#Japan #Tokyo #Mitsubishi Chemical #EAGLYS ALCHEMISTA #Otsuka Chemical

Revolutionizing Material Development with EAGLYS ALCHEMISTA

The partnership leveraging EAGLYS ALCHEMISTA, a pioneering next-generation materials informatics solution developed by EAGLYS Inc. and Mitsui & Co. Chemical, has achieved dramatic efficiency in material development. The collaboration between Mitsubishi Chemical and Otsuka Chemical has successfully reduced the traditional material development timeline from 2-3 years to less than one year, enabling the production of business-level material samples ready for clients.

Background

Materials Informatics (MI) has been known to shorten development times by 30-50%, and as global competition escalates, speeding up development using MI has become crucial for maintaining competitiveness. This requires collaboration within supply chains; however, concerns over confidentiality have impeded sufficient data sharing among companies, limiting the effective use of MI and perpetuating traditional development methods. EAGLYS ALCHEMISTA addresses these challenges by employing secure computation, which allows companies to utilize each other’s data while safeguarding their confidential information. This innovation has the potential to transform the material development landscape.

Imagining Development with ALCHEMISTA

The application of ALCHEMISTA illustrates breakthroughs in communication and data sharing between the collaborating companies. Previously characterized by qualitative exchanges that concealed crucial quantitative data, this new approach fosters in-depth discussions founded on data-driven analysis. As such, both companies can predict material properties with greater accuracy, leading to more informed and effective development strategies.

Project Outcomes

Beginning in July 2024, Mitsubishi Chemical and Otsuka Chemical's collaboration utilizing ALCHEMISTA yielded significant advancements. The development process that once required at least 2-3 years has been streamlined to under a year. With the help of secure computation, the project achieved two innovations: enhanced communication and the collaborative use of data.

The previous reliance on vague communication has transitioned into detailed, quantifiable discussions. The security offered by ALCHEMISTA encouraged both companies to actively share data, enabling them to engage in discussions grounded in specific, quantitative insights. This dramatic shift in approach has led to substantial reductions in lead times and overall efficiency.

Comments from Collaborating Companies

Mitsubishi Chemical

Manabu Tsukimoto, Group Leader at the Advanced Films and Polymers Business Group, expressed the transformative impact of ALCHEMISTA on their development process. With empirical data backing their discussions, the company could discern clear discrepancies from their goals earlier in the development cycle, facilitating improved project trajectories. He remarked on the potential of such innovative tools to aid in meeting complex project requirements.

Otsuka Chemical

Yoshiaki Ishii, Director of the Materials Development Laboratory at Otsuka Chemical, emphasized how ALCHEMISTA allowed for secure sharing of precise development goals amongst partners. This shift enabled them to engage in quantitative analyses that streamlined their research processes, resulting in more rapid optimization of materials. He highlighted how such a collaborative environment strengthens partnerships while optimizing development goals.

Mitsui & Co. Chemical

Masamitsu Takahashi, Director of Advanced Chemicals at Mitsui & Co. Chemical, noted the vital role ALCHEMISTA played in their development discussions. The ability to rely on previously guarded data allowed the team to engage in dialogue with a clear, evidence-based foundation, unlocking faster decision-making. As the tool evolves, its potential to reshape material development processes is significant.

EAGLYS

Hiroki Imamura, CEO of EAGLYS, expressed his gratitude to all collaborators for their support in realizing this innovative endeavor. Since its inception in 2016, EAGLYS has focused on secure computing as an infrastructure for industrial AI, and achieving this ambitious reduction in development times marks a milestone in the industry. He envisions this as not merely efficiency but as the optimization of Japan's traditional collaborative development processes.

Conclusion

The use of EAGLYS ALCHEMISTA represents a pivotal moment in material development, offering a transformative tool that cuts down lead time while enhancing data utilization across organizational boundaries. The collaborative efforts of Mitsubishi Chemical and Otsuka Chemical signify a stepping stone toward improved industrial competitiveness in a rapidly evolving global market.