Actively Promoting Next-Generation Industries

Automobiles

Northern Kyushu Automobile Industry Asia Advanced Base Promotion Project

The northern part of Kyushu has seen significant development in automobile manufacturing. With a concentration of auto giants, including Nissan, Toyota and Daihatsu, the region is the second largest producer of automobiles in Japan.

• Annual automobile production capacity for the cluster has reached 1.59 million vehicles.
• Several universities and technical schools in the prefecture have established major programs for automobile engineering.
• Toyota and Daihatsu have both opened R&D centers.

Hydrogen Energy

Fukuoka Hy-Life Project

This project aims to realize a hydrogen energy-based society by undertaking broad-based research and development and personnel training for the production, storage, transportation and usage of hydrogen.

• Japan’s largest collaborative industry-university-government project; members include progressive companies and research centers in the fields of hydrogen energy and fuel-cell technology.
• Aims to demonstrate the feasibility of a hydrogen energy-based society through the application of research-phase technologies in real-life situations.

Promotion of FCV (Fuel Cell Vehicle)

Fukuoka Prefecture aims to lead the realization of a hydrogen energy society, play the role of a base for development and production of FCV, strengthen the prefecture’s industrial competitiveness, and establish a base for spreading FCV.

Biotechnology

The Fukuoka Bio Valley Project

With a view to building alliances with Asian countries, Fukuoka has been a driving force behind the formation of a large cluster of bio-venture start-ups, related companies and research institutions with core activities in biotechnology.

• More than 200 bio companies are located in Fukuoka
• More than 60 bioproducts have been commercialized.
• Bioindustry specialists have assisted with the development and commercialization of pharmaceuticals and health foods.

Medical and assistive devices

Project for the Promotion of Medical and Assistive Device Industries

The field of medical and assistive devices is expected to grow going forward. Under this project, companies, hospitals, universities and government agencies work together to provide institutional support in the form of expert advice from coordinators on legal compliance, device development, and so on.

• Sessions are held to match local companies with device manufacturers in the Tokyo region.

IoT technology

Fukuoka Prefectural IoT Acceleration Lab

A concentration of companies with advanced IoT technology including robotics, semiconductors and a programming language “mruby” is building in Fukuoka Prefecture. By taking advantage of the strength of the IoT technology of these companies, the promotion and creation of new products and services are increasing.

• Mining the concrete needs in various areas including welfare, medical, education, agriculture, forestry, and fishery industries.
• Supporting interaction and matching of companies in the prefecture, products/service development, and market exploration.
• Running the “workshop for IoT prototype verification” equipped with devices necessary for IoT prototype development in the Experimental Center for Social System Technologies.

Organic EL

Project for the Promotion of the Organic EL R&D bases

Fukuoka Prefecture aims to establish a major development base, developing/integrating center of organic EL, based on i3-OPERA which was established with the purpose of realizing/industrializing the seeds for world class, cutting-edge technology developed by Kyushu University.

• Research and development commissioned or jointly worked on by organic EL material/device companies.

Aircraft

Fukuoka Aircraft Industry Promotion Association

Fukuoka Prefecture takes actions for promoting attraction of aircraft-related companies and organizing the “Fukuoka Aircraft Industry Promotion Association” consisting of industry, academia and government, using the potential of Kitakyushu Airport that has a 24-hour flight operation.

• Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. is planning to use Kitakyushu Airport as a sub-base for flight tests and aircraft parking of MSJ.