Development of New Products and Applications through Industry-Academia and Corporate Collaboration

「In the Clay Science business, the company continued collecting data tailored to needs for gas-barrier applications involving hydrogen, oxygen and water vapor, and made technology proposals to pursue materials development and problem-solving through collaboration with companies. Regarding the spheroid-promoting function in three-dimensional cell culture found through joint research with Osaka University, the company continued market development through reagent sales while expanding its data and exploring new functions using 2 grant-funded projects. Regarding the electrochemical properties of clay found through joint research with Yamagata University, the company continued making technology proposals based on its accumulated data and worked toward collaboration with companies. It also began materials development to expand into the polishing field.」

「We will continue to focus on research and development and personnel training, while working to establish a structure for promoting DX and utilizing AI.」

「The group's total R&D expenses for the six-month interim period were ¥127 million. There were no material changes in the status of the group's R&D activities during the six-month interim period.」

「Regarding the spheroid-promoting function in three-dimensional cell culture found through joint research with Osaka University, the company began selling reagents in May 2024 and pursued market development. It also entered the technology in the 7th Japan Open Innovation Prize and received the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Award. Regarding the electrochemical properties of clay found through joint research with Yamagata University, the company compiled its accumulated data, began making technology proposals, and worked toward collaboration with companies. R&D expenses for the fiscal year were ¥207 million.」

「The group's total R&D expenses for the six-month interim period were ¥105 million. There were no material changes in the status of the group's R&D activities during the six-month interim period.」

「In the Clay Science business, the growing market penetration of clay films prompted many downstream companies to seek barrier properties, and the company worked with them on materials development and problem-solving. For the hydrogen gas-barrier coating material developed through joint research with JAXA and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, the company continued sales activities and additional data collection aimed at market development. Regarding the ISO standard for nanoclay for gas-barrier applications published in May 2021, the company applied for designation as a testing laboratory responsible for evaluating the listed requirements for practical implementation and obtained accreditation. In addition, the company prepared for commercialization in fiscal 2024 of the spheroid-promoting function in three-dimensional cell culture found through joint research with Osaka University. R&D expenses for the fiscal year were ¥176 million.」

「The group's total R&D expenses for the cumulative nine-month period were ¥136 million. There were no material changes in the status of the group's R&D activities during the cumulative nine-month period.」

「The joint research with JAXA and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, which began in December 2021, achieved its development objectives after one year of research. The company began sales activities and additional data collection to bring the hydrogen gas-barrier coating material to market. Regarding the ISO standard for nanoclay for gas-barrier applications published in May 2021, applications opened for designated testing laboratories responsible for evaluating the standard's listed requirements, and the company submitted an application.」

「The group's total R&D expenses for the cumulative nine-month period were ¥122 million. There were no material changes in the status of the group's R&D activities during the cumulative nine-month period.」

「The group's total R&D expenses for the cumulative six-month period were ¥81 million. There were no material changes in the status of the group's R&D activities during the cumulative six-month period.」

「The group's total R&D expenses for the cumulative three-month period were ¥48 million. There were no material changes in the status of the group's R&D activities during the cumulative three-month period.」

「The company also joined a standards subcommittee to advance the international standardization of nanoclay for gas-barrier applications, leading to the publication of ISO/TS 21236-2 in May 2021. Preparations for its implementation were undertaken in parallel. In October 2021, a research project on hydrogen-barrier coating materials using the company's gas-barrier technology was selected by JAXA's Space Exploration Innovation Hub, and joint research began in December of the same year with JAXA and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology. R&D expenses for the fiscal year were ¥162 million.」

「The group's research and development expenditure for the first 9 months of the consolidated cumulative period was ¥121 million. There were no material changes in the status of the group's research and development activities during the first 9 months of the consolidated cumulative period.」

「The group's research and development expenditure for the first half of the consolidated cumulative period was ¥85 million. There were no material changes in the status of the group's research and development activities during the first half of the consolidated cumulative period.」

「The company also participated in a standards subcommittee to advance international standardization of nanoclay for gas-barrier applications, reaching the stage where publication of the first edition of the ISO standard is expected. Research and development expenditure for the consolidated fiscal year was ¥151 million.」

「The group's research and development expenditure for the first 9 months of the consolidated cumulative period was ¥111 million. There were no material changes in the status of the group's research and development activities during the first 9 months of the consolidated cumulative period.」

