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What is the basic strategy for the Medical
Business Development Division?
The Medical Business Development Division aims to answer
unmet medical needs using Nikon’s high-precision technology.
Even though there are many other companies that have already
ventured into the medical fi eld, we believe we are able to
provide leading-edge solutions in areas they have not entered
by applying our core competences such as optics, precision
control, image processing, semiconductor lithography,*1 and
high-precision measurement. We see a wide variety of business
prospects emerging in prevention, diagnosis, treatment and
prognostic management, drug discovery support, and regenera-
tive medicine.
Nikon’s entrance into the medical fi eld is
somewhat late, so what will set you apart
from your competitors?
We will simply put our core competences to work. If we are the
only company that is capable of answering certain unmet medi-
cal needs, plenty of opportunities should arise. One such exam-
ple may be the production of high-precision biomicroarrays,*2
which we can produce with our semiconductor lithography
technology. With the miniaturized processing that our semicon-
ductor lithography affords, the degree of information that can
be obtained from a clinical test would be incomparable with
current methods. We will launch products in the market that
will be unprecedented by virtue of our unique technologies.
Speed will be important for us to close the gap with our
competitors, so we will need to be able to make decisions on
the spot. Moreover, we will use business alliances, M&A, and
corporate venture capital to place our business on the fast track.
BUSINESS STRATEGY
What are the main projects you have been
working on so far?
In April 2014, we entered into a basic alliance agreement with
LSI Medience Corporation, which involves testing- and analysis-
related business in the healthcare fi eld. In combining the
resources of both companies, we are working on the development
and manufacturing of portable point-of-care testing (POCT*3)
devices that can be used promptly and easily in a clinical setting.
We are also involved in developing a business for fast and high-
sensitivity testing systems to aid in the diagnosis of a wide
range of disorders, such as cancer, infections, allergies, and
autoimmune diseases.
What is the role of the Medical Business
Development Division in the Medium-Term
Management Plan?
As I said previously, we are researching methods of applying our
core competences to offer products and services for medical
prevention, diagnosis, treatment and prognostic management,
drug discovery support, and regenerative medicine. Our job is to
develop a comprehensive business model to fully ascertain the
value chain we have for offering testing and diagnostic systems,
health laboratory services based on semiconductor lithography,
minimally invasive*4 pathological diagnosis and monitoring
devices, and other possibilities. To this end, we will fi rst solidify
a strong foundation through collaborations including M&A,
business alliances, and cooperative partnerships.
*1. Exposure technology used in LSI manufacturing that employs light to miniaturize cir-
cuit patterns etched on a photo mask onto semiconductor wafers.
*2. Devices used in the biotechnology fi eld to comprehensively test DNA, proteins, sugar
chains, and other molecules simultaneously.
*3. Testing that can be performed quickly in examination rooms or at bedsides in hospitals
as well as in private homes and clinics.
*4. Refers to imposing the smallest physical load possible on a patient during testing or
treatment. With minimal stress on the patient, recovery is relatively fast.
Interviews with Key People on the Strategy Going Forward
We will apply Nikon’s core competences to answer unmet
medical needs and will take steps to put our business on
the fast track through rapid decision making, business
alliances, and M&A.
Osamu Shimoda
Corporate Vice President
General Manager of Medical Business Development Division
Medical Business Development Division
30 NIKON REPORT 2014