JP Ver.

Kiyosu, Japan, July 3, 2026: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. and National University Corporation Tohoku University established the “Co-Creation Research Center for Functional Materials Contributing to Safety, Comfort and Decarbonization” in the Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University on July 1. This will accelerate the development of high-performance materials.

In its 2030 Business Plan, Toyoda Gosei aims to commercialize products with high added value, leveraging the company’s materials technology, including expertise in rubber and plastics, to provide the values of safety, comfort, and decarbonization. Tohoku University possesses measurement technology, most prominently at its NanoTerasu* research facility that can visualize substances at the nano-level (one millionth of a millimeter), and simulation technology based on computational and data science. The university has been strengthening collaboration with industry partners.

By combining Toyoda Gosei’s knowledge in the materials field and Tohoku University’s research assets, the partners will develop rubber, plastic and other materials with novel functions. In addition to technical exploration across diverse research fields, the partners will foster talent through collaborative R&D and use the Co-Creation Research Center as a platform for exchanges among companies.

From left: Material Engineering Div. General Manager Okawa, Adviser Nakanishi, and Executive Vice President Yasuda (Toyoda Gosei); Executive Director Toyama, Center Director Okabe, and Deputy Executive Director Takada (Tohoku University)

Outline

Name:

Toyoda Gosei × Tohoku University
Co-Creation Research Center for Functional Materials that Contribute to Safety, Comfort and Decarbonization

Activities:

(1) Strategically explore high-performance materials development themes for 2030 and beyond
(2) Accelerate materials development using analysis technology and digital transformation

Management Structure:

Operations Director: Shigeaki Kurokawa (Deputy Chief, Research & Development Headquarters, Toyoda Gosei)
Operations Support Director: Prof. Tomonaga Okabe (Professor, Director of Research Center for Green X-Tech Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University)

Location:

Room 1304, 13^th Floor, General Engineering Research Building, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University

Duration:

3 years (July 2026 – June 2029)