NIMS-DENKA Center of Excellence for Next Generation Materials
Developing cutting-edge next-generation materials and manufacturing technologies in the fields of healthcare, ICT & energy, and sustainable living
2024.10.09 Update
NIMS-DENKA Center of Excellence for Next Generation Materials
Established in June 2013, the NIMS-DENKA Center of Excellence for Next Generation Materials aims to promote basic research and the development of fundamental technologies for next-generation materials that are environmentally friendly, energy-efficient, and contribute to the comfort of society.
This collaboration between Denka, which has consistently come up with unique materials since its founding, and NIMS, a leader in specialized and comprehensive materials research, aims not only to develop new materials but also to use them in solutions for building a society mindful of environmental needs in line with social demands. The Denka Innovation Center (located in Tokyo) is an active research and development base for our work.
Denka Innovation Center
NIMS and Denka have several successful examples of commercialization from collaborative research. In 1983, the development of lanthanum hexaboride (LaB6) single crystals at the National Institute for Research in Inorganic Materials (NIRIM), the predecessor of NIMS, was successfully commercialized as a high-brightness electron source for electron microscopes. The product has greatly contributed to the development of science and technology as well as industry by being supplied as various models of electron gun to electron microscope manufacturers worldwide. In 2009, we collaborately developed phosphors used in white LEDs, a next-generation lighting technology, which found significant use in LCD TV backlights and LED lighting fixtures. Currently, we are advancing the development of next-generation phosphors and other new materials while also focusing on training engineers for active roles on the global stage. (Both LaB6 cathode emitters and LED phosphors have received the Inoue Harushige Prize.)
The innovation center has designated healthcare, ICT & energy, and sustainable living as its focus areas, aiming to contribute broadly to society through the development of high-efficiency and high-functionality materials.
Message from the Director
I assumed the position of director of NIMS-DENKA Center of Excellence for Next Generation Materials on April 1, 2018. I appreciate your support. We are now in the final year of the second phase (three years) of the center and will be focusing primarily on the establishment and further development of the technical foundation accumulated around phosphors. In the next phase, we intend to incorporate research themes proposed by NIMS into the center’s work, in addition to our traditional ‘needs-seeds’ matching, so as to establish new element technologies in each area of healthcare, ICT & energy, and sustainable living. Enhancing the center's strength through such efforts will mean better industry-government collaboration between Denka and NIMS and ensure we are " to create new value and contribute to sound social development " (as stated in Denka's mission statement).
(Naoto Hirosaki, Director, NIMS-DENKA Center of Excellence for Next Generation Materials )
Message from the Deputy Center Director
Denka celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2015, a milestone we reached with the support of everyone. Our corporate slogan, "Possibility of chemistry", encapsulates our strong progress toward a new century as a global corporation. We are aiming for further growth, pursuing the unknown possibilities of chemistry to create new values, and contributing to societal development. Our R&D departments, in particular, are focusing management resources on growth drivers in the three key areas (healthcare, ICT & energy, and sustainable living) and moving forward with the development of next-generation products. By consolidating our group's strengths and emphasizing ‘open innovation’ in collaboration with external organizations, we aim to innovate and create new values guided by SDGs. The NIMS-DENKA Center of Excellence for Next Generation Materials is a core part of all this, focusing on the creation of inorganic/composite materials, polymer/organic materials, nanostructure control, and developments related to biochemistry/medical applications and infrastructure. This is the work by which we aim to create new values.
(Jun Watanabe, Deputy Director, NIMS-DENKA Center of Excellence for Next Generation Materials)
Denka Company Limited
Since its establishment in 1915, Denka Company Limited has been a producer of products based on the chemical industry. We have always strived to build trust and contribute to the development of society. On the occasion of our 100th anniversary, we announced a new corporate philosophy, "The Denka Value", comprising the "Denka Mission" and the "Denka Principles".
Denka Mission: "Taking on the challenge of expanding the possibilities of chemistry to create new value and contribute to sound social development"
Corporate Slogan: "Possibility of chemistry"
Denka, having gained the trust of society, will continue to think and act on what needs to be done now for the future to contribute to building a better society over the next 100 years.
Currently, Denka is concentrating its management resources in growth areas such as healthcare, ICT & energy, and sustainable living, while responding to new needs in growing markets, and directly linking these efforts to performance. We are redoubling our efforts to develop next-generation products. Through personnel exchanges with NIMS, technical seminars, and other interactions at the Denka Innovation Center, we are working to develop next-generation functional materials while strengthening collaboration on research.
For more details, please visit our website at http://www.denka.co.jp/.
Research focus
We are focusing our management resources on growth areas such as healthcare, ICT & energy, and sustainable living to develop next-generation products.
Research overview
- Development of next-generation phosphors and analysis of their properties
- Research and development of organic and inorganic materials such as heat dissipation materials, light-emitting/phosphorescent materials, and infrastructure materials as well as life science-related research and development
Examples of commercialization of NIMS technology
Lanthanum hexaboride (LaB6) cathodes
Phosphors: green, yellow, red
Yellow: α-sialon phosphor
Director
Deputy Director
Location
National Institute for Materials Science
(1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan)
Inquiries
- NIMS-DENKA Center of Excellence for Next Generation Materials