For the purpose of creating new businesses that contribute to solving societal issues, including those in the SDGs, the Advanced Materials Development Laboratory conducts wide-ranging research and development of new, high-performance materials in the important fields of Health Care, Reducing Environmental Impact, Food, and ICT, as well as in their cross-over areas. Specifically, the laboratory is developing polymer organic light emitting diodes (PLEDs) used for next-generation displays; functional polymer materials related to printed electronics for organic photodiode sensors that are expected to find uses in the fields of security and health care; and functional inorganic materials, advanced organic materials, and organic-inorganic hybrid materials that can be used for next-generation battery-related applications aimed at next-generation vehicles, IoT, and a society based on the circular economy.
The laboratory also conducts exploratory research for new materials by utilizing open innovation and our company’s global network, and develops designs for materials as well as synthesis and processing technologies through the combination of materials informatics, structural analysis, and computational science, while considering business models and conducting premarketing research in cooperation with business divisions.

The laboratory promotes exploratory research on and development of materials and technologies that will lead to creation of new businesses, by further combining the wide-ranging, advanced technologies, including catalysts, organic polymer materials, inorganic materials, and design, synthesis, and processing for devices, that Sumitomo Chemical has accumulated over many years through research and development of polymer materials, such as dyes, pharmaceuticals, crop protection chemicals, synthetic resins and rubbers, as well as metallic and ceramic materials.

Materials informatics, technologies for analyzing structure and physical properties, and computer simulation technology play an important role in the development of functional materials. Research and development are being conducted on materials informatics, structural analysis technologies, and computational science technologies, as basic technologies that support the development of materials by the entire company.

The laboratory is conducting development of energy-related materials including those for next-generation batteries, which are expected to see practical applications in next-generation automobiles and the IoT society.