Contribute to resolving social issues through development and provision of new products in three priority markets

Creating new value to address social needs

For the TDK Group, which subscribes to the corporate motto of “Contribute to culture and industry through creativity,” utilizing technical expertise to enrich people’s lives is an unwavering corporate mission. Under the guidance of the government’s 5th Science and Technology Basic Plan, Japan is currently working to emerge as a “Super Smart Society*.” Revolutionary social changes driven by innovation are christened “Society 5.0*”—a domain we are positioned to contribute to through the various technologies of the TDK Group. The “Society 5.0” vision speaks not only to Japan, but also to advancing global culture and industry. TDK is now grappling with the question of how best to approach this vital new challenge.
Closer communications with customers, while raising the synergy between the Technology and Intellectual Property HQ and other TDK business groups, holds the key to creating new value. This also harbors potential for expanding new products and services beyond the current three priority markets of Automotive, ICT, and Industrial and Energy. The cornerstone of such progress promises to be magnetic technology—the DNA embodying the TDK Group. Recent years have witnessed steady expansion in fields in which TDK products and services are being put to use. Examples include magnetic sensors applying HDD head technology, automotive electronic components for EVs, HEVs, and other eco-friendly cars, and sensors for use in the medical and health care field. Fully harnessing strengths that only TDK can deliver, our goal is to help pave the way to making “Society 5.0” a reality.

Developing highly social-sensitive engineers

People must shoulder the technologies that support society, pointing to an equally critical need for individual engineers to raise their awareness and sensitivity toward the world around them. Demanded today is the perspective of identifying special social issues, systems to help resolve those challenges, and the products to get the job done. As CTO, I believe that my foremost role is to promote the milestone mindset shift from Monozukuri to Kotozukuri. From the standpoint of training young people, the Technology and Intellectual Property HQ dispatches engineers to the various business groups in their third to fifth years with TDK. There, they are expected to actively engage in new product launches, etc., think on their own and steadily accrue opportunities to expand experience. Moving forward, one of the key challenges is to establish an effective R&D system on the foundation of worldwide personnel exchange. Likewise, in view of the growing number of engineers also raising families, a scheme to support a positive balance between work and child-raising is another key to success. Taking this to heart, my mission is to make TDK a work-friendly company for our vastly diversified employees, fully utilizing people potential to raise the essential technologies at TDK to ever-greater heights.

*Super Smart Society
Addressing a vast range of needs with the supply of the necessary goods and services to customers when they need them and in the proper quantities, in support of an energetic and comfortable society where everyone enjoys access to top-caliber services.
*Society 5.0
Creation of a new social mode, following in the footsteps of the hunting, agricultural, industrial, and information societies before it, championed by technological innovation.

TDK’s Three Priority Markets

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  AUTOMOTIVE

  
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  ICT

  
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  Industrial and Energy