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OLYMPUS 2007 55
CORE TECHNOLOGY AND BUSINESS MODELS
> Olympus’ management focuses on strengthening the Company’s
technological capabilities with the aim of becoming an even more
advanced technology-oriented company.
Olympus’ core competence is in “Opto-Digital Technology,” a
fusion of the latest digital and optical technologies accumulated
by the Company over many years. In order to further strength-
en this core competence, Olympus has positioned the following
technologies as fundamental to the Olympus Group as a whole:
optical technology, or the science of capturing and controlling
light; electronic imaging technology, or the manipulation of digital
images extracted from light; precision technology, encompass-
ing the detailed and controlled skills applied to the creation of
products; and cell-related technology, which enables live cell
observation and cell separation culturing that is indispensable
for establishing regenerative medicine. By effectively channeling
R&D resources to sharpen its competitive edge, Olympus continues
to create new levels of value for its businesses of Imaging Systems,
Medical Systems, Life Science and Industrial related.
In the fiscal year under review, R&D expenditure amounted to
approximately ¥55.5 billion, accounting for roughly 5.2% of net
sales.
Olympus continually endeavors to enhance its R&D efficiency
and pursues future prospects for the strengthening of its existing
businesses, while aggressively investing in M&A and R&D for the
next generation of businesses.
R&D ACTIVITIES AND BUSINESS STRATEGY
> In an effort to further strengthen its Opto-Digital Technology,
Olympus is currently engaged in the following R&D activities.
Optical technology has been one of Olympus’ greatest strengths
since its founding. Pursuing the infinite possibilities presented by
capturing and controlling light, the Company is continuously
undertaking R&D in areas including the application of spectro-
scopic technology to diagnostic technology, and usages of high-
performance optics such as large-diameter aspheric lenses.
In the electronic imaging technology field, Olympus is channel-
ing R&D results to its individual business segments. R&D projects
in this field cover such technologies as digital image processing,
custom imager design and advanced high-resolution image pro-
cessing.
In the precision technology sphere, we focus on R&D for MEMS
(Micro Electro Mechanical Systems), incorporating such technolo-
gies as ultra-fine processing, ultra-precision processing, micro
mounting, and micro sensors and actuators. These technologies
are essential elements of the key parts and components that dis-
tinguish Olympus’ products from those of its competitors.
Cell-related technology at Olympus is aimed at creating new
business opportunities in the fields of bioscience and regenera-
tive medicine, and is supported by R&D in such areas as live cell
analysis and manipulation technologies as well as cell separation
culturing technologies.
Intellectual Property Report
Number of Published Patents in Area of Core Competence
(Number of patents)
03 04 05 06 07
Ratio of Patents Held in Area of Core Competence
(%)
Optical Technology
Electronic Imaging
Technology
Precision Technology
Cell-Related Technology 9
Optical
Technology
38
17 Electronic
Imaging
Technology
Precision
Technology
Cell-Related
Technology
2
34
Applied
Technology
07
1,000
500