NIPPON SHOKUBAI Announces to Establish a Joint Research Chair at Kobe University
NIPPON SHOKUBAI CO., LTD. [Headquarters: Osaka, Japan; President: Yujiro Goto], hereinafter “Nippon Shokubai,” announces to establish a joint research chair, “Sustainable Chemistry (NIPPON SHOKUBAI)”, on July 1, 2017 at Kobe University (President: Hiroshi Takeda).
Since July 2012, Nippon Shokubai has established an endowed chair in the Graduate School of Engineering at Kobe University and has been working on practical studies in utilization technologies of renewable biomass resources (biorefinery) and renewable energy production. We aimed to create innovative technologies by sustainable chemistry and cultivate innovative human resources that can contribute to the creation of new industries.
As the endowed chair expired, Nippon Shokubai decided to start a new joint research chair to integrate advanced research competencies of Kobe University into our own unique technologies such as catalyst technology, organic synthesis, polymer synthesis, and environmental purification, and to accelerate fast creation of innovative technologies that lead to new products and new business in the research area of sustainable chemistry. Specifically, we will collaborate closely with the iBioK* project, primarily promoted by Kobe University, and affiliated research centers in Graduate School of Engineering such as Integrated Bio-refinery Research Center, Center for Membrane and Film Technology, and Research Center for Advanced Smart Materials, building research networks among industry, academia, and government. We can also contribute to the educational research in Kobe University through such research activities.
Under our corporate group mission, “TechnoAmenity – providing affluence and comfort to people and society, with our unique technology”, Nippon Shokubai aims to be an innovative chemical company that provides new value for people’s lives as a vision for 2025; self-portrait Nippon Shokubai wishes to be. Based on the results of this chair, we endeavor to put sustainable chemistry into practical use toward sustainable society and sustainable economic development, reinforcing industry-university-government collaboration.
Outline of the Joint Research Chair
Name: Sustainable Chemistry (NIPPON SHOKUBAI)
Affiliation: Department of Chemical Science and Engineering,
Graduate School of Engineering, Kobe University
Location: within Rokkodai 2nd Campus
Staff: Chiaki Ogino, Ph.D. [Concurrent Professor, Graduate School of Engineering, Kobe University]
Yoshiaki Hirano, Ph.D. [Specially Appointed Associate Professor, Graduate School of Engineering, Kobe University]
Duration: Two years from July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2019
*The iBioK (Innovative Bioproduction Kobe) is one of the projects supported by “Special Coordination Funds for Promoting Science and Technology, Creation of Innovation Centers for Advanced Interdisciplinary Research Areas”, MEXT, Japan.
ABOUT NIPPON SHOKUBAI: Since 1941, Nippon Shokubai has grown up its business with unique catalyst technology. Nippon Shokubai has supplied, for example, Ethylene oxide, Acrylic acid, automobile catalyst, process catalyst and so on. Among all, our global market share of superabsorbent polymer comes up to No.1, now. Nippon Shokubai is a global chemical company with its corporate mission as “Providing affluence and comfort to people and society, with our unique technology”.
【Contacts】
Investor & Public Relations Dept.,
NIPPON SHOKUBAI CO., LTD.
E-mail: shokubai@n.shokubai.co.jp
https://www.shokubai.co.jp/en/