TOKYO, Dec 23, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - MITSUBISHI MOTORS CORPORATION (MMC) started local production of the OUTLANDER PHEV, a plug-in hybrid EV (PHEV), at the Laemchabang Factory of MITSUBISHI MOTORS THAILAND, a local production and sales company in Thailand. A ceremony to commemorate the line-off of the first local production OUTLANDER PHEV was held on December 21st. The vehicle is scheduled to be delivered in the country in January.MMC decided to start its first overseas production of the OUTLANDER PHEV model in Thailand because of the potential for growth in the Thai automobile market due to its promotion of electric mobility and the high production capacity of the Laemchabang Factory."MITSUBISHI MOTORS provides PHEVs to the ASEAN region based on increasing global awareness of environmental issues," said Takao Kato, chief executive officer of MMC. "I am extremely happy to be able to deliver locally-produced OUTLANDER PHEVs to our customers in Thailand as a new part of our electric vehicle business."The OUTLANDER PHEV is the flagship MITSUBISHI MOTORS model that merges electro-mobility with four-wheel control technology to provide powerful and smooth driving with the quietness and superior eco-friendliness of an EV, while automatically switching energy efficiency between EV driving for everyday use and hybrid driving for longer journeys. The two on-board power outlets can output a maximum of 1,500 watts to provide power for outdoor leisure or as a source of electricity for household appliances in the event of an emergency caused by a natural disaster.MMC positions the ASEAN region as a growth driver in its mid-term business plan (from fiscal 2020 to 2022) and has pledged to boost eco-friendly technologies based on the PHEVs that the company specializes in. Since launching the world's first SUV type PHEV in Japan in January 2013, MMC has sold more than 260,000 vehicles in over 60 countries(1). The OUTLANDER PHEV boasts the highest global sales(2) in the PHEV category, and MMC will start producing and selling the vehicle in Thailand to further strengthen its business in the ASEAN region.(1) As of October 2020(2) Total units sold from Jan 2013 to Sep 2020. According to MMC researchAbout MITSUBISHI MOTORSMITSUBISHI MOTORS CORPORATION is a global automobile company based in Tokyo, Japan, which has a competitive edge in SUVs and pickup trucks, electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. The company launched the i-MiEV--the first mass-produced electric vehicle in 2009, which was followed by the OUTLANDER PHEV in 2013--a plug-in hybrid market leader in Japan and Europe. Mitsubishi Motors has 30,000 employees and a global footprint with production facilities in Japan, Thailand, China, Indonesia, the Philippines and Russia. Models, such as the PAJERO SPORT/MONTERO SPORT, TRITON/L200, OUTLANDER, ASX/OUTLANDER SPORT/RVR and XPANDER play a major role in achieving its growth. The global sales volume in fiscal year 2019 was 1,127,000 units, and the net sales of Mitsubishi Motors for fiscal year 2019 was 2.27 trillion yen. Mitsubishi Motors is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. Copyright 2020 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

Toyota City, Japan, Dec 22, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - Toyota Motor Corporation has announced an operations management system to support the providing of services that will enable practical use of the e-Palette, a battery-electric vehicle for autonomous mobility as a service (Autono-MaaS) applications(1) that will realize future mobility services. In collaboration with a range of partners, it is also planning to operate the vehicles in Woven City, a fully connected prototype city, while targeting commercial use in multiple areas and regions in the early 2020s.When announcing his goal to transition Toyota to a mobility company at the January 2018 CES, President Akio Toyoda also announced the e-Palette as a symbol of mobility that goes beyond cars to provide customers services and new value. The e-Palette, with automated driving functions, had its debut at last year's Tokyo Motor Show. It will provide a loop-line bus transportation service for athletes and related staff in the Olympic and Paralympic villages at the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 that was postponed until July next year.The spread of COVID-19 this past year has changed the way we live our lives, creating more diverse needs for mobility that include transportation that enables proper distancing between passengers, and a future of transportation of goods and services rather than people moving about. The shrinking and aging of society will also produce a range of mobility issues, so communities will increasingly need new mobility services, such as the e-Palette and other Autono-MaaS options, to address these issues.To meet expectations such as these, Toyota aims to realize just-in-time mobility services that "go to where it is needed, when needed, and on time" and that provide the services and goods that are needed, when needed, and on time. To this end, it has developed an operations management system for e-Palette vehicles based on the Toyota Production System (TPS) ideology. This operations management system will be provided as new functions on Toyota's Mobility Services Platform (MSPF)(2) and will consist of the Autonomous Mobility Management System (AMMS), for connecting to vehicles and the e-Palette Task Assignment Platform (e-TAP) for connecting to people. The system will reduce customer waiting times and alleviate congestion to ensures services provide safety, peace of mind and comfort.With the aim of achieving the ultimate TPS-based just-in-time mobility service, AMMS is able to dispatch e-Palette vehicles when needed, where needed, and in the amount needed. Operation schedules can be changed flexibly, with vehicles automatically dispatched and returned, according to real-time mobility needs. When additional vehicles are introduced into service, the intervals between vehicles are adjusted to ensure even spacing of services. Vehicle abnormalities are also automatically detected and, if that happens, the vehicles are automatically returned to the depot and replacement vehicles are immediately dispatched on the route to ensure the stability of operation. In an emergency, the vehicles can be stopped and returned to service remotely, with an extra level of safety management, to provide passengers with peace of mind.In line with the "Jidoka (automation with a human touch)" approach of TPS, e-TAP was introduced as a visual management function. Visualization of abnormalities in vehicles and workers enables a single person to manage several vehicles, rather than one person continually monitoring one vehicle, which enables operation with fewer workers. Work instructions are automatically provided to workers required for operation, including onboard operators and maintenance personnel. Task management including delay and front-loading enables shorter lead-times for maintenance and the provision of high-quality services even with limited workers.Keiji Yamamoto, President of Toyota's Connected Company, commented, "As per the Toyota Philosophy that President Akio Toyoda introduced at our recent financial results announcement, we see our vision as "Creating Mobility for All" and believe that every person working at Toyota should take action that delivers happiness to mankind in line with our mission of Producing Happiness for All. One of the platforms for executing these actions is the e-Palette. With the addition of an operations management system, the evolved e-Palette will be refined and will grow with the never-finished, ever-growing Woven City."Human-centric, Woven City is a prototype city for testing and developing technologies such as automated driving, MaaS, personal mobility, robotics, smart homes and artificial intelligence, with e-Palette vehicles planned for operation there. Operating within a real-world environment where people live will provide a range of lessons through which the platform will continually evolve to enable services that provide customers with safety, peace of mind and comfort. Going forward, Toyota aims to work with partners to commercialize the e-Palette vehicles in multiple areas and regions in the early 2020s.(1) Combination of "autonomous" and "mobility as a service," describing Toyota's mobility services using automated driving vehicles.(2) An open platform for providing mobility service providers with a range of API-based functions required by mobility services. Copyright 2020 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

TOKYO, Dec 18, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd. today announced that its stereo camera, with lane keep assist and nighttime pedestrian detection features, has been adopted by Suzuki Motor Corporation for their "XBEE". Launched in October 2020, the "XBEE" is a mini passenger vehicle with enhanced safety features.In recent years, the adoption of collision avoidance braking systems in automobile safety design has accelerated due to their effectiveness in mitigating traffic accidents. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) plan to make it mandatory for all new passenger vehicles produced in Japan to have collision avoidance brakes from 2021. Automobile safety has been improving with the application of automatic brakes and the increased adoption of advanced safety features, such as pedestrian detection and protection systems. These trends are expected to promote an increase in consumer demand for new vehicles.The "XBEE" is the first Suzuki vehicle to adopt a "Lane Keep Assist Function(1)" which keeps the vehicle close to the center of the lane. Other advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) adopted in the "XBEE" include "Adaptive Cruise Control(1)" and "Dual Camera Brake Support(1)", an automatic brake system which can detect pedestrians even at night. These features are supported by Hitachi Automotive Systems' stereo camera with nighttime pedestrian detection. The stereo camera leverages Hitachi's unique machine learning technology, making it possible to detect pedestrians at night with a high level of precision.Furthermore, this "XBEE" is categorized as a "Support Car S Wide(2)" vehicle, which Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and MLIT are promoting domestically for widespread use. The "XBEE" is also an MLIT "AEBS Certified Vehicle(3)". Hitachi Automotive Systems supports such safety support vehicles with its advanced ADAS technologies and will continue to contribute to the prevention of traffic accidents.(1) Standard feature on the XBEE HYBRID MZ, HYBRID MV.(2) A subdivision of the "Support Car S" category (vehicles with a certain level of drive support functions, such as advanced safety technologies, and advanced emergency (automatic) braking). "Support Car S Wide" are vehicles that have advanced emergency (automatic) braking (for pedestrians), devices to control acceleration when the pedal is mistakenly applied, lane stray warning and advanced lights. These features are especially recommended for elderly drivers.(3) An MLIT vehicle certification for passenger vehicles indicates that the vehicle has advanced emergency (automatic) brakes for vehicles in motion as well as a certain level of performance while stopped.About Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd., headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. The company is engaged in the development, manufacture, sales and services of automotive components, transportation related components, industrial machines and systems, and offers a wide range of automotive systems including Powertrain Systems, Chassis Systems and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems. For more information, please visit the company's website at http://www.hitachi-automotive.co.jp/en/. Copyright 2020 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