「The group's research and development expenditure for the first half of the consolidated cumulative period was ¥77 million. There were no material changes in the status of the group's research and development activities during the first half of the consolidated cumulative period.」

「The group's research and development expenditure for the first quarter of the consolidated cumulative period was ¥40 million. There were no material changes in the status of the group's research and development activities during the first quarter of the consolidated cumulative period.」

「During the consolidated fiscal year, research and development activities focused on developing new products with a view to the future, mainly through technical cooperation and materials development involving collaboration with other fields through industry-academia and corporate partnerships. In the bentonite business, the company conducted technology development to ensure a stable supply of products for the casting, civil engineering and construction foundations, industrial waste, and geological disposal of radioactive waste fields, and to propose high-performance products tailored to market needs. It also applied existing technologies cultivated over many years and promoted joint research through industry-academia-government collaboration to prepare for entry into the production-animal medical field. Research and development expenditure for the consolidated fiscal year was ¥162 million.」

「The group's research and development expenditure for the first 9 months of the consolidated cumulative period was ¥117 million. There were no material changes in the status of the group's research and development activities during the first 9 months of the consolidated cumulative period.」

「The group's research and development expenditure for the first half of the consolidated cumulative period was ¥72 million. There were no material changes in the status of the group's research and development activities during the first half of the consolidated cumulative period.」

「The group's research and development expenditure for the first quarter of the consolidated cumulative period was ¥38 million. There were no material changes in the status of the group's research and development activities during the first quarter of the consolidated cumulative period.」

「The group's research and development expenditure for the first 9 months of the consolidated cumulative period was ¥108 million. There were no material changes in the status of the group's research and development activities during the first 9 months of the consolidated cumulative period.」

「The group's research and development expenditure for the first half of the consolidated cumulative period was ¥76 million. There were no material changes in the status of the group's research and development activities during the first half of the consolidated cumulative period.」

「The group's research and development expenditure for the first quarter of the consolidated cumulative period was ¥40 million. There were no material changes in the status of the group's research and development activities during the first quarter of the consolidated cumulative period.」

「In the specialty chemicals business, the growing market penetration of clay films stimulated demand for barrier properties among many downstream companies, prompting initiatives for collaborative materials development and problem-solving. To meet growing demand for synthetic and purified clay, the company developed manufacturing processes to improve production efficiency. In the water-stopping materials field, it worked on an all-automatic production system and developed high-performance products using proprietary technologies. In the granulation technology field, it mainly worked to advance coating technologies and strengthen its business foundation. Research and development expenditure for the consolidated fiscal year was ¥192 million.」

「The group's research and development expenditure for the first 9 months of the consolidated cumulative period was ¥137 million. There were no material changes in the status of the group's research and development activities during the first 9 months of the consolidated cumulative period.」

「The group's research and development expenditure for the first half of the consolidated cumulative period was ¥90 million. There were no material changes in the status of the group's research and development activities during the first half of the consolidated cumulative period.」

「The group's research and development expenditure for the first quarter of the consolidated cumulative period was ¥40 million. There were no material changes in the status of the group's research and development activities during the first quarter of the consolidated cumulative period.」

「During the consolidated fiscal year, research and development activities focused on developing new products with a view to the future, mainly through materials development involving collaboration with other fields through industry-academia and corporate partnerships. In the water-stopping materials field, the company obtained certification registration under the New Technology Information Provision System and developed high-performance products using proprietary technologies. Research and development expenditure for the consolidated fiscal year was ¥165 million.」

「The group's research and development expenditure for the first 9 months of the consolidated cumulative period was ¥114 million. There were no material changes in the status of the group's research and development activities during the first 9 months of the consolidated cumulative period.」

「The group's research and development expenditure for the first half of the consolidated cumulative period was ¥74 million. There were no material changes in the status of the group's research and development activities during the first half of the consolidated cumulative period.」

「The group's research and development expenditure for the first quarter of the consolidated cumulative period was ¥41 million. There were no material changes in the status of the group's research and development activities during the first quarter of the consolidated cumulative period.」

「During the consolidated fiscal year, research and development activities focused on developing new products with a view to the future, mainly through materials development involving collaboration with other fields through industry-academia and corporate partnerships.」