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Interview−138 Synthesiology - English edition Vol.1 No.2 (2008) “comfort” to achieve a harmonious relationship between humans, urban centers, and the automobile. We try to set goals that people may question, “Is that really possible?” Like “a car that cleans the air as it runs,” “a car that can go around the world on one full tank,” “a car that will never crash,” or “car that makes the passengers healthier as they ride.” To achieve these goals, we look over all the technologies that are necessary and define the core elemental technology. The R&D process includes advanced research, preceding development, and product development.Effort in R&D – Rotating the key man (Akamatsu)You mentioned three phases: advanced research, preceding development, and product development. How are they related? I don’t think the results of advanced research can be used directly in preceding development. (Umeyama)There is an image that advanced research flows smoothly into preceding development, and a product is developed and is shipped out into the world. Actually it is quite difficult. Often, advanced, preceding, and product research are isolated Interview of Dr. Umeyama, General Manager, by Akamatsu on February 14, 2008 at Toyota Motor Corporation.What does Toyota Motor wish to do? (Akamatsu)Seen from corporate side, national research centers and universities mostly conduct basic research. There is considerable lag time before the results of the research reach society and much research is buried and forgotten. Ever since the inception of the AIST, we have been concerned and carried out discussions on how to overcome this“valley of death” or “period of nightmare” in research so our results and development efforts can be put to use in industry. There are many types of research. Although certain kinds of research pursue one topic deeply, it is often necessary to combine several different technologies to create a viable product. What processes are taken from basic research to product realization at Toyota Motor? (Umeyama)First, we face the basic issue of what we are trying to achieve in the automobile business. Not only should we make nice cars; we must consider “environment,” “safety,” and - Interview with Dr. Umeyama, General Manager, R&D Management Division -Synthesiology Editorial BoardInterviewer; Motoyuki Akamatsu (Executive Editor)Toyota Motor Corporation is a world-class automotive manufacturer and unquestionably one of the most successful manufacturers in Japan. The company has been introducing new technology to society without being caught in the conventional concept for cars. Foreseeing the shape of an ideal society, their vision is reflected in the creation of the world’s first hybrid automobile. The automobile is a compilation of diverse technologies, and there is hardly any technology that is not used in cars. The R&D Management Division is an integrator of technological development of all automobiles in the Toyota Group and includes the Toyota Central R&D Labs. We interviewed General Manager Umeyama of the R&D Management Division, and asked him about the flow from basic research to product realization at Toyota Motors, as well as his expectations for Synthesiology.The Toyota Motor approach from basic research to product realization(66)−[Translation from Synthesiology, Vol.1, No.2, p.144-148 (2008)]

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