TOKYO, Dec 18, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - Eisai Co., Ltd. announced that it has completed construction of the 5th manufacturing building at the Kawashima Industrial Park located in Gifu Prefecture, Japan.External views of the 5th manufacturing buildingThe 5th manufacturing building is a facility specifically designated for formulating anti-cancer drugs (total floor area: approximately 4,500m2). Since anti-cancer drugs are highly active, this building is designed to make it possible to manufacture anti-cancer agents more safely, with various preventive features for controlling highly active substances, such as preventing cross-contamination of agents and exposure to workers. Eisai plans to manufacture its in-house discovered and developed anti-cancer agent Lenvima, which are in increasing demand worldwide, at this facility from FY2021. We also secure space for further installation of manufacturing equipment for other anti-cancer drugs within this building. The total investment for the construction of the 5th manufacturing building is approximately 5 billion yen.The Kawashima Industrial Park, opened in 1966, is Eisai?s global pharmaceutical manufacturing base. In addition, this Industrial Park is a role model factory for our global production activities, where we are making new progresses such as utilizing digital technology and new technologies. With the completion of the 5th manufacturing building, Eisai will further expand the stable supply system of high-quality pharmaceuticals in Japan, and continues further contribution to improve the benefits of patients and their families in Japan and around the world.Media Inquiries:Public Relations Department,Eisai Co., Ltd.+81-(0)3-3817-5120 Copyright 2020 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

TOKYO, Dec 18, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - NEC Corporation India (NEC India) today announced the successful completion of the flagship optical submarine cable system connecting Chennai, India and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands (A&N Islands) for Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), a Government of India Enterprise. NEC Corporation (TSE: 6701), the parent company of NEC India, manufactured the optical submarine cable and provided technical assistance during the turnkey implementation.Commenting on the successful completion of the project, Aalok Kumar, President & CEO, NEC Corporation India said, "Completion of this important project marks a major milestone in NEC's journey of partnering with the Government of India to realize their vision of a truly connected India. NEC has been steadfast in its commitment to deliver excellence in innovation in all our areas of operation and this project is a testament to our unwavering dedication. We are hopeful that the internet connectivity will open a wide range of opportunities for the people on the islands."Spanning approximately 2,300km with 100Gb/s optical waves, the cable system connects Chennai to Port Blair and the islands of Havelock, Little Andaman (Hutbay), Car Nicobar, Kamorta, the Great Nicobar Islands, Long Island and Rangat. "I believe that our mission is to help connect people and nations all over the world, making it possible for individuals to access data and information universally," said Atsushi Kuwahara, General Manager, Submarine Network Division, NEC. "I am proud to have completed this important project in cooperation with BSNL and NEC Corporation India, and look forward to seeing this cutting edge system contribute to a brighter society and the advancement of opportunities throughout the A&N Islands."The cable system provides the A&N Islands with ample bandwidth for supporting voice and data connectivity that enable the implementation of e-Governance initiatives, such as the establishment of new enterprises and e-commerce facilities. The system is expected to assist educational institutes in the sharing of knowledge and will play a significant role in driving the "Digital India" vision, a campaign launched by the Government of India to ensure that Government services are made available to citizens electronically.About NEC Corporation IndiaNEC is a leader in the integration of IT and network technologies and brings more than 100 years of expertise in technological innovation to provide solutions for empowering people, businesses and society. Headquartered in Japan, NEC started operations in India in the 1950s, accelerating its growth through the expansion of business to global markets. NEC in India expanded its business from telecommunications to public safety, logistics, transportation, retail, finance, unified communication and IT platforms, serving across governments, businesses as well as individuals. With its Centre of Excellence for analytics platform solutions, big data, biometrics, mobile and retail, NEC in India offers innovative new services and solutions for India and global markets. NEC operates across India with offices in New Delhi (head office), Noida, Mumbai, Chennai, and Bengaluru. For further information please visit: www.in.nec.com. Copyright 2020 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

TOKYO, Dec 17, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - Hitachi ABB Power Grids has announced the launch of the RTU530, an all-new Remote Terminal Unit (RTU) that builds on the established reliability and efficiency of the RTU500 series.The RTU introduces new advanced functionality, including faster processing capabilities and a simple and user-friendly interface. With its advanced features and digital capabilities, the RTU530 enables faster decisions, reliable grid operations and supports customers with their efforts to decarbonize, modernize, and secure their electric grids."Growing grid complexity is prompting distribution utilities to move quickly to make their grids smarter and to keep up with the dynamic energy market," said Claus Vetter, global product group manager, Automation and Communication, Grid Automation business unit."The RTU530 provides a future-proof platform to enable the digitalization of distribution networks and helps customers make the transition to a future grid. It includes a wide set of applications and delivers reduced total cost of ownership and greater product quality, as compared to single-purpose devices," he added.The RTU530 extends the life of existing power distribution networks and supports the migration to modern technologies with enhanced security features including secure communication, encryption and security logging. It supports applications like self- healing grid and provides options for distribution power management, such as transformer regulation and controlling of small decentralized power stations. With the new fleet management interface, distribution operators can easily monitor, manage and maintain hundreds of devices installed at remote sites from one central location, thereby significantly reducing the effort involved. The low power consumption, easy-to-mount design and small footprint enables further cost savings, making utility networks greener and eco-efficient.With RTU530, distribution operators can take advantage of a range of out-of-the box applications such as Automatic Transfer System (ATS) and advanced measurement detection. The fleet management interface enables a new set of capabilities for monitoring and handling tasks, enforcing security policies and conducting maintenance easily and even remotely. The combination of pre-engineered algorithms and hardware significantly reduces the engineering effort, training, and time taken for installation, and at the same time helps to optimize secondary distribution operations.With an installed base of over 150,000 units worldwide, Hitachi ABB Power Grids is one of the world?s leading suppliers of RTUs to utility and industrial customers.About Hitachi ABB Power Grids Ltd.Hitachi ABB Power Grids is a global technology leader with a combined heritage of almost 250 years, employing around 36,000 people in 90 countries. Headquartered in Switzerland, the business serves utility, industry and infrastructure customers across the value chain, and emerging areas such as sustainable mobility, smart cities, energy storage and data centers. With a proven track record, global footprint and unparalleled installed base, Hitachi ABB Power Grids balances social, environmental and economic values. It is committed to powering good for a sustainable energy future, with pioneering and digital technologies, as the partner of choice for enabling a stronger, smarter and greener grid. https://www.hitachiabb-powergrids.com Copyright 2020 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

