Deshima Netherlands Awards 2023 for Sekisui Design Studio and Yanmar Europe
Sekisui Design Studio
Sekisui Design Studio is a subsidiary of Sekisui Chemical and was established in 2021 at the Automotive Campus in Helmond. Sekisui created the modern showroom as a ‘living lab’ to update its customers, OEMs and partners from Europe on the latest technological developments in the mobility field.
Opening this Design Studio offered Sekisui the possibility to collaborate and innovate, together with suppliers and end-users. With this studio the company is able to integrate in an open innovation ecosystem. Sekisui focuses on solutions, instead of only raw materials, which was the more traditional approach.
According to Mr. Masashi Yanai, Director of Sekisui Design Studio, IP is key. Therefore it is also smart to focus on specific and high end solutions, instead of raw materials. This will enable Sekisui to attain and maintain IP. Sekisui’s goal is to register patents in the Netherlands – it sees the Design Studio as an ‘Idea Generator’ for its sustainable innovations.
Local Community
Mr. Masashi Yanai and Sekisui have shown that they support and promote the Dutch Open Innovation philosophy and approach. At the Automotive Campus Helmond Sekisui is part of the so-called ‘triple helix’, where the industry, academia/knowledge institutes and government, work closely together. They work company-neutral, in order to create the best solutions for our society – innovation for good.
Pieter Rahusen, Manager Business Development & Acquisition at the Automotive Campus in Helmond, appreciates Dujat’s recognition for awarding prizes to Japanese companies Sekisui and Yanmar Eleo. “It’s a great compliment for the Japanese ecosystem in Brabant and the Netherlands. The partnerships with these companies are of great importance for our campus and region.”
Sekisui Design Studio collaborates with local educational institutes to support talent development. It offers internships for students of Fontys University of Applied Sciences. In addition, it is connecting with Summa Automotive & Smart Mobility, which offers