When the private sector and academia work together, they can address development issues to drive innovation. This is especially important in areas such as green energy and environmental engineering, to substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions. NGK Group's vision includes carbon neutrality as a major social issue. With this in mind, Nagoya Institute of Technology and NGK Insulators, both based in Nagoya, Japan, established the NGK Environment Innovation Laboratory on the NITech campus.
Collaborating in activities such as joint research and technological exchange since 2009, the effort intends to create advanced solutions that significantly reduce greenhouse gases, like next-generation power semiconductors and high-density batteries. Headed by Professor Tomokatsu Hayakawa of NITech, the lab will also have Professor Hideki Mori and NGK’s Shinji Kawasaki as deputy directors. The project will run for five years, beginning on April 1, 2021.
The development of advanced power semiconductors is essential for energy-efficient electronic devices, EVs, and high-performance storage batteries, and is included in the 39 themes identified in the Japanese Government Cabinet Office’s “Environment Innovation Strategy” set in 2020. Taking advantage of NGK’s ceramics technologies, the lab will potentially address additional research themes to drive environmental innovations based on other material technologies.