TOKYO, Dec 17, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - Today Arcelik A.S. (ARCLK:IST, "Arcelik") and Hitachi Global Life Solutions, Inc. (Hitachi GLS) have signed a share purchase agreement to establish a new joint venture company. As part of the transaction, Hitachi GLS will establish a new company into which it will transfer its global home appliances business outside of Japan. Arcelik will acquire 60% ownership in the new company, which both partners aim to establish in the spring of 2021, subject to regulatory approvals and satisfaction of other customary conditions.The transaction value is calculated as USD 300 million on a cash-free and debt-free basis for 60% of the business, which is subject to customary adjustments based on the balance of net debt, net working capital of the Company, and minority shares adjustment for the outstanding minority shares as of the closing date.Arcelik and Hitachi GLS plan to build a competitive value chain leveraging the complementarity of both companies' strategies and create growth opportunities that will increase their access to new markets, enhance their product ranges and sales capabilities, while delivering increased competitiveness across supply chain and production operations.Arcelik has consistently expanded its home appliance business in over 145 countries around the world. The company has grown significantly in Europe in particular and achieved strong growth in South Asia over the last decade. Hitachi GLS currently operates its home appliance business mainly in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, where it enjoys a high-end brand image. The joint venture will manufacture, sell and provide after-sales services of Hitachi branded home appliances (including refrigerators, washing machines, vacuum cleaners etc.) globally outside of the Japanese market. Both partners will benefit from their complementarity in geographic coverage of sales channels and product line-ups as well as from management synergies arising from their collaboration.The joint venture encompasses twelve Hitachi GLS group companies outside Japan (two manufacturing companies, ten sales companies) and approximately 3,800 employees. The portfolio generates a revenue of over JPY100bn in sales (approximately USD 1.0bn).Leveraging the sales network of Arcelik and Hitachi GLS, the joint venture will expand the sales of Hitachi branded products in Europe, South Asia and Africa as well as South East Asia and the Middle East. In addition, Arcelik and Hitachi GLS will combine their expertise in other key areas such as R&D, procurement and production systems, in order to optimize the joint venture's global supply chain and strengthen its competitive positioning in the market.Sustainability is at the core of both Arcelik's and Hitachi's strategies. Through their combined leadership in energy efficiency and sustainable solutions related to the home, the partnership will increase competitiveness around these key issues in the broader market.Comments from Arcelik's and Hitachi GLS's leadersFatih Kemal Ebiclioglu, President, Consumer Durables Group, Koc Holding (Arcelik's parent company):"This joint venture is another significant achievement in our Silk Road strategy. The Asia-Pacific home appliances market offers a strong growth owing to a rise in the middle-class population, developing retail channels, an increase in the household income and developing lifestyles. We will combine our global expertise, with the strong market position and brand heritage of Hitachi to grasp the global and local market needs."Hakan Bulgurlu, CEO, Arcelik:"Hitachi GLS has strong presence in Southeast Asia, offers high-end home appliances in the rapidly growing Asian market and is a strong strategic fit for Arcelik in terms of geography, brand, and products. This historic joint venture with Hitachi GLS serves as a major step in our ambitious global expansion and our journey to becoming one of the world's top home appliances companies. This joint venture significantly advances Arcelik's and Hitachi's global strategies and has solid future growth prospects as it will benefit from synergies realized by the joining forces of two well-established players."Keiji Kojima, Executive Vice President and Executive Officer, Hitachi, Ltd. (Hitachi GLS's parent company):"Today, it is a great pleasure to be able to announce the establishment of a joint venture with Arcelik, who has a solid reputation for its high quality and operational efficiency. Hitachi Group aims to contribute to the creation of a sustainable society, resolving societal issues in each region through its "Social Innovation Business," which leverages our broad portfolio of technologies, including IT. With the pandemic caused by COVID-19, remote working is becoming the new normal, and the Hitachi GLS home appliances business, which has a mission to make home life more secure and comfortable, is strategically important for the Hitachi Group. Through the establishment of this joint venture, we look forward to contributing to the improvement of people's quality of life (QoL) by delivering Hitachi branded home appliances to broader areas."Jun Taniguchi, President, Hitachi Global Life Solutions, Inc.: "I am delighted to have agreed the establishment of a joint venture company with Arcelik. Our strategic partnership enhances the complementary relationship we have in our sales networks and product strategy. Leveraging the strengths of both companies, we will increase the competitiveness of our home appliance businesses in the global market. And through the advanced technologies of both companies, we will also strive to develop products and services that will meet the needs of the consumers and contribute to people's QoL."About ArcelikWith 32,000 employees throughout the world, 12 brands (Arcelik, Beko, Grundig, Blomberg, ElektraBregenz, Arctic, Leisure, Flavel, Defy, Altus, Dawlance, Voltas Beko), sales and marketing offices in 34 countries, and 22 production facilities in 8 countries, Arcelik offers products and services in more than 145 countries. As Europe's second largest white goods company by market share (based on volumes), Arcelik reached a consolidated turnover of 5 billion Euros in 2019. With almost 70% of its revenues coming from international markets, Arcelik is the R&D leader in Turkey - holding more than 3,000 international patent applications to date with the efforts of 1,600 researchers in 15 R&D and Design Centers in Turkey and R&D Offices across five countries. Arcelik is named the "Industry Leader" in Durable Home Appliances category for the 2nd year in a row in Dow Jones Sustainability Index 2020 and in accordance with PAS 2060 Carbon Neutrality Standard, became carbon-neutral in global production plants in 2019 and 2020 fiscal years with its own carbon credits.www.arcelikglobal.comAbout Hitachi GLSHeadquartered in Tokyo, Japan, Hitachi Global Life Solutions, Inc., is a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. that provides engineering and maintenance services for home appliances, air conditioning equipment and other equipment and devices; as well as solutions utilizing digital technologies for the sale of home appliances. Working under the slogan of "360-degrees of happiness: a happy life for each and every customer," we seek to gain a closer understanding of customer lifestyles. By delivering well-designed functional products and sophisticated solutions to resolve individual customer lifestyle issues, through the utilization of the Hitachi Group's value chain and digital technologies, we aspire to be acompany that contributes to improving the quality of life for customers around the world.www.hitachi-gls.com/ Copyright 2020 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

TOKYO, Dec 17, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - NEC, a global leader in Communications & IT solutions, today announced that it now, for six years in a row, is recognized as the global #1 for SMB (Small and Medium Business) Communications Systems. This success underscores the strength of NEC's portfolio, the company's commitment to expanding its global enterprise communications footprint and the ability to serve customers to the fullest satisfaction.NEC has a long history and legacy in communications for over 120+ years and remains committed to the Unified Communications market for SMB and Enterprise with, at the core, its UNIVERGE communications portfolio SL, SV, 3C premise-based solutions and its new generation UNIVERGE BLUE UCaaS cloud-based solution offering.Fundamental pillarsMZA's (new windowwww.mzaconsultants.com) reporting on the global Call Control market shows that NEC has led all manufacturers in global shipments in the SMB segment for the last 6 years*. With a present market share of 17%, NEC is well ahead of all other companies in that segment.Expertise and innovative strength combined with the company's dedication, reliability and financial viability are fundamental pillars to NEC's success with business partners as well as end customers.Extreme value for moneyNEC offers a broad range of enterprise communications solutions - ranging from small to very large systems - that effectively support Enterprise and SMB customers whose requirements span from traditional to full IP and 100% software-based solutions, and from premises-based to cloud deployments.Directed at smaller and mid-sized businesses, NEC's renowned UNIVERGE SV9100 and SL2100 communications servers, together with their powerful range of terminals and business applications including e.g. IP DECT, are intelligent cost-effective communications solutions that pack affordability, efficiency and enterprise-grade functionality into one. Localization, local language support and ease of installation are additional benefits that prove crucial for customers and resellers to benefit from the rich functionality of NEC's solutions.*Source MZA Call Control (PBX-IP PBX) Market Reports 2015-2020 Copyright 2020 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

TOKYO, Dec 17, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - Eisai Co., Ltd. and Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., U.S.A. (known as MSD outside the United States and Canada) today announced that the pivotal Phase 3 Study 309/KEYNOTE-775 trial evaluating the investigational use of LENVIMA, the orally available multiple receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor discovered by Eisai, plus KEYTRUDA, the anti-PD-1 therapy from Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., U.S.A., met its dual primary endpoints of overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) and its secondary efficacy endpoint of objective response rate (ORR) in patients with advanced endometrial cancer, following at least one prior platinum-based regimen. These positive results were observed in the mismatch repair proficient (pMMR) subgroup and the intention-to-treat (ITT) study population, which includes both patients with endometrial carcinoma that is pMMR as well as patients whose disease is microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H)/mismatch repair deficient (dMMR). Based on an analysis conducted by an independent Data Monitoring Committee, LENVIMA plus KEYTRUDA demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvement in OS, PFS and ORR versus chemotherapy (treatment of physician's choice [TPC] of doxorubicin or paclitaxel). The safety profile of the LENVIMA plus KEYTRUDA combination was consistent with previously reported studies. Eisai and Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., U.S.A. will discuss these data with regulatory authorities worldwide, with the intent to submit marketing authorization applications based on these results, and plan to present these results at an upcoming medical meeting."Women with advanced endometrial cancer are faced with high mortality rates and limited treatment options following initial systemic therapy," said Dr. Gregory Lubiniecki, Associate Vice President, Oncology Clinical Research, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., U.S.A. Research Laboratories. "These are the first results from a Phase 3 trial of a combination regimen including immunotherapy in advanced endometrial carcinoma that have shown a statistically significant improvement in overall survival, progression-free survival and objective response rate versus chemotherapy. Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., U.S.A. and Eisai are dedicated to continuing to research the KEYTRUDA plus LENVIMA combination and discover new approaches to address unmet needs for devastating diseases such as endometrial carcinoma.""We are encouraged by the data observed in Study 309/KEYNOTE-775, which represent a possible step forward for patients impacted by advanced endometrial carcinoma and support the results seen in the advanced endometrial cancer cohort of Study 111/KEYNOTE-146," said Dr. Takashi Owa, Vice President, Chief Medicine Creation Officer and Chief Discovery Officer, Oncology Business Group at Eisai. "As more clinical data from the LEAP (LEnvatinib And Pembrolizumab) program are revealed, we cannot help but be energized by the trajectory of our collaboration with Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., U.S.A. and the benefits we hope to provide to patients together. Most importantly, we are grateful for the trust that the patients and healthcare professionals who participated in this trial have shown us."Study 309/KEYNOTE-775 is the confirmatory trial for Study 111/KEYNOTE-146, which supported the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) 2019 accelerated approval of the LENVIMA plus KEYTRUDA combination for the treatment of patients with advanced endometrial carcinoma that is not MSI-H or dMMR, who have disease progression following prior systemic therapy and are not candidates for curative surgery or radiation. This accelerated approval was based on tumor response rate and durability of response and was the first approval granted under Project Orbis, an initiative of the FDA Oncology Center of Excellence that provides a framework for concurrent submission and review of oncology drugs among its international partners. Under Project Orbis, Health Canada and Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) granted conditional and provisional approvals, respectively, for this indication.Eisai and Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., U.S.A. are studying the LENVIMA plus KEYTRUDA combination through the LEAP (LEnvatinib And Pembrolizumab) clinical program in 13 different tumor types across 20 clinical trials, including a Phase 3 trial evaluating the combination in the first-line setting for patients with advanced endometrial carcinoma (LEAP-001). Copyright 2020 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

