| The following is a summary of our targeted areas categorized according to the degree to which commercializable applications and products exist. Further down the list, the areas relate more to infrastructure technology and basic research themes. |
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| (A) |
Application, Actual Products |
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Digital Data and Content Businesses |
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In the field of financial consulting, for example, key issues are customer management data and real-time information infrastructure. The same is true in medical treatment and other R & D/ product development process in manufacturing industries. The shape of doing businesses is changing also in other healthcare and in local government where conversion to electronic systems is already occurring at a rapid pace. This applies to both the business and the individual / household aspect. Dealing in digital content, such as videos or music, the real commercial activity will be more active from now on. |
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Ubiquitous Communication (Mobile Computing, IC Tag Application) |
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In the digital data and contents communication age, mobile communication, PDA medium and other mobile computing tools are presently somewhat advanced where various applications are practiced in various fields in the US. Based on the successful condition in each field, we will provide practical analysis and models including some back-end system solution details. |
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Consumer Electronics, Digital Home (Digital consumer electronics) |
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With emerging IT technologies such as wireless networks, image processing and transfer technologies and broadband communication technologies, consumer electronics and "Digital Home" field has really blossomed. The competition in new product development will become increasingly severe as companies strive to satisfy even more sophisticated customer needs. Consumer electronics is a market in which IT technologies have made extensive inroads into the daily life of consumers. Key points for us in serving clients are to grasp trends in market needs and to connect clients with elemental (fundamental) technologies being developed in the US. |
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Robotics (Analysis of next generation needs) |
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Minute by minute, robots today are finding successful applications in the personal life of humans and in businesses. They are used in medical equipment, in support of homecare providers, for performing special tasks in dangerous environments, and, with the addition of an artificial intelligence function, they function as "working partners" for humans. For some time, as part of a national project, the US government has been working on the theme of "human function" computers and machines, for replacing humans in certain applications. Thus, based on the needs of the US market in particular, one can grasp the various forms that next-generation robots will take. |
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| (B) |
Infra Technology |
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"Infra-software" (DRM / BPM / database management / security, etc.) |
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Focused Infra-software
As the Internet and telecommunications infrastructure becomes more developed, there will be a continuing demand, particularly from the business sector, for greater sophistication in the information transmitted (data, media-based content, etc.). This trend is causing companies and organizations to embark on thorough reviews of their business processes, with a view toward taking full advantage of new infrastructure technologies such as workflow, collaboration, and even "web service". Of course security infrastructure is also essential. Silicon Valley, in particular, is a Mecca for new software technologies in these fields. |
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Network communication / Opto-electronics |
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SBF covers fundamental communication infrastructure technologies, including transmission and detection components, signal processing, software and related systems. We cover here, 802.11 wireless LAN network, MEMs/AWG in opto-electronics, storage and other Data communication hardware infrastructure. |
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Semiconductor |
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The semiconductor industry has been going through dramatic business cycles throughout its relatively short lifetime. Particularly in corporate IT infrastructure, which includes servers, routers, networking equipment, data command telecom infrastructure/devices, including wireless, semiconductor applications are very broad and always developing. |
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Next-generation Materials |
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Examples of next-generation basic materials would include smart materials, high performance composite materials, pure crystals and high-performance ceramics. In the case of smart materials, for example, their characteristics change in response to certain stimuli, and included in this group would be "electron flow" materials, piezoelectric crystals, shape memory alloys, and magnetic control substances. This category of next-generation materials will overlap with other areas like semiconductor materials and especially "nanotechnologies". |
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| (C) |
Basic R&D |
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Bio technology (Particularly, pharmaceutical biotechnology) |
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It is often pointed out that, in the US, 40% of "bio-ventures" begin in universities and the initial funding comes primarily from government grants. Although the "shake out" phase is still going on, companies involved in new drug development processes are receiving particular attention. Thus a major theme for us is to discover for our clients startup companies having outstanding basic technology and viable products. |
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Nano technology |
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This field is basically inclusive to the basic research. According to the current investigative analysis, IT related electronics, process or material field, measurement, process, simulation, environment related energy are covered. Out of these, energy field burning fuel battery related a successive research system be further researched and allowed for further development. |
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