Research and Development

Fujifilm has a wide range of fundamental technologies such as thin-film formation and processing, organic materials, inorganic materials, optics, image and software technologies, which were cultivated in fields such as photosensitive materials and xerography, as well as core technologies that support these. By developing these technologies more deeply, we have accumulated diverse technologies that include fine chemicals, electronics, mechatronics, optics, and software.
Today, we are promoting research and development in priority business fields, highly functional materials and devices, optical devices and systems, and information systems and solutions, using product design technologies that combine these fundamental and core technologies. We are also pursuing the creation of new businesses that will play a leading role in the future.

In April 2006, we established the FUJIFILM Advanced Research Laboratories to play a central role in combining leading-edge research on a Company-wide basis and fundamental technology development.
In terms of our R&D organizational structure, we have three corporate laboratories: the Frontier Core-Technology Laboratories, the Synthetic Organic Chemistry Laboratories, and the Advanced Marking Research Laboratories. These laboratories are engaged in long-term research into cutting-edge technologies that will produce further growth for Fujifilm. In addition, we have divisional laboratories, which develop products and technologies that are directly linked to respective business divisions based on short- and medium-term objectives, and Fundamental Technology Research Centers, which have accumulated technology platforms common to the whole Company.
The unique, cutting-edge technologies that the three corporate laboratories possess are being fused with each other at the FUJIFILM Advanced Research Laboratories. The goal is to promote the establishment of highly distinctive technologies, especially in the areas of highly functional materials, devices, and systems.

Methods of analyzing single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) currently in use consist of extracting DNA from blood or other samples, adding reaction reagents, and analyzing in instruments. These operations require specialist knowledge and a time frame of several hours to several days. Fujifilm's “Rapid SNPs Diagnostics System” uses the most advanced isothermal amplification of target genes, called SMart Amplification Process (SMAP)*1. This is the first system that can obtain analyzing results from blood samples using fully automatic processes at a world-record speed*2 (30 minutes for all processes).
It is constructed from several unique technologies: micro-mechanical technology for building up micro-channels on plastic substrate, microfluidics technology for controlling chemical reactions of fluids of fluid channels, and high-sensitivity detection and analytical technology accumulated in the development of image sensors and other products.