KAWASAKI, Japan, Dec 17, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - Fujitsu Laboratories, Ltd. has successfully developed a technology that uses AI to discover the characteristic cause-and-effect relationships in various pieces of data relating to people and things in a variety of fields, with possible applications in medicine, marketing, manufacturing, and more. Image of the developed technologyThe technology specifically addresses the need to isolate and identify characteristics from data in different real-world scenarios. In the medical field, for example, it is necessary to identify the characteristic genes that affect the development of cancer in individual patients. In the field of marketing, sales representatives need to find the characteristic factors that lead individual customers to make a purchase. Fujitsu has developed a technology to discover the characteristic causality of individual pieces of data by quickly extracting all the groups of data that have a common correlation from an entire dataset, and evaluating the causality of each group of data to find the characteristic causality. In a recent trial demonstration, Fujitsu applied the technology to the gene expression data of colorectal cancer patients, estimating the characteristic causal relationship that appears in the data of each patient. Fujitsu's researchers succeeded in rediscovering the gene of interest in the colorectal cancer classification, offering a key to the development of a treatment plan individualized for each patient. In addition to medical care and marketing, this technology enables use cases including customer credit scoring in finance and identification of the cause of product defects in manufacturing.BackgroundWhile the use of AI to tackle real-world problems continues to accelerate, certain challenges remain in applying AI and machine learning technologies to resolve challenges in a variety of fields, including medicine and marketing. To identify the key drivers of the problem to be solved and develop a strategy, for instance, it's necessary to not only look at the correlation between attributes A and B, but also at the causal relationship between A and B, such as "A is the cause of B." To date, data analysis research has led to the development of techniques for estimating the common cause-and-effect relationship of data. In addition, estimating the characteristic cause-and-effect relationship of each piece of data is needed to solve many real problems. For example, in the case of cancer treatment in the medical field, many cancer patients have been identified by the expression of unique genes that affect the disease state of cancer. In order to devise an appropriate treatment plan for individual patients, therefore, doctors must identify genes that are unique to each cancer patient, not genes that are common to all cancer patients. In the case of promotions in marketing, each customer within a larger group has a distinctive characteristic that leads to their purchase, and in order to plan appropriate outreach for individual customers, it becomes necessary to identify a characteristic, motivational cause for each customer, not a cause common to all customers. In this way, there has been a need for new techniques for estimating the characteristic cause-and-effect relationship of each piece of data to solve many real problems.IssuesIn order to accurately estimate the characteristic cause-and-effect relationship for each data item, researchers must compare the results of different operations and actions applied to the corresponding person or object under the same conditions. However, it is difficult to obtain, for example, the results of differing gene expression in a single cancer patient or implementing different promotion measures for one customer. Therefore, the challenge was how to discover the characteristic causality of each piece of data from the entire data of various patients and customers.Newly Developed TechnologyFujitsu has succeeded in developing a new cause-and-effect search technology that can discover the characteristic cause-and-effect relationships of individual data items. The features of the developed technology are as follows.1. Technique for extracting all groups of data with similar correlationFocusing on correlations, which are less severe than causality, all groups of data with a common correlation from the entire data are extracted. When the number of data attributes exceeds 50, the maximum number of possible correlations exceeds 1,000 trillion(1). However, by using Fujitsu's "Wide Learning"(2) technology, which finds all important combinations without omission, it is possible to discover any correlation in the data and to extract all such groups of data in seconds. For example, to determine the causes that contribute to the development of cancer, a group of patients with a common correlation is extracted by searching for combinations of expressed genes, with the presence or absence of gene expression as an attribute.2. Technique for extracting all groups of data with characteristic causalityNext, causality for the population of data is estimated and the attributes in each causality compared, as well as the strength of the causality, and the direction of the causality. This makes it possible to quantitatively evaluate the rarity of causality and to comprehensively discover those with high rarity scores as characteristic causality. Because these two techniques can extract all populations of data with characteristic causality, it is possible to determine the characteristic causality of each data by identifying the population that corresponds to the new data for which causality is desired.OutcomePrevious genetic analysis studies have shown that there are several types of colorectal cancer, including those with a strong immune response and those with metabolic abnormalities, in addition to the conventionally-known common types, and that each type expresses a different gene. With the cooperation of Professor Kenzo Takahashi, Assistant Professor Takuya Miyagi, and Assistant Professor Daisuke Utsumi, of Graduate School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus(3), researchers from Fujitsu Laboratories extracted gene expression data(4) from approximately 1,000 colorectal cancer tissues and normal colorectal tissues from data published by The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA, 5) and GTEx(6), and applied this technology to the extracted data to confirm that the genes important in distinguishing the types of colorectal cancer(7) can be identified automatically. Professor Kenzo Takahashi commented, "This technology provides medical researchers with feedback, including the causal relationship that provides a concrete basis for the discovery, and enables the identification of carcinogenic factors in each patient. We hope that this technology will lead to the provision of optimal medical care for each, individual patient."Future PlansFujitsu will continue to conduct research in the field of genomic medicine with the aim of contributing to medical research, including in the field of personalized medicine, as well as to shed light on the causes of cancer. In FY 2020 ending in March 2021, Fujitsu will also apply the new machine learning technology to demonstrate its utility in various fields, including marketing, manufacturing, and finance, in addition to the medical field. Fujitsu aims to put the technology into practical use in FY 2021.(1) When the number of data attributes exceeds 50, the maximum number of possible correlations exceeds 1,000 trillion There are at least two classifications per attribute (such as "Yes" "No" for gene expression), and when 2 is raised to the power of 50, there are more than 1,000 trillion correlations.(2) Wide Learning Technology AI technology that can explain reasoning and discover knowledge by exhaustive listing of hypotheses: Fujitsu's New AI Technology "Wide Learning" Enables Highly Precise Learning Even from Imbalanced Data Sets (September 19, 2018 Press Releases, https://bit.ly/37raqTu) (3) University of the Ryukyus Location: Nishihara-cho, Nakagami-gun, Okinawa Prefecture; President: Mutsumi Nishida.(4) Gene expression data For the purpose of this verification trial, the Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus independently created data based on the criteria for high and low expression levels of each gene.(5) TCGA The Cancer Genome Atlas. A joint project between the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) (https://bit.ly/3mkZ1ss). In the experiment, TCGA will use data on gene expression levels in samples from 33 different types of cancer.(6) GTEx An international consortium (https://www.gtexportal.org/home/) consisting of several research institutions, including the US Broad Institute. In this experiment, data on gene expression levels in human body tissues released by GTEx was utilized.(7) Colorectal cancer type The classification of colorectal cancer at an international conference in the United States and Europe in 2015. (https://bit.ly/2KrXFPj)About FujitsuFujitsu is the leading Japanese information and communication technology (ICT) company offering a full range of technology products, solutions and services. Approximately 130,000 Fujitsu people support customers in more than 100 countries. We use our experience and the power of ICT to shape the future of society with our customers. Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 3.9 trillion yen (US$35 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020. For more information, please see www.fujitsu.com.About Fujitsu LaboratoriesFounded in 1968 as a wholly owned subsidiary of Fujitsu Limited, Fujitsu Laboratories Ltd. is one of the premier research centers in the world. With a global network of laboratories in Japan, China, the United States and Europe, the organization conducts a wide range of basic and applied research in the areas of Next-generation Services, Computer Servers, Networks, Electronic Devices and Advanced Materials. For more information, please see: http://www.fujitsu.com/jp/group/labs/en/. Copyright 2020 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

TOKYO, Dec 16, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - Telefónica Germany / O2 and NEC Corporation (TSE: 6701) announced today that NEC, working with its ecosystem of partners, has been selected by Telefónica Germany / O2 as its favored full-service system integrator for the first Open RAN pilot system in Germany. The system has already successfully completed a first call via Open RAN on a live O2 mobile network in the Bavarian city of Landsberg am Lech.During the pilot, NEC will help to define a customized Open RAN architecture, optimized and adapted to the requirements of the mobile network of Telefónica Germany. As the system integrator for this pilot, NEC coordinates the overall design of the Open RAN system and ensures the delivery of a solid end-to-end solution. This is being carried out in collaboration with industry leaders that include ADVA, Altiostar, GigaTera Communications, Intel, Red Hat, Supermicro and Xilinx."The key to success in implementing a first Open RAN pilot lies in the knowledge of an experienced system integrator," said Mallik Rao, CTIO of Telefónica Germany. "NEC and its subsidiary Netcracker have proven their expertise through multiple project engagements within the Telefónica Group. We believe NEC is a reliable partner that is capable of bringing together an innovative network that can dramatically improve customer experience and enable faster time to market in the future.""We are proud to be delivering Open RAN that will bring tremendous value to our customers," said Mayuko Tatewaki, General Manager, Service Provider Solutions Division, NEC Corporation. "Leveraging our IT and network domain expertise and unique experiences internationally, we are extremely excited to take part in contributing to Telefónica Germany's Open RAN initiative."About Telefónica Germany Telefónica Germany offers telecommunication services for private and business customers as well as innovative digital products and services in the field of Internet of Things and data analysis. The company is one of the leading integrated telecommunications providers in Germany. In mobile communications alone, Telefónica Germany / O2 manages more than 42.7 million connections without M2M (as of 30.09.2020) - no other network operator connects more people in Germany. Under the core brand O2 as well as various second and partner brands, the company sells post- and prepaid mobile products with innovative mobile data services. The basis for this is the mobile network based on a highly resilient GSM, UMTS and LTE infrastructure. At the same time, the company is building a powerful and energy-efficient 5G network. Telefónica Germany also provides telephony and high-speed Internet products based on different technologies in the fixed network area. Telefónica Deutschland Holding AG has been listed in the Prime Standard on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (TecDAX) since 2012. In the 2019 financial year the company generated sales of 7.4 billion euros with almost 8,500 employees. The company is majority-owned by the Spanish telecommunications group Telefónica S.A. with headquarters in Madrid. With business activities in 14 countries and a customer base of around 350 million lines, the group is one of the largest telecommunications providers in the world.About NEC CorporationNEC Corporation has established itself as a leader in the integration of IT and network technologies while promoting the brand statement of "Orchestrating a brighter world." NEC enables businesses and communities to adapt to rapid changes taking place in both society and the market as it provides for the social values of safety, security, fairness and efficiency to promote a more sustainable world where everyone has the chance to reach their full potential. For more information, visit NEC at https://www.nec.com. Copyright 2020 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

