Research & Development
Research & Development (R&D)
To realize our corporate mission—“We will aim to become a machinery manufacturer that continues to provide excellent products and services to the world.”—we continuously promote technological and product development. In April 2025, we opened the Yokosuka Innovation Hub, Cs’-Lab+. In addition to strengthening our core R&D functions, Cs’-Lab+ serves as an innovation hub that fosters co-creation with a wide range of stakeholders, further enhancing collaboration both within and outside the Group.
Organization of R&D
At Sumitomo Heavy Industries, new products are developed cooperatively by the Corporate Technology Management Group and individual strategic business units (SBU).The Corporate Technology Management Group is responsible for overseeing corporate-wide technology development strategy, intellectual property, and R&D activities. Within this division, Innovation and Technology Research Laboratories (ITRL), which supervises R&D activities, conducts advanced exploratory research in Core and Elemental technologies. At the same time, ITRL collaborates with each SBU to advance development toward commercialization and business implementation.
Base
| Yokosuka |
19 Natsushima-cho, Yokosuka-shi, Kanagawa 237-8555 Japan
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| Niihama |
5-2 Sobirakicho Niihama, Ehime 792-8588 Japan
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History of the R&D Organization
The beginnings of our organized R&D activities date back to 1934, starting from Niihama in Ehime Prefecture with the establishment of a research unit of Sumitomo Machinery Co., Ltd. Since then, the organization has undergone multiple restructurings in response to changing times. Today, ITRL is responsible for driving technology development across the entire Sumitomo Heavy Industries Group.
Intellectual property
Strategy
Intellectual Property is the source of the Sumitomo Heavy Industries Group's competitiveness. The Intellectual Property Department coordinates with all divisions of Sumitomo Heavy Industries to procure global IP and protect trade secrets. Recently, the IP Department has also played an important role in mergers and acquisitions, and handling due diligence and contracts with outside entities.
Sumitomo Heavy Industries has installed a CIPO (Chief Intellectual Property Officer) to increase the cohesiveness of management practices with IP efforts. The CIPO is chosen from among directors of the TRC and business division engineering department directors and works alongside the IP Department to develop midterm IP strategies to ensure continued competitiveness.
