Greetings

The astonishing progress unleashed by the Internet-based revolution in information and communications has brought about rapid and dramatic changes in social trends and industrial structures at the dawn of the 21st century. To continue to stay ahead of these changes and deliver new value and solutions to customers and broader society, Fujitsu Laboratories is striving to be a model research laboratory for the 21st century.

In the 19th century, science and technology developed independently as separate academic disciplines. Entering the 20th century, these disciplines were merged, and general research laboratories for the new century were established to produce new inventions. It was this model that led to achievements such as HEMT and other cutting-edge electronic devices, as well as the invention of computers and telecommunication systems supported by physics and information theory. In the 21st century however, society has come to expect more from corporate research labs than simply generating advances through the integration of science and the technology.

In addition to science and technology, I believe that business models and social responsibility will be equally important elements of corporate research and development in the 21st century. As demonstrated by the success of free Internet search sites supported by advertising income and portable music players coupled with online music distribution service, the impact of a technological development is compounded when introduced in conjunction with an optimal business model. It is vital, therefore, that researchers seeking to create new businesses and innovations take into consideration the ultimate business model in which their research achievements will be used.

At the same time, the influence of rapid technological progress on social systems and the global environment in recent years cannot be ignored. In order to support a safe and secure society in the future, corporate social responsibility must be a guiding principle of corporate R&D activities, and global environment protection and reliable operation of large-scale social infrastructure systems should be key considerations.

If I might use the analogy of a sophisticated automobile to describe my vision of Fujitsu Laboratories as a model research laboratory for the 21st century, I would say that science and technology are the rear wheels that supply the motive power, and that business models and corporate social responsibility are the front wheels that researchers steer to set the course of their R&D activity. We will work to create value for customers by integrating these four core elements.

At Fujitsu Laboratories, along with the continuous pursuit of state-of-the-art technologies to advance IT infrastructure, we are conducting R&D on ubiquitous computing and networking technologies that will serve as key elements in new business models and solutions and bring innovation to the front lines of business and people's daily lives. We are also pursuing R&D on materials and devices as the seeds of technologies that will create new value in the future.

Going forward, in order to play a central role in the development of the Fujitsu Group's future business, we will pursue a technology roadmap set from a long-term perspective and based on consistent R&D activity in areas ranging from materials and devices to networks, IT systems and solutions.

Kazuo Murano
President
Fujitsu Laboratories Ltd.