Vietnam, Dec 14, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - Sharp Energy Solutions Corporation (SESJ)(3) announces the completion of a mega solar power plant in Binh Dinh Province, Vietnam. The project was a collaboration with multiple partners, including power generating company Viet Nam Viet Renewable Energy Joint Stock Company(4) and local construction company as well as co-owner of the project NSN Construction and Engineering Joint Stock Company(5).Completed solar power plantThe new plant has an output of approximately 50 MW-dc, with annual power generation capacity estimated at 82,506 MWh/year. This is equivalent to the amount consumed in a year by about 43,700 average Vietnamese households. SESJ has so far constructed six solar power plants in Vietnam, for a combined capacity of approximately 290 MW-dc. This new plant will raise the total capacity to approximately 340 MW-dc. The Vietnamese government has formulated a plan(6) to raise solar power generation capacity in the country to 12,000 MW by the year 2030. SESJ will leverage the technologies and know-how it has gained from the construction of power plants around the world and remains committed to spreading renewable energy in Vietnam.(1) Calculated at 1,887 kWh/year per household.(2) Estimate for the initial year of operation.(3) SESJ is a subsidiary of Sharp Corporation, specializing in energy solutions such as the sales of PV systems and the installation of electrical equipment.(4) This company will be in charge of operating the new plant.(5) A Vietnamese company handling architectural design, construction, and others.(6) Source: the Vietnamese government's 7th Power Development Plan (PDP7). Copyright 2020 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

TOKYO, Dec 14, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - The Cybermedia Center, Osaka University, in cooperation with NEC Corporation (NEC; TSE: 6701), announced today it will introduce a new cloud-linked High Performance Computing (HPC) and High Performance Data Analysis (HPDA) supercomputer system from NEC. This will replace the existing system provided by NEC, and is scheduled to commence operation in May 2021.The new supercomputer system is composed of 1,520 general-purpose CPU nodes, each of which is a state-of-the-art general-purpose computational node with a 3rd Gen Intel Xeon Scalable processor (codename Ice Lake) featuring Intel Deep Learning boost technology, 42 GPU nodes, each of which is equipped with eight NVIDIA A100 Tensor Core GPUs that accelerate workload for AI, data analytics, HPC, and visualization and 36 VECTOR nodes, each of which features eight NEC SX-Aurora TSUBASA units that allow faster and highly efficient simulation of weather, seismic, hydraulic, and other phenomena. The new system is a hybrid supercomputer system that can deliver a theoretical performance of higher than 16 petaflops, centered on a storage appliance equipped with DDN EXAScaler high-performance parallel filesystems from DataDirect Networks, which provides 20 petabytes as a large-capacity data area and 1.2 petabytes as a high-speed data area.NVIDIA Mellanox HDR InfiniBand provides the high speed, low latency, and smart connectivity between the nodes. The general-purpose CPU nodes are set to become the largest computational resource in Japan as a supercomputer system equipped with Ice Lake. Furthermore, the new supercomputer system is notable not only as a computing resource and data storage but also for tailor-made functionality that allows researchers to dynamically deploy and utilize the software stack of their choice. Moreover, the following new services for improving user friendliness, which accelerates and improves user-experience, are also being offered:1. Data aggregation infrastructure:The new supercomputer system is centered on EXAScaler appliances equipped with DDN high-performance parallel filesystems that provide 20 petabytes of large data area and 1.2 petabytes of high-speed data area. The DDN EXAScaler appliances provide the university with a next-generation data aggregation infrastructure named Osaka University Next-generation Infrastructure for Open research and innovation (ONION) in conjunction with Cloudian's Object-Storage HyperStore. ONION allows for a wide variety of data access protocols and significantly improves the flexibility of data usage. By facilitating the sharing of data with cloud services and other research institutions through ONION, the data before/after computation can be smoothly and flexibly shared among users.2. Secure computing environment:The new supercomputer system provides a secure computing environment where users can make use of confidential data with assurance. This computing environment offers a secure staging function as an achievement of collaborative research and development between NEC and the Cybermedia Center, Osaka University. Highly confidential data in the storage on campus can be computed and analyzed by the compute nodes on the new supercomputer system, without the data being moved from storage. The secure computing environment also offers a secure partitioning function that dynamically separates and isolates the network for a specific user group and thus provides services that prevent other users from seeing the data and computations. Until today, when used by the medical field and companies, large-scale computing resources provided by supercomputing centers such as the Cybermedia Center, Osaka University could not be fully utilized because of several data security issues. By taking advantage of this secure computing environment, an isolated environment can be dynamically prepared, thus enabling research and development in areas where it was previously unavailable.3. Cloud bursting function:The new supercomputer system also provides cloud bursting capabilities that enable the on-demand use of the Oracle Cloud Infrastructure cloud service and the Microsoft Azure cloud service. The Cybermedia Center, Osaka University has had issues in the past with high utilization of on-premises computational resources and long waiting times. Switching part of the computation processes to resources on private cloud services makes it possible to respond to the growing demand for resources while providing the same capabilities as the on-premises computing environment. It also provides flexibility for new computational resources that continue to be updated on cloud services.The Cybermedia Center at Osaka University has named the new supercomputer system SQUID (Supercomputer for Quest for Unsolved Interdisciplinary Datascience) to address unsolved interdisciplinary data science challenges for researchers supporting academia and industry in Japan. The Cybermedia Center, Osaka University will now work in cooperation with NEC, Intel, NVIDIA, DDN, Cloudian, Oracle Japan, and Microsoft Japan to construct the new supercomputer system for cloud-linked High Performance Computing and High Performance Data Analysis that works in conjunction with the cloud. They will provide new supercomputer systems that meet diverse computational needs from the fields of HPDA, such as machine learning and deep learning, as well as numerical calculations and scientific simulations in HPC fields. SQUID will support various research areas and researchers and contribute to groundbreaking future research analysis and findings.(*) All listed system names and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of each respective company or trademark owner.Cooperative companies:Cyber Media Center, Osaka UniversityNEC CorporationIntel CorporationNVIDIA CorporationDataDirect Networks Japan, Inc.Cloudian, Inc.Oracle Corporation JapanAbout NEC CorporationNEC Corporation has established itself as a leader in the integration of IT and network technologies while promoting the brand statement of "Orchestrating a brighter world." NEC enables businesses and communities to adapt to rapid changes taking place in both society and the market as it provides for the social values of safety, security, fairness and efficiency to promote a more sustainable world where everyone has the chance to reach their full potential. For more information, visit NEC at https://www.nec.com. Copyright 2020 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

TOKYO, Dec 14, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - NEC Corporation (TSE: 6701) announced today its establishment of an Open RAN laboratory in India as a complement to its Center of Excellence (CoE) in the U.K.The facility will accelerate development of NEC's 5G open ecosystem by pre-integrating partner Open RAN components to form end-to-end commercial-ready solutions according to customer-specific needs. The solutions will undergo end-to-end practical validations on functional/operational performance and quality assurance throughout all layers of the RAN, from network and cloud to service layers. The lab will also be responsible for post-deployment trouble-shooting, life cycle management as well as continuous integration (CI), and continuous delivery (CD) of solutions.NEC is committed to developing highly reliable, high-quality end-to-end solutions leveraging its expertise accumulated through its long-term experience in the telecom industry and proven capabilities to develop, deliver and operate carrier-grade commercial products and networks across the globe. NEC's capabilities are further enhanced by the orchestration, digital OSS, and automation technologies of its subsidiary Netcracker, resulting in more efficient operations and faster time to market.NEC aims to maximize the value of its open ecosystem by combining the aforementioned competencies with its advanced products and solutions, and with best-of-breed products from various partners at the forefront of innovation. Initial partners include Altiostar, GigaTera, and MTI, as NEC plans to expand its ecosystem with a broader group of partners in possession of cutting-edge technologies to accelerate operators' commercial adoption of Open RAN."Altiostar is excited to work with NEC on the CoE lab to promote and demonstrate the significance of Open RAN as operators transition their networks to 5G," said Pierre Kahhale, Vice President of Field Operations, Altiostar. "We have a strong and growing relationship with NEC, dating to our collaboration on the first cloud-native network at scale in Japan, and continuing with current trials and operator deployment plans across the globe.""Partnering with NEC allows us to focus on the changing demands of the industry," said Daniel Kim, CEO of GigaTera Communications. "Our innovative approach to engineering new products and NEC's extensive knowledge and background will be an advantage in the ORAN market.""As one of the leaders in the Open RAN ecosystem, NEC has shown its capabilities in integrating end-to-end O-RAN solutions. NEC's CoE provides the market a great way to demonstrate O-RAN, using components from different suppliers that conform with the O-RAN specifications," said Allen Yen, Chairman and CEO of MTI. "MTI is excited to be one of the initial partners of NEC's CoE lab, and will continue to supply O-RAN compliant radio units to the market.""We are confident that our firm partnerships with the industry's best talents will enable us to advance the development of cutting-edge carrier grade ecosystems at full throttle," said Kazuhiko Harasaki, Deputy General Manager, Service Provider Solutions Division, NEC Corporation. "NEC will take leadership in curating pre-validated models and facilitating commercial, multi-vendor Open RAN deployment as a viable alternative 5G network for operators."About AltiostarAltiostar provides 4G and 5G open virtualized RAN (Open vRAN) software that supports open interfaces and virtualizes the radio access baseband functions to build a disaggregated multi-vendor, web-scale, cloud-based mobile network. Operators can add intelligence, quickly adapt the network for different services and automate operations to rapidly scale the network and reduce Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). Altiostar collaborates with a growing ecosystem of partners to support a diverse Open RAN supply chain. The Altiostar Open vRAN solution has been deployed globally, including the world's first cloud-native commercial-scale mobile network with Rakuten Mobile in Japan. For more information, visit www.altiostar.com.About GigaTera CommunicationsGigaTera is a leading global innovator in mobile wireless connectivity solutions that ensure infrastructure reliability, streamline service operations, and maximize wireless performance. Employing powerful, patented innovations, our expert engineering has proven to lower the cost of operations, ensure quality levels in equipment and unparalleled performance for coverage and high-speed mobile service. Utilizing our extensive knowledge and background, our engineers are continuously working to provide superior solutions that aim to deliver proven results for 5G and beyond.About MTIMicroelectronics Technology Inc. (MTI) is a high-technology company that has specialized in wireless communication product development, manufacturing, and global sales for more than 35 years. Based on core competency in RF/ Microwave, MTI has established a leading position in the fields of Remote Radio Heads, Microwave Radios, Satellite Transceivers and ODUs, Broadband Wireless access products, and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) readers and modules. With this excellent record of accomplishment, MTI has established valued, long-term partnerships with world-leading partners.About NEC CorporationNEC Corporation has established itself as a leader in the integration of IT and network technologies while promoting the brand statement of "Orchestrating a brighter world." NEC enables businesses and communities to adapt to rapid changes taking place in both society and the market as it provides for the social values of safety, security, fairness and efficiency to promote a more sustainable world where everyone has the chance to reach their full potential. For more information, visit NEC at https://www.nec.com. Copyright 2020 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

