (SX) of our business. While keep
supporting social infrastructures where safety and security are required to provide a very long service life cycle andstability as top priorities, we believe that our greatest mission is to continue to change ourselves in order to solve
the changing social issues, and we are actively promoting
our research and development. We will continue to promote this contradictory ambidextrous development, thatseems to be in conflict, while enjoying ourselves.

Corporate Vice President, General Manager, Research & Development Division

Furukawa Electric Review, No. 54 2023

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