Innovation Management
Corporate R&D Initiatives
Initiatives of the Corporate Research and Development Group
The Corporate Research and Development Group is pursuing a mission to develop pioneering, groundbreaking, proprietary technology that creates new ecosystems and new and expanded businesses contributing to the realization of a sustainable society.
To put into practice ESG-focused management, we are using “One Sharp” partnership and collaboration to accelerate development of new businesses in the digital healthcare field and step up our contributions to carbon neutrality. In addition, we are applying the technological innovations of AI to create proprietary technologies in area such as DX solutions for industry.
With social problems becoming increasingly complex and diverse, we are implementing sustainable management through R&D aimed at creating innovative services and solutions so that we can contribute to Sharp’s sustainable growth.
Notable Initiatives
Sharp aims to change the game by creating technologies that will serve as the core engine of future company growth. With a focus on achieving lifestyle innovation, green innovation, communication innovation, and industry DX and AI applications, we are working towards the early realization of new businesses that drive sustainable growth into the future.
Turning to communications technology, Sharp holds more than 6,000 patents of critical importance for communications standards in more than 50 countries worldwide, and it grants licenses to numerous leading companies.
Sharp has dived headfirst into activities to create standards in the field of video communications and is contributing to creating the social infrastructure that will realize a variety of innovations and DX.
In addition, as part of our open incubation activities, we are collaborating with other companies, including in efforts to support startups, to give birth to technological innovations.
To utilize the fruits of our R&D in new business domains, we have created a dedicated team in the Corporate Research and Development Group to oversee partnerships inside and outside the company as we aggressively strive for co-creation with different industries, chiefly in DX businesses.
R&D Aimed at ESG Management
Intellectual Property Protection
Intellectual Property Strategy and Management System
Sharp regards its intellectual property strategy as one of its critically important management strategies, and it is promoting it together with its business strategy and R&D strategy. By aggressively obtaining patents, Sharp is boosting the superiority of its product and device businesses and strengthening its business foundation. The company’s intellectual property department was spun off into ScienBiziP Japan Co., Ltd. (SBPJ) in 2016, with a view to making it a profit center of Sharp. Because SBPJ is well versed in Sharp’s products, technologies, and businesses, it can offer a high level of specialized service and improved efficiency. SBPJ gives Sharp more driving force in its intellectual property management, generating strong patents and economic value from Sharp’s state-of-the-art technologies.
Regarding patent applications, Sharp defines core technology areas with respect to each business and strategically files patent applications that are tightly coupled with its business development. Sharp is also acquiring useful patents invented in cooperation with other companies or derived from the activities of alliances, such as industry-university cooperation.
In addition, Sharp is filing applications and registering rights for designs and trademarks globally under its brand strategy.
Protecting Intellectual Property
Sharp maximizes the use of its intellectual property by linking it to its business strategy and R&D strategy. It is also firmly committed to protecting its own intellectual property rights, while also respecting the intellectual property rights of others. While Sharp takes an amicable approach to resolving issues of infringement, it is the company’s policy to seek the judgment of a third party, such as the courts, when its intellectual property rights are not respected.
Sharp is also working to bolster protection for trade secrets and to prevent unauthorized disclosure of production technologies and manufacturing know-how, particularly those that are unique or critically important to Sharp. Further, counterfeit Sharp-brand products have had a growing impact in overseas markets in recent years, and Sharp is taking measures to counter these imitations through cooperation with industry groups and with regulatory authorities taking enforcement actions.