Takanori Ninomiya
General Manager
Hitachi Research Laboratory, Hitachi, Ltd.
We are making research on a variety of technical subjects that Hitachi Group confronts. A number of researchers in our laboratory are driving a number of projects by integrating their technology and knowledge. Our research activities let us meet new phenomena every day, which gives us surprise and excitement to make us feel like challenge again. "Pioneer spirit" being raised as one of the terms of Hitachi spirit, we are pioneers indeed. Especially, technical subjects regarding global environment are going to be our big challenge. Through such daily research activities, we develop new technologies that only we can provide and we thereby create better society.
Located high on a hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean, is the Hitachi Research Laboratory (HRL) in Hitachi city, Ibaraki prefecture - the birthplace of Hitachi, Ltd. HRL grew out of a small research division that Mr. Odaira had formed in 1918, based on his strong belief that a company would never progress to explore technological advancement, and became the first corporate laboratory of Hitachi, Ltd. in 1934. Dr. BABA Kumeo, was appointed the first general manager of HRL, and oversaw research divisions on electrical, mechanical, physical, chemical and metallurgical research. Over the past 72 years, HRL has contributed to many of Hitachi's backbone businesses; produced various innovations in the field of materials, power electronics, energy and transportation Systems, etc, more recently. Under the management of Dr. NINOMIYA, approximately 700 researchers work in 3 centers of research: Dept. of Fuel Cell Systems Development, Materials Research Laboratory and the Information and Control Systems Research Laboratory, and are involved in devices, components and materials for energy and industrial infrastructure, vehicular and transportation systems, and consumer appliances.
