Canon 2009 Annual Report Download - page 22

20 CANON ANNUAL REPORT 2009
DIGIC 4 imaging processor, a key component of Canon digital cameras
Canon-Kyoto University Joint Research Project (CK Project) in the medical imaging fi eld
>> RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
By prioritizing R&D even in times of extreme economic adversity, Canon is
strategically laying out stepping-stones toward renewed, sound growth.
R&D Expenses and Patents
Despite harsh market conditions in 2009, Canon continued to
make aggressive investments in R&D to better prepare itself for
future growth. R&D expenses amounted to ¥304.6 billion, and the
ratio to net sales increased from 9.1% in fi scal 2008 to 9.5% in
fi scal 2009. By segment, ¥78.9 billion, or 25.9% of the total
expenses, was allocated to the Offi ce Business Unit; ¥74.1 billion,
or 24.3%, to the Consumer Business Unit; ¥23.3 billion, or 7.7%,
to the Industry and Others Business Unit; and ¥128.3 billion, or
42.1%, to Corporate R&D.
Canon’s commitment to R&D has also contributed to its leading
position in terms of intellectual property rights. In 2009, Canon
was granted 2,204* patents in the United States.
Cognizant that R&D is crucial to its renewed, sound growth,
Canon will continue to place high priority on R&D expenses.
* Source: U.S. Patent and Trademark Offi ce. Calculated based upon publicly
disclosed weekly totals.
Enhancing Our R&D Structure
Canon is working to bolster its R&D capabilities as part of efforts
to improve its management quality. With an eye to achieving
renewed, sound growth, the Company has adopted a multifold
approach, including the establishment of a new Corporate R&D
Headquarters and the strengthening of frontier research through
the adoption and encouragement of open innovation.
Canon has established the Corporate R&D Headquarters with
the aim of bolstering its future-oriented upstream technologies and
creating differentiated technologies to be applied in existing and
next-generation businesses. The Corporate R&D Headquarters is
tasked with vertically integrating Canon’s R&D activities to encom-
pass the entire range of fi elds—from materials to systems and
software—and to develop cross-divisional functions. Underpinned
by stringent adherence to PDCA cycles in each R&D process, such a
structure will empower Canon to facilitate selection and concentra-
tion for greater R&D effi ciency, reinforce its upstream technological
research and, ultimately, nurture new businesses.
The Frontier Research Center, under the Corporate R&D Head-
quarters, is strengthening upstream technological research. The center
focuses on research into optical, precision and other existing core
technologies. The Frontier Research Center is committed to contribut-
ing to Canon’s renewed, sound growth from a long-term perspective.
Canon has adhered to an approach whereby all development is
carried out in-house. However, with due consideration given to
technological maturity today (a macro-level factor) as well as to a
micro-level factor which dictates that it must create breakthrough
technologies, Canon has recognized the increasing importance of
an open innovation approach—in other words, creating new
technologies and products by combining its technologies with
those of other companies and research institutions. This approach
will enable the Company to keep sharpening its competitiveness
even in today’s extremely adverse conditions. One example of our
open approach is the Canon-Kyoto University Joint Research Project
(CK Project), through which Canon is studying medical imaging.
More specifi cally, we are advancing research into optical ultrasound
mammography, a safer alternative to conventional X-ray mammog-
raphy, and optical coherence tomography (OCT) systems.
CanonAR_0325_再校戻し_ipc.indd 20 10.3.26 2:42:10 PM