Mitsui Chemicals' Reverse Pitching Event A Pioneering Approach to Open Innovation Through Technology Collaboration
On August 16th, 2024, the Reverse Pitching event, organized by Mitsui Chemicals—one of Japan's leading corporations in chemicals and advanced materials—in collaboration with KisStartup, has garnered significant attention from the scientific community, universities, research institutes, startups, and businesses in Vietnam. This is a large-scale open innovation initiative where Mitsui Chemicals proactively presents the advanced technologies they own and invites external collaborations for further development.
The distinctive feature of this model is that, unlike traditional pitching events where businesses or startups present their ideas, Mitsui Chemicals openly shares their portfolio of breakthrough technologies and seeks partners, scientists, and startups to co-develop or co-invent. This approach not only maximizes the lifecycle of inventions but also opens new avenues for collaboration, enabling businesses and researchers to unlock the potential applications of these technologies, thereby creating new products and services.
The program focuses on areas with broad application potential, such as the development of thermoplastic materials, polyolefin additives, and gas and moisture barrier solutions. These technologies can be applied in various industries, from healthcare and food to industrial and construction sectors, offering groundbreaking and sustainable solutions.
Mr. Kaneyoshi Hiromu, Executive Director of the Mitsui Chemicals Singapore R&D Center, emphasized that this initiative not only creates opportunities for connection but also helps Mitsui Chemicals and its partners co-create new technologies. Additionally, Mitsui Chemicals has opened registration and is awaiting potential collaboration proposals after the event, offering startups and scientists the opportunity to participate in the corporation's awards program in 2025.
Ms. Nguyen Dang Tuan Minh, Founder and CEO of KisStartup, stated that this is a rare open innovation activity in Vietnam. In the context of globalization and the technology boom, this model helps businesses not only rely on their internal strengths but also seek support from external resources to solve challenging problems.
Mitsui Chemicals' Reverse Pitching event marks a new milestone in promoting open innovation cooperation between corporations and potential partners, contributing to bringing advanced technologies into practical applications and creating sustainable value for both sides.
TECHNOLOGIES INTRODUCED
Part 1 - Breakthrough thermoplastic materials for applications in various industries
1. Friction-resistant plastic materials
Mitsui Chemicals Group's plastic materials are innovated and improved to reduce friction, extend the life of components and reduce noise across various industries such as automobiles, electronics, construction and home appliances.
The Group is looking for new ideas and technologies to enhance the value of its plastic materials to create novel and groundbreaking applications. Mitsui Chemicals Group is particularly interested in solutions that serve specific needs in Vietnam and the region, in order to open up new value for this material.
2. Stain-resistant plastic materials
Mitsui Chemicals Group is proud to offer a wide range of stain-resistant plastic materials designed to tackle a wide range of stains, from stubborn food residues such as meat sauce to both water-based and oil-based stains.
Our innovative materials are used in a wide range of industries, from food containers to preventing algae build-up on walls. These materials not only improve efficiency by offering unique stain-resistant properties or allowing for easy cleaning with just a small amount of water, but also help save on resources and maintenance costs.
3. Plastic materials with superior gas permeability or gas barrier
We are pleased to introduce our innovative plastic materials with superior gas permeability and gas barrier properties. These transparent and chemical-resistant materials have a wide range of applications. Our gas permeable resins are expected to be used for cell culture tools, while gas barrier resins are suitable for tablet packaging sheets, syringes and many other applications.
The group is currently seeking innovative proposals from industry stakeholders to explore new opportunities in the healthcare sector by leveraging the unique properties of these transparent plastic materials with superior gas permeability and barrier properties.
*Gas permeability - Gas permeability, which can be understood as the ease with which atoms or molecules pass through a membrane without reacting with the material under steady-state conditions, i.e. the steady-state flow rate of gas through the membrane.
**Gas barrier property - Gas barrier property, which refers to the ability of a material to resist the passage or transmission of gases, such as oxygen, carbon dioxide or water vapor, through it. This is an important property for packaging materials because it protects the contents from damage or deterioration due to exposure to gases from the environment.
Part 2 - Polyolefin additives for industrial applications
4.Smooth plastic materials
Mitsui Chemicals' unique plastic material is a surface modifier that imparts silicone-like properties to polyolefins, such as anti-stick properties, water and oil resistance, and abrasion resistance. It can be used for any application that requires a slippery or easy-to-slip property, such as protective films, anti-staining applications, and food packaging, in a variety of industries. The Group is particularly interested in solutions that can use our materials to create or improve the properties described above.
5. Materials for viscosity control
Mitsui Chemical Corporation has developed a special polyolefin fiber with a complex branched structure similar to natural wood fibers. When added to a formulation, it effectively captures particles (small, suspended particles in the compound) to ensure even dispersion and better processability, as well as improved durability and crack resistance. This material is currently used in a variety of applications such as paints, adhesives and building materials.
The Corporation is looking for solutions for both new and existing applications that require effective viscosity control, such as solvent-based exterior paints, concrete, adhesives and lubricants.
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