Daicel Corporation and Daikin Industries, Ltd., which have been engaged in technological exchanges for about 20 years, transcend the relationship between supplier and customer. We have been collaborating on joint development by utilizing the strengths of both companies to create products recognized as “industry firsts” and “global value leaders.” Through an exchange of engineers, the two companies engage in candid discussions to solve problems while making a wide range of suggestions as material professionals. As a result, both companies are releasing a total heat exchange element coated with permeable membrane used in ventilation equipment and a low-pressure-loss filter medium for large air conditioning units. This is being introduced in response to the growing global interest in clean air in light of the COVID-19 pandemic of fiscal 2020.

Under the Long-Term Vison“DAICEL VISION 4.0” and the Sustainable Management Policy, we are developing and expanding our technology to produce valuable products that increase human happiness in a manner friendly to both people and the planet. We aim to contribute to the emergence of a society that cycles materials. In light of these circumstances, we are promoting a mechanism known as the “cross-value-chain concept” that creates social value through collaborations across a wide range of industries while efficiently utilizing naturally derived resources (the “New Biomass Product Trees” concept) that leads to reduced dependence on oil through the use of cellulose, which Daicel has handled for many years.

To date, Daicel has achieved energy efficiency through Daicel Production Innovation and process innovation. As a further effort to achieve carbon neutrality, we are conducting basic research jointly with The University of Tokyo on microfluidic devices in pursuit of optimal production efficiency. We are also collaborating with National Tsing Hua University, one of Taiwan's top nanotechnology-focused research centers, on research and development of production technology and mass production technology for social implementation of plants using these devices. Microfluidic device technology that is used to perform chemical operations such as mixing, reaction, and purification at the microscale using a flow path of several hundred micrometers is applied to the chemical production process. A microfluidic device plant that can produce only the necessary amount of what is necessary will contribute to the development of a sustainable next-generation production plant.

In 2016, Daicel and Hokkaido University jointly established an industry development program at the Frontier Research Center for Advanced Material and Life Science of that university. This initiative has promoted research on the efficacy of konjac ceramide and other functional foods. This program is confirming the effects of plant-derived glucosylceramide purified from konjac potatoes on the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease in animal as well as human trials. In the future, we will further advance human intervention trials and link the knowledge obtained in this study to the development of functional food ingredients and new drugs in the field of cognitive function.

On June 23, 2022, we concluded an agreement with Kobe University to promote comprehensive collaboration between industry and academia with the aim of pursuing research, developing technologies, and contributing to society. We are conducting joint research in the areas of medical and healthcare; chemistry and bioprocesses; and green chemistry. More recently, we have been strengthening our collaboration by expanding the scope of our joint research to include the humanities and social sciences. In addition, under the terms of a project by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry incorporated in the “Fiscal 2022 Supplementary Budget: Development of Incubation and Industry-Academia Fusion Bases at Regional Core Universities” as adopted by Kobe University, we have established incubation facilities for training and exchanging researchers, students, and personnel to support entrepreneurship. This is intended to support the formation of startups along with facilities and equipment for use in joint research with companies related to biomedical membranes. We also supported the establishment of the Biomedical Membrane Research and Open Innovation Center (commonly known as the J-Innovation HUB Building), a core center for fusion between industry and academia that includes comprehensive facilities to promote open innovation. As we utilize these facilities to strengthen collaboration among industry, academia, and government, we will continue to expand our joint research and technology exchanges with Kobe University and contribute to the emergence of a sustainable society committed to recycling by implementing our innovations within society.