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With the aim of “contribute to people’s health
through science,” we will steadily nurture the
seeds of business.
Atsumi Nakamura
Corporate Vice President
General Manager of Microscope Solutions Business Unit
Message
Q How would you summarize the scal year ended March 31, 2016?
The market for biological microscopes fell more than was expected in Japan but was steady overseas. When seen
from a global perspective, gradual growth of approximately 2–3% from the previous scal year is recognized. In
aiming to gain the position of market leader in biological microscopes, the Microscope Solutions Business Unit was
able to continue its improvement in market share from the previous scal year. Nonetheless, whereas I recognize
that we are almost on par with the market leader overseas, our market share in Japan remains unchanged. The
analysis for this is that the gap in sales performance is keeping the differences in market share the same.
With regard to the regenerative medicine-related eld, since major growth is expected in the distant future,
I consider it as having been a year for accelerating the preparations toward its commercialization.
Q Please tell us about your future strategies in the biological microscope
business, which at the present is a primary source of revenue.
The primary issue is to improve sales performance in regions where Nikon has a low market share. Making use of
experience gathered by our business operations in countries such as the United States and China, where we are
gaining leading positions, we will deploy this know-how and take regional characteristics into consideration. With
regard to product development, we will continuously promote software-centered differentiation. The uses to which
microscopes are being put are undergoing a change from observation to analysis and measurement. As such,
developing the microscope software for research trends and needs and raising additional value are leading to
product differentiation.
Q Please tell us about your future strategies in the regenerative medicine-related eld.
With regard to the contract manufacturing of cells for regenerative medicine business, the Group signed a strategic
collaboration agreement with Swiss company Lonza in May 2015, established wholly owned Nikon CeLL innovation
Co., Ltd., and is making progress with preparations toward commercialization. Through training and consulting
at Lonza, we are taking on board that company’s expertise. Meanwhile, what will be the largest facility for cell cultivation
in Japan is currently under construction, in Tokyo’s Koto Ward. We plan to commence operations as a contract
development organization (CDO) in the latter half of 2016 and as a contract manufacturing organization (CMO)
at the end of 2017.
Microscope Solutions Business Unit
INSTRUMENTS BUSINESS
32 NIKON REPORT 2016