Special Issue

Challenges to New Technologies and New Products〉〉Opening Remarks

New Approach to Create New Technologies
and New Products
Toshiaki Tsuge*
Since establishing the business of the copper and the1,000 as of September 2018. This is a repercussion

wire cables in 1884, the Furukawa Electric Group (Theexceeding our expectation, therefore we are currentlyGroup) has been generating a variety of technologies andplanning the expansion of the facility. It will be reborn as aproducts in response to the needs of the times. The

newborn FunLab in September 2019.

Group has been engaged in the corporate activities withIn September 2017, Advanced Prototyping Center was

the basic philosophy of “Drawing on more than a century

established incorporating with the Marketing Division. Asof expertise in the development and fabrication ofquick responses to customer’s voices, we are proceeding

advanced materials, we will contribute to the realization

with our activities to create prototypes and to proposeof a sustainable society through continuous technologicalsolutions. We are challenged to create new businesses

innovation”.

originating from the customer’s underlying needs.

The technologies that started from the copper refiningIn February 2018, Social Cooperation Programs has

and wire cables have been expanding in wide range ofbeen started with the University of Tokyo. Traditionally wefields, and currently, by adding the high frequency elec-

have closely cooperated with the industry and the aca-tronics technology to the material strength know-how

demia based on existing themes. Here, we are challeng-developed since the day of the establishment. We have 4

ing the new open innovation way of cooperation withcore technologies, “Metal”, Polymer”, “Photonics” andwide ranges of organizations without being constrained.

“High Frequency”.

In May 2018, collaborative activities have been started

In the research and development based on these tech-with Accelerator Creww in order to strengthen the coop-nologies, we are aiming “To develop new products in theeration with venture companies. While realizing thefocused fields of the infrastructure and the automobile

essence of speed in venture companies, we are chal-components” and “To create a new business which

lenged to create businesses in new fields.

solves social issues”. In recent years, we have been

In August 2018, a research center named Silicon Valley

actively promoting actions to initiate innovations for theInnovation Laboratories (SVIL) was newly established inpurpose of speeding up the new products development

Silicon Valley, USA. Global cooperation with venture com-and accelerating the creation of new businesses. In 2016,

panies and universities has been strengthened and wewe opened an open laboratory “FunLab” and have been

have been challenged to service new businesses fromimplementing several measures.

Silicon Valley.

With the publishing of the special issue “Challenges toAs just described, we are challenging various openNew Technologies and New Products”, actions to initiateinnovation measures. We are pleased to have discussions

innovation are introduced in chronological order.

with anybody having interest in our activities. We are

Many officials from the industry-academia-government
field have visited FunLab established in Yokohama works

looking forward to be approached from you at the newborn FunLab.

in August 2016, and the total number of visitors exceeded*General Manager, Planning Department, R&D Division

Furukawa Electric Review, No. 50 20191