Texas, Dec 11, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - Toyota's next generation fuel cell electric technology is now powering a new set of Class 8 heavy-duty trucks. Using the same fuel cell system as the all-new 2021 Mirai sedan that goes on sale this month, the engineers at Toyota Motor North America Research and Development have developed a set of production-intent prototype trucks that are being prepared to run drayage routes at the ports of L.A. and Long Beach to validate their performance, efficiency and drivability.Designed to be flexible enough to meet the needs of a wide variety of OEM truck makers, the new fuel cell electric system in the latest prototypes has been adapted to a Kenworth T680 chassis. A more compact hydrogen storage cabinet behind the cab houses six hydrogen tanks with the same capacity as previous prototypes while a new, more powerful lithium-ion battery helps smooth out the power flow to the electric motors. In this configuration, the second generation fuel cell system delivers over 300 miles of range at a full load weight of 80,000 lbs., all while demonstrating exceptional drivability, quiet operation, and zero harmful emissions."This is an important step in the transition to emissions-free heavy-duty trucks," said Andrew Lund, Chief Engineer, Toyota Motor North America Reseach and Development. "Our first prototype trucks proved that a fuel cell electric powertrain was capable of hauling heavy cargo on a daily basis. These new prototypes not only use production-intent hardware, they will also allow us to start looking beyond drayage into broader applications of this proven technology."Reducing airborne pollution at the Ports of L.A. and Long Beach is an important driver of this program. Toyota's Environmental Challenge 2050 aims to almost completely eliminate CO2 emissions from our vehicles, operations and supply chain by 2050. Converting the drayage trucks that currently serve these ports to electric drivetrains would move us closer to that goal while improving the quality of life of operators, workers, and communities in and around the ports. Copyright 2020 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

TOKYO, Dec 11, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - Fujitsu has announced that it will offer free educational programming modules for its "Ontenna" device for students that are deaf or hard of hearing. Ontenna is a unique device that allows users to sense sounds with their bodies. Fujitsu will offer an educational solution utilizing the device to schools for deaf students and other educational institutions free of charge across Japan from December 11, 2020.Photo 1: "Ontenna" imageSince June 2019, Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) has been providing free trial versions of Fujitsu's Ontenna device to slightly more than 70% of schools for those with limited hearing nationwide. This initiative represents part of MEXT's efforts to leverage technology to contribute to the improvement of students' educational environments and realize its goal of "fair, individualized learning that leaves no one behind." The trial version of Ontenna is now widely used in speech classes and for rhythm and music exercises in schools for the deaf and hard of hearing.This latest move promises to further advance efforts to achieve this goal, and the Ontenna educational programming modules will be made available free of charge, allowing children to use the program to customize the vibration and light-based feedback of their Ontenna to react to sounds they want to experience. This will provide children with opportunities to learn programming and contribute to the development of a new generation of technologically literate young people who will play a leading role in shaping our digital future society.The newly developed Ontenna educational programming modules were created in cooperation with the following research subject: "Design and Deployment of a xDiversity AI platform for Audio-Visual-Tactile Communication towards an inclusive society (Research Representative: "xDiversity(1)" Yoichi Ochiai)" in the research area "Development and Integration of Artificial Intelligence Technologies for Innovation Acceleration" of Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)'s Strategic Basic Research Program, Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology (CREST) .BackgroundOntenna is a user interface that converts and transmits the volume of different noises to vibration and light in real time. Users can apply it to their hair, earlobes, collars, or armpits to perceive the characteristics of sound, including as rhythm, patterns, and volume. Ontenna has been provided since August 2019 for the purpose of allowing deaf people the ability to experience sound through demonstrations in a variety of environments, including in the classroom, sporting events, concerts, and tap dancing, as well as through collaborative research with deaf people. Fujitsu is now offering an educational solution free of charge that combines programming functions and teaching materials with the Ontenna device, which is already widely used in schools for the deaf. Through programming, users can customize the Ontenna device's vibration and light patterns for the volume and intensity of the sound they want to feel. Fujitsu will additionally provide educational guidance plans, class slides, and worksheets to educators to support the use of the new materials in classes, aiming to spread programming education to schools for students that are deaf or hard of hearing and other schools throughout Japan.(1) xDiversity"Cross Diversity". Activity led by Yoichi Ochiai as part of CREST's research projectFor more information, visit https://bit.ly/37724QF. Copyright 2020 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

TOKYO, Dec 11, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - Biogen and Eisai, Co., Ltd. (Tokyo, Japan) announced that Biogen has submitted a Japanese New Drug Application (J-NDA) to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) for aducanumab, an investigational therapy for Alzheimer's disease. Aducanumab, an amyloid beta-targeting antibody, has been shown in clinical trials to remove amyloid beta in the brain and significantly slow clinical decline in patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) due to Alzheimer's disease and mild Alzheimer's disease dementia."Japan is the third market where we have applied for regulatory approval for aducanumab, and the filing represents continued progress on our commitment to bring this therapy to patients around the world," said Michel Vounatsos, Chief Executive Officer at Biogen. "Japan has met the challenges of a rapidly-aging population by demonstrating global leadership in setting policies that aim to increase support for Alzheimer's disease patients and caregivers. We look forward to the regulatory review of aducanumab with the hope that, if approved, it could help further manage the impact of this devastating disease.""As Japan has the oldest population in the world, it is anticipated that the social burden of Alzheimer's disease will continue to grow," said Dr. Haruo Naito, Chief Executive Officer at Eisai Co., Ltd. "For more than 30 years, Eisai has been dedicated to dementia research and development, and working with people living with Alzheimer's and their caregivers to fight this disease. The filing of the application is an important step in serving patients and their families as aducanumab may help reduce clinical decline and potentially maintain the ability to live an independent life for as long as possible. Aducanumab also has the potential to help address the public health challenges our aging population faces in Japan."The Japanese regulatory authority will review the application through the standard review process. In addition to the filing in Japan, aducanumab is under Priority Review with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, with a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) action date of March 7, 2021 and is also under review with the European Medicines Agency. Copyright 2020 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

