Message from the CTO

Developing Core and Fundamental Technologies Based on Our Technology Platform

When I assumed the position of CTO year before last, I outlined the key issues that R&D in Fujikura should tackle: 1) Management of technology for the Group as a whole, 2) Strengthening product development capabilities through collaboration between each business unit and the Production Engineering Unit, 3) Creating a framework for  new technologies and new businesses, and 4) Building a governance structure for R&D and transforming the organizational culture. I have since proceeded to increase the sophistication of R&D activities. Today I would like to share with you these initiatives that I personally feel are effective.

The Fujikura Group began with electrical wire business  and is now developing products in various business fields,  including the Telecommunications Systems, Power Systems,  Electronics, and Automotive Products businesses. Each  products contain core technologies that support each  business. Fujikura’s technologies flow from the original  electrical wire technology which, to be more specific, includes  electrical wire design technology, extrusion, braiding, and  other electrical wire processing technology, and electrical  wire manufacturing technology. Fujikura invented these  technologies and has developed them over time. We  subsequently created the core technologies for each business  as we expanded to business areas other than electrical  wire. Glass synthesis technology and spinning technology  are examples of this. We have also applied the materials technology and manufacturing equipment development technology cultivated in electrical wire to new businesses other than electrical wire. The Technology Platform created in 2023 as a diagram of R&D at Fujikura organizes these technologies.

Fujikura’s Technology Platform consists of three tiers. The  top tier defines Technical areas/Product groups. In the top  tier, we specified four technical areas that we should pursue,  adding our latest strengths in ‘Connection’ and ‘High Density  Wiring’ to our traditional technical areas of ‘Information  Transmission’ and ‘Energy Transmission’. The middle  tier specifies Core technology groups where we should  create new technologies through R&D activities and refine  existing technologies. In this tier, we specified three types of  technology: ‘Design technology’, ‘Processing and assembly  technology’, and ‘Manufacturing technology’, and these  technologies are intended to create innovative technologies as  well as refine existing technologies. The bottom tier contains  the basic technologies we have developed over the course of  Fujikura’s history, including manufacturing equipment design  technology and precision processing technology. These  technologies are positioned as common technologies that are  used in each business unit and R&D activities. The purpose  of R&D in areas specified in the top tier is to create new  businesses and products unique to Fujikura. To accomplish  this, we refine the core technologies in Tier 2 and enhance our  value for customers. We want to use the basic technologies in  Tier 3 to increase the efficiency of R&D and thereby stimulate  R&D activities

It is also very important to use the technologies and  knowledge cultivated in each business for other businesses  and products to increase the efficiency of and effectiveness of  R&D. To put that into practice, it is necessary to know about  other business units, and the products and technologies of  those businesses. When I reexamined the core technologies  Fujikura possesses, I realized the core technologies were  far more numerous than I had imagined. Moreover, there  was a distinct story about the history and background on creation or the struggles experienced during creation behind  the development of each core technology and each product  developed from a core technology. Researchers grapple with  many problems and issues on a daily basis. Knowing such  stories will provide a strong impetus and will always be useful  in overcoming those problems and issues

Last year, I launched a Technology Group Conference  to provide an opportunity for engineers belonging to the  Research and New Business Development Unit , each business  unit, and the Production Engineering Unit to discuss and gain  a mutual understanding of the technologies possessed by  each. Thirty to forty of the core engineers in each department  come together for discussion at this meeting. The Research  and New Business Development Unit and each business unit  often have similar core technologies, e.g., adhesive technology  is widely used and key in many kinds of products. It is possible  to gain a deeper understanding and make new discoveries  when engineers from different departments discuss the  properties of their materials, the way they use, and the  problems they are facing.

As the CTO overseeing technology management, I’m going  to organize the information discussed at the technology group  conference and ultimately create a technology database that  anyone in Fujikura can use. I also think this management  of technology for the Group as a whole initiative will lead to strengthening product development capabilities through  collaboration between each business unit and the Production  Engineering Unit.

Technology Platform

Important R&D themes with an eye to the future

We are working on multiple themes for development to  support the present and future R&D and businesses. Among  them, as the key themes, we have specified three themes of  next-generation optical communication, next-generationenergy, and mmWave applications

In next-generation optical communication, we are  developing multicore fiber that contains multiple cores in  one optical fiber to address the rapidly expanding volume  of data circulating around the world. Fujikura is already  able to produce the multicore fibers themselves. However,  optical fiber does not make up a system on its own, so we are  also focusing on development of multicore fiber connection  technology and peripheral technology, and are targeting the  next phase in which it becomes usable as a solution. Moreover,  the increase in electricity used by data centers and elsewhere  accompanying the significant increase in data volume has  become a global problem in the communication industry.  Optoelectronic fusion is said to be essential for realizing an  all-photonic network, which is the key to drastically reducing  electricity usage according to the Innovative Optical and  Wireless Network (IOWN) concept NTT has proposed. Because  optical connection technology is essential in this area, we plan  to strategically pursue realization as we work together on  IOWN.

Fusion power generation is a promising form of the nextgeneration energy. Fusion power generation is drawing  interest as a clean power generation technology that does not  generate CO₂ emissions. However, there are still high technical  hurdles to overcome and practical application will take time.  Fujikura’s high-temperature superconductors are drawing  interest as a coil to control the strong magnetic field, which is  the key to practical implementation of fusion power generation.  We are therefore collaborating with government agencies  and research institutions in various countries as well as with  Kyoto Fusioneering Ltd., a venture that originated from Kyoto  University, and other entities. It is important to proceed while  considering what we can do to hasten practical implementation.

In mmWave applications , we are working on the two R&D  themes of the 28GHz band application for 5G and 60 GHz band  application for industrial use. The 28GHz band has been slow  to proliferate because of difficulties in some respects, but the  technical specifications to resolve the difficulties are being  developed. We are working on developing the technology and  products to rapidly introduce an appropriate product for this.  Meanwhile, a license is not necessary for the 60 GHz band  and it looks promising for practical application as a remote surveillance solution because it enables transmission of highresolution images with lower latency and other properties. We view that as a possible application and are also participating in NTT’s IOWN project as we perform R&D aimed at practical application.

Open innovation initiatives are effective for such advanced R&D. In R&D on next-generation optical communication, for example, we are developing core optical-related technology ourselves while collaborating with multiple universities in the U.S. to accelerate research on peripheral technology and applications. Another corporate responsibility is taking action to achieve carbon neutrality to combat the current issue of global warming. We will naturally reduce CO₂ emissions from Fujikura’s business activities, but we also think it is important to reduce CO₂ emissions by having customers use our technology. For example, if we can realize fusion power generation, this would, grossly simplified, make it possible to generate power with zero emissions. In other words, Fujikura’s high-temperature superconductor is a key contributor to the practical implementation of CO₂-free fusion power generation and we can contribute to society in this manner, so I want to actively pursue R&D through such opportunities.