Proof of Trust (Testimonials)

Our executive advisors from industry and academia introduce KRI and our performance.

Akira Yoshino
Honorary Fellow, Asahi Kasei Corporation

Dr. Akira Yoshino

What I Expect of KRI

KRI is one of the small number of private companies that perform contract research, surveys and analyses in Japan. Examples of the characteristics of KRI include the fact that it has richly experienced researchers; a full complement of equipment for advanced prototyping, evaluation and analysis; and data from various fields of research that it has amassed over many years. By contracting with KRI, clients will be able to expect not only faster and better quality R&D, but also, in particular, the benefits of the fusion of multiple technologies. Future R&D must produce innovative research results by fusing technologies from multiple fields. With KRI, clients can gain innovative research results by fusing their own basic technologies and KRI's experiences and expertise, which cover diverse fields of technology. I expect clients and KRI to realize such achievements.


>> Video introduced at the ceremony of the Novel Lecture by Dr. Yoshino
>> Lecture by Dr. Akira Yoshino, Executive Advisor of KRI Inc., commemorating Nobel Prize in Chemistry at KRI Workshop '19"

Kazuyuki Hirao
Professor Emeritus and Specially-Appointed Professor at Kyoto University,
Director, Advanced Chemical Technology Center in Kyoto

Dr. Kazuyuki Hirao

KRI is Japan's first comprehensive contract research organization, and many people with wonderful research backgrounds work there. In particular, I have maintained friendships with researchers of energy-related technologies, including batteries; nano material technology; device prototyping technology; and bio-related technology, and I always feel that KRI responds to client requests and provides appropriate solutions by making the best of various synthesis and analysis technologies based on long years of experience and abundant knowhow as well as many networks it has cultivated through the years.

I can provide an example. We were developing a laser capable of irradiating high intensity energy in very short timeframes called femtoseconds, and, at the time, we were thinking of the technology as an application for cutting various difficult-to-process materials, such as diamonds and SiC. In order to give the processed surface a finish of adequate quality, we had to devise various irradiation conditions for the laser, and thus had to investigate the shape and element mapping of the cut surface at the nano level. Therefore, we asked KRI, which was also well-established in analytical technology, to do the investigation for us. They made the best use of state-of-the-art equipment, such as FIB (Focused Ion Beams), microscopic Raman, 3D X-ray analyses, and TOF-SIMS (Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry), which resulted in our being able to determine the optimal conditions. These results subsequently contributed to power semiconductor production. I am thankful to this day for the many contributions, including this one, KRI has made.

Yoshiki Chujo
Professor Emeritus at Kyoto University, Specially Appointed Professor at Hiroshima University

Dr. Yoshiki Chujo

"Won't you enjoy benefits by effective use of contract research?"

When private companies, especially laboratories of materials manufacturers, attempt to develop new applications using their own materials and technology, they have to do preliminary evaluations whether the characteristics of those materials meet the requirements of the needs of the applications. Meanwhile, they are often exposed to requests, called "claim processing" to do research into improving materials already used by their customers. That is, their customers often request to raise the heat resistance of a material somewhat or to make it so that a material will dissolve in a given solvent, etc. And, if they cannot respond to these requests, customers typically replace their materials with ones from other manufacturers.

Even without bringing up such examples, in order to advance material development and quality modification research in a laboratory, you need the "human resources," "apparatuses," "knowledge," and "raw materials" for the experiments, testing, and analyses involved in such development. In particular, you have to cover the high costs associated with these "human resources," that is, "personnel costs" and "apparatuses," that is, "capital investment." Naturally, it is worth it to incur these costs when there is sufficient demand and future needs to justify them because it goes without saying that they will pay for themselves. Problems arise though when you want to make preliminary examinations where you just give things a little try.
Utilizing "contract research" is an effective means for conducting preliminary examinations for research at such companies. Once the prospect has been established that outsourced preliminary examinations have gone well, companies can commence full-scale development in their own laboratories. Counting this advantage of contract research may bring you benefits as a result, therefore, I encourage you to consider the possibility of contract research.

Yoshihiro Senzai
Former Representative Director, Chairman, Maxell Holdings, Ltd.

Yoshihiro Senzai

The tectonic shifts that had already began taking place a decade ago deep inside the economy have accelerated at a rapid pace due to the coronavirus pandemic, bringing about huge changes in our society.
Meanwhile, Japan, which used to be called a science-and-technology-oriented nation, is facing an acute crisis due to its declining international competitiveness. To overcome the crisis and restore Japan, we must take advantage of these dramatic shifts and take on new challenges energetically and aggressively.
In terms of vehicles, for example, there has been a rapid shift from internal combustion engine vehicles, with a 100-year history, to electric vehicles. This shift in the automotive industry has changed the role of the lithium-ion battery from a supporter behind the scenes to a front stage actor: the lithium-ion battery, which was initially used mainly to supply power to mobile devices, is now an item indispensable for solving environmental issues through the prevalence of EVs. In this way, change can be a great opportunity in various situations.
Japan's strength lies not only in the personal capabilities of individual people but also in the ability to create new power by amalgamating a wide variety of technologies. Fusion transcending the boundaries of both field and industry can create new value by increasing power in the same way that gears in different colors and shapes mesh well.
I believe that KRI, Inc. is a research institute highly capable of realizing the fusion of technology by utilizing its advanced technological prowess in a wide range of fields. Under circumstances where a society with a new sense of values is being created out of drastic changes, I expect KRI to play a leading role in efforts to realize the creation of a more vibrant Japan.