TOKYO, Dec 11, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co., Ltd., a part of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group, has become a member of "Planning and Design Center for Greener Ships," a core organization established to plan and propose state-of-the-art ships on a continuing basis through integration of the accumulated expertise of Japan's shipbuilding industry. Together with other members of domestic shipbuilders, going forward Mitsubishi Shipbuilding will pursue development of advanced environmental performance-enhancing technologies for the era of carbon neutrality, targeting near-zero carbon emissions, and engage in activities focusing on research and development related to commercialization of next-generation greener ships.Members of Planning and Design Center for Greener ShipsThe founding aim of the Planning and Design Center for Greener Ships is to contribute to the growth of Japan's shipbuilding industry by developing advanced environmental performance-enhancing technologies that will respond to tightening of environmental regulations over the long term through consolidation of the country's technologies in ship design, and by advancing commercialization of next-generation greener ships. A total of nine domestic shipbuilders, including Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, together with Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK), have already joined or announced intent to join the Center. Going forward, further participation will be sought among domestic companies involved in marine business, shipping companies, trading houses and other entities supporting the Center's aims. Initially, the Center, representing Japan's shipbuilding industry, will strive to prepare a detailed proposal on next-generation ships that will reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, in a quest to achieve the medium to long-range targets of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the United Nations specialized agency that serves to promote international cooperation concerning maritime issues.On December 10, a presentation was held in Yokohama to announce the establishment of Planning and Design Center for Greener Ships. At this news conference, a number of messages were launched directly for the domestic marine industry. One focused on the current situation in which global industrial society, including the marine industry, has entered a period of significant change stemming from response to the problem of global warming, rapid progress in digital technologies, etc., and in particular the accelerating demands for efforts to achieve zero carbon. Another emphasized that the future of Japan']'s shipbuilding industry, which today faces a critical situation largely attributable to the supply-and-demand imbalance in the global shipbuilding market, will be carved out by accelerating efforts to lead the world in integrating diverse environmental technologies and building competitive ships.Mitsubishi Shipbuilding believes it is important, for the growth of the domestic shipbuilding industry, to collaborate with other members in developing environmental technologies for the present and future, and to continuously plan and propose state-of-the-art ships. Going forward, as a member of the Planning and Design Center for Greener Ships, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding will expand on its marine and comprehensive technologies accumulated throughout MHI Group, and promote the development of advanced environmental performance-enhancing technologies that will respond to tightening environmental regulations over the medium to long term. By pursuing commercialization of next-generation greener ships, Mitsubishi Shipbuilding will play a leading role in activities that contribute to the growth of the domestic marine industry. Copyright 2020 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

TOKYO, Dec 11, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - MITSUBISHI MOTORS CORPORATION (MMC) has teased the first image of the highly anticipated next-generation OUTLANDER. The vehicle will debut first in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico in February 2021, and follow soon-after in other international markets.Developed under the ideal of the Japanese term "I-Fu-Do-Do", which means authentic and majestic, the all-new OUTLANDER demonstrates strength and quality from the inside out. The exterior design is refined, with a powerful and proud front end with new generation Dynamic Shield design concept. The complete transformation from dimensions to exterior styling previews the design direction for the future MITSUBISHI MOTORS' models."The OUTLANDER is an iconic SUV for the company, so when we developed the next generation model, we took inspirations from our rich SUV heritage to realize a bold and confident styling with a solid stance that excites our customers," said Seiji Watanabe, Division General Manager of Design (Head of Design), MMC. "The all-new OUTLANDER is the first model epitomizing the new generation of Mitsubishi design and the frontrunner of our design strategy."The all-new OUTLANDER launch will be livestreamed in February 2021; more information on the launch will be made available after the new year. Copyright 2020 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com

TOKYO, Dec 10, 2020 - (JCN Newswire) - Showa Denko K.K. (SDK; TSE:4004) has formulated its future "Long-term Vision (2021-2030) for Newly Integrated Company" (Long-term Vision) following integration with Showa Denko Materials Co., Ltd. (Showa Denko Materials).Since making Showa Denko Materials a consolidated subsidiary on April 28 of this year, Showa Denko has been developing its Long-term Vision in order to integrate the two companies as soon as possible and establish a foundation for future growth.Showa Denko and Showa Denko Materials are committed to providing new functions and value as an integrated company (the Company) in the chemicals industry where intensification of global competition and changes in market structure are expected to go forward, thereby contributing to the realization of a sustainable society.1. Long-term Vision and synergy for Newly Integrated Company(1) Purpose and Ideal stateIn terms of purpose, the Newly Integrated Company will seek to "change society through the power of chemistry." This includes contributing to the sustainable development of global society by creating functions required of the times as an advanced material partner. In addition, the Company will strive to become a company with a "strong presence in the global market" and that "contributes to a sustainable global society," which are the two things the Company aims to achieve in terms of its Ideal state in order to fulfill its purpose.Currently, global demand for solutions to environmental and social issues and contributions to SDGs is driving the need for the renewal of various social infrastructure such as digital infrastructure, mobility and energy. In this context, expectations for innovation by materials manufacturers are growing.By integrating the two companies, the Showa Denko Group (the Group) will meet these societal demands and expectations of its customers head on. It will provide onestop solutions and new functions to its customers and contribute to a sustainable society as a whole as a "global top-level functional chemical manufacturer" that will realize a breakthrough by fusing Showa Denko's midstream materials technologies, Showa Denko Materials' downstream application technologies and both companies' evaluation and analysis technologies.(2) Portfolio managementTo realize its Ideal state, the Showa Denko Group will leverage its highly complementary business portfolio built through the integration of the two entities. It will continue to provide new functions to the market and realize continuous growth by having its four business categories - "Core Growth" business, "Next-Generation" business, "Stable Earnings" business and "Fundamental Technologies/Materials" business - each plays a different role with a competitive advantage commensurate with their respective roles."Core Growth" business - Electronics, MobilityBusiness that possesses overwhelming scale/top-share products in growing markets and which will sustain the Group's future growth"Next-Generation" business - Life ScienceBusiness in an advantageous position that can lead to future growth in promising markets, and that will be developed into a next-generation pillar"Stable Earnings" business - Carbon, Petrochemicals, Device Solutions, Industrial Gases, Basic Chemicals, Aluminum Rolled Products, Aluminum Cans, Coating Materials, Electronics Materials, EnergyBusiness which earns a stable profit and generates investment capital with competitiveness/high share in markets where competitive landscape is stabilizing"Fundamental Technologies/Materials" business - Ceramics, Functional Chemicals, Aluminum Specialty ComponentsTechnology platform business to support innovation of other businesses with a wide range of inorganics, organics and aluminum technologies that support the competitiveness of the other three business categoriesIn particular, by strengthening the competitiveness of each of the business categories with the wide range of technologies and materials offered by the "Fundamental Technologies/Materials" business, and by continuing to refine such technologies and materials across a variety of businesses, the Group will expand its presence in new and promising future markets.(3) "Core Growth"/"Next-Generation" businessesThe "Core Growth" and "Next-Generation" businesses will drive the Showa Denko Group's future growth. The Group will pursue business development with a good understanding of differences in market stages and our position in each business.Electronics:With the prospect of continuous technological innovation and market growth, the market is expected to remain fiercely competitive. However, the direction of technological development is set and rapid structural changes and new entries in the industry are less likely to occur. As the world's No. 1 semiconductor materials manufacturer[1], with sales of around 200 billion yen, the Showa Denko Group is in the top position, far ahead of all other players in terms of business scale, and offers a broad product portfolio that boasts global top-level competitiveness and share in both wafer and packaging processes. Through the integration of the two companies, the Group will meet the expectations of its customers and win in growth markets by continuing to develop cutting-edge products and provide one-stop solutions with its enhanced technological capabilities.Note 1: The Showa Denko Group statistics; does not include silicon wafersMobility:With both future areas of high certainty and areas of uncertainty co-existing in the changing marketplace, the Showa Denko Group envisages that competition for the top position by multiple materials manufacturers will continue. The Group will manage certainty and uncertainty with its portfolio of businesses, by leveraging global top share products and its product line-up enhanced through integration, such as businesses that capture the highly certain trend of vehicle weight reduction against the backdrop of greenhouse gas reduction (multi-materials/resin molded automotive module business), businesses that capture the shift to electrification which is a trend that ranks alongside weight reduction (heat management materials packages business for Si power devices), and among the shift, businesses that seek to prepare for uncertainty of outlook for penetration of each powertrain which is driven by national policies in each country (LiB materials business, heat management materials packages business that maximizes performance of SiC power module) etc.Life Science (Regenerative Medicine):While the market is expected to grow significantly in the future, there is a wide range of views when it comes to expansion timelines and segments, and there are still a limited number of players in the market. Amid this, the Showa Denko Group will not only pursue growth by leveraging its first-mover advantage, including its global top-class contracting track record and know-how, global production structure that includes three sites in Europe, Asia and North America and was established ahead of other players, and development of pioneering manufacturing technology aimed at cost innovation, it will also build a medium-to-long-term competitive advantage by swiftly capturing future changes in the market.Among "Core Growth" and "Next-Generation" businesses, the Showa Denko Group has positioned the following five businesses as "growth businesses" that will drive the Group's growth over the medium to long term.- Electronics: Semiconductor wafer process business, semiconductor packaging process business- Mobility: Multi materials/resin molded automotive module business, heat management (power module) business- Life Science: Regenerative medicine businessCumulative sales for the above five growth businesses totaled approximately 230 billion yen in 2020, and the Group will seek to expand business scale to 600 billion yen by 2030 while achieving CAGR of 10% through innovations including technological synergies. In addition, it will generate an additional 18 billion and 48 billion yen in operating income in 2025 and 2030, respectively, through innovations that includes synergies across these five businesses.(4) Technology fusion through integrationAs a hybrid advanced material company combining midstream materials technology and downstream application technology, the Showa Denko Group will realize innovations centered on its growth businesses by integrating the technologies of both companies after integration. In addition to strengthening and creating businesses through the ongoing provision of a wide range of functions to the market through the fusion of three chemical technologies, namely "chemistry to synthesize," which encompasses Showa Denko's midstream materials, "chemistry to formulate," which constitutes Showa Denko Materials' downstream applications, and "chemistry to think," which includes both companies' evaluation/simulation technologies, structure analysis and computational science, the Group will continue to enhance its technology through its businesses, and with this virtuous cycle achieve self-directed portfolio reform and sustained high growth.In order to increase earnings, with a focus on the five growth businesses mentioned above, the Showa Denko Group will work to realize synergies through the integration of products and technologies of the two companies, as exemplified by the following examples, and achieve business growth rates that exceed market growth in each business.Semiconductor wafer process business: With performance of semiconductors becoming faster and higher than ever before, there is a need for technological innovation in semiconductor materials. While players such as GAFA have started to approach material manufacturers as they seek to manufacture key devices in-house, indicating that the growing importance of materials-related innovation, achieving breakthroughs in materials technology is becoming increasingly difficult each year. In this context, the Showa Denko Group will continue to meet the needs of its customers by breaking through technology trade-offs through the combination of technologies of both companies. For example, in the case of CMP slurry, a material used for smoothing and flattening semiconductor substrates in the semiconductor device manufacturing process, the Group is developing a next-generation product that combines a high removal rate and scratch reduction by utilizing Showa Denko's abrasive technology for Showa Denko Materials' "ultra-low-scratch Nano-ceria Slurry."Semiconductor packaging process business: As a result of trends such as the adoption of 5G and laminates, two aspects of technological innovations are required simultaneously - functional sophistication of individual semiconductor-related materials, and new packaging configurations and processes. The Showa Denko Group will leverage its "Packaging Solution Center," which is highly regarded by semiconductor manufacturers, to provide new value to its customers by combining materials based on evaluation technology, and will undertake the development of cutting-edge, next-generation products that combine technologies from both companies. For example, when it comes to laminate materials, the Group will develop next-generation products that combine Showa Denko Materials' copper clad laminates with Showa Denko's resin design technology and filler technology.Heat management (power module) business: With a shift to electronic control of vehicles, it is expected that new heat control challenges will occur and partial outsourcing by power module manufacturers will begin. The Showa Denko Group will address the technological challenges and needs of its customers by expanding its lineup of heat management materials and combining materials leveraging analysis and module evaluation technologies. Going forward, the Group will also consider promoting heat management materials packages that draw out the potential of SiC by leveraging SiC epitaxial wafer business.(5) Contribution to SDGsThe Showa Denko Group has established and follows Our Code of Conduct, which defines what each and every employee should do for the sustainable development of the international community and the Group itself. In addition, the Group will pursue business activities in accordance with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), will contribute to SDGs through various technologies and businesses, and further strengthen ESG efforts.Examples of post-integration contribution to SDGs through various technologies and businesses:- Optimize electric-power/resource consumption by offering next-generation semiconductor materials etc.- Increase resources efficiently/reduce greenhouse gases through chemical recycling of used plastics- Contribute to CO2-free energy creation through hydropower generation- Promote effective use of iron resources by supplying graphite electrodes for electric furnaces- Reduce greenhouse gases through mobility weight reduction/electrification- Improve QOL through Life Science business2. Long-term numerical targets(1) Thinking behind long-term numerical targetsShowa Denko's business philosophy aims to enhance value provided by the Group with the aim of satisfying all stakeholders, such as employees who drive value creation, shareholders, customers, and business partners.Showa Denko Group Business Philosophy"We at the Showa Denko Group will provide products and services that are useful and safe and exceed our customers' expectations, thereby enhancing the value of theGroup, giving satisfaction to our shareholders, and contributing to the sound growth of international society as a responsible corporate citizen."In creating its Long-term Vision, Showa Denko has set Total Shareholders Return (TSR), which is a comprehensive indicator of corporate value enhancement, EBITDA margin, net D/E ratio, and other indicators as long-term numerical targets for the newly integrated company, and is committed to their achievement.(2) Long-term numerical targetsPlease see www.sdk.co.jp/assets/files/english/news/2020/20201210_sdknewsrelease_e.pdf(3) Profit improvement drivers through 2025Although Showa Denko anticipates 2020 EBITDA margin of 8% (which it is on track to achieve; on an annualized basis), from 2021 onwards, the company will raise EBITDA margin to 15% by 2025 through business growth centered on Electronics and Mobility, aforementioned innovation initiatives, and structural reforms. In addition to these efforts, it aims to achieve EBITDA margin of 20% that factors in recovery from the impact of COVID-19 and market fluctuations. Even if market conditions deviate from expectations, the company will recover through business restructuring and additional structural reforms to achieve EBITDA margin of 20%.(4) Shareholder return policyIn regards to distribution of cash generated through future business growth, the Showa Denko Group will factor in the situation after integration, and for the time being, strive to pay out dividend as stably as possible, while prioritizing growth investment for profit growth and bringing net D/E ratio close to 1.0 times. In addition, the company will aim for total return ratio of 30% over the medium to long term.(5) Thinking behind compensation systemTo ensure that the Showa Denko Group's management team is committed to collectively achieving Group objectives and enhancing corporate value, Showa Denko intends to link a portion of executive compensation to management indicators. Although specific indicators and weighting for each item are under consideration, the company anticipates linking compensation to KPIs such as TSR, EBITDA margin, ROE and net D/E ratio.3. Short-term synergyIn order to realize continuous growth of the Showa Denko Group, it is important for the Group to carefully select its business portfolio and maximize organizational productivity.As part of these efforts, the company will steadily restructure its business portfolio, improve profit structure, streamline assets, and fully integrate organizations over the short-to-medium term between now and 2023.(1) Business portfolio restructuringAs part of business portfolio restructuring, Showa Denko is considering and negotiating the sell-off of multiple business. In terms of sale price, it envisages theequivalent of 200 billion yen on an enterprise value basis.(2) Profit structure improvement initiatives and asset streamlining1) Profit structure improvement initiativesAs profit structure-related synergies arising from integration of the two companies, Showa Denko Group is considering a series of six key initiatives, including reducing procurement and logistics costs, improving productivity, and reducing operational headcount by about 1,500 employees, in addition to improving sales-related profit, with the aim to achieve an impact of 28 billion yen on the current profit structure by the end of 2023.Sales-related profit improvement (Review sales policy for customers/agents, etc.) Approx. 3 bil. yenProcurement/logistics cost reduction (Consolidate common materials/logistics-related suppliers) Approx. 3 bil. yenProductivity improvement (Improve productivity of production lines) Approx. 2 bil. yenRent reduction (Reduce rent by consolidating head offices) Approx. 1 bil. yenReduction of other costs (Reduce common costs, SG&A, etc.) Approx. 7 bil. yenOperational optimization (Carry out structural reforms through organizational integration and operational efficiency improvement) Approx. 12 bil. yenShowa Denko will achieve a cumulative impact by also steadily implementing initiatives such as increasing profit through new product development and crossselling as well as the consolidation of operation sites, which have not been incorporated into the above initiatives.2) Asset streamliningAs part of initiatives toward greater financial health aimed as recovery from the impact of the deteriorating economic environment, Showa Denko is steadily streamlining assets, and forecasts 50 billion yen for immediate countermeasures through 2021. At the same time, the company also intend to consider additional initiatives over the medium to long term.Reduction of working capital (Compress inventory through supply chain improvement, etc.) Approx. 25 bil. yenSell-off of marketable securities (Sell off cross-shareholdings) Approx. 20 bil. yenSell-off of other assets (Sell off shares of affiliates and excess assets) Approx. 5 bil. yen(3) Organizational/business integration and restructuringShowa Denko will integrate and restructure its own businesses as well as Showa Denko Materials' businesses, based on the respective strategic business positioning of the above-described Core Growth, Next-Generation, Stable Earnings, and Fundamental Technologies/Materials businesses.- Core Growth: Electronics, Mobility- Next-Generation: Life Science- Stable Earnings: Carbon, Petrochemicals, Device Solutions, Energy, etc.- Fundamental Technologies/Materials: Functional MaterialsIn addition, the Showa Denko Group is leveraging its global research and development hub "Stage for Fusion" (Kanagawa Ward, Yokohama City), construction to be completed in spring of 2022, to conduct a joint initiative between head office functions aimed at creating and promoting new ESG-oriented research and development themes by fusing diverse technological specialties of both companies.The Showa Denko Group is making steady progress on PMI toward integration, with the milestone of integration as a corporate entity in January 2023, following substantive integration in July 2021 (unification of chain of command/integration of corporate functions) and integration of head offices in October of the same year.Long-term Vision for Newly Integrated Company (2021-2030)https://bit.ly/39Z6tHgAbout Showa Denko K.K.Showa Denko K.K. (SDK; TSE:4004, ADR:SHWDY) is a major manufacturer of chemical products serving from heavy industry to computers and electronics. The Petrochemicals Sector provides cracker products such as ethylene and propylene, the Chemicals Sector provides industrial, high-performance and high-purity gases and chemicals for semicon and other industries, the Inorganics Sector provides ceramic products, such as alumina, abrasives, refractory/graphite electrodes and fine carbon products. The Aluminum Sector provides aluminum materials and high-value-added fabricated aluminum, the Electronics Sector provides HD media, compound semiconductors such as ultra high bright LEDs, and rare earth magnetic alloys, and the Advanced Battery Materials Department (ABM) provides lithium-ion battery components. For more information, please visit www.sdk.co.jp/english/.Contact:Showa Denko K.K., CSR & Corporate Communication Office, Tel: 81-3-5470-3235 Copyright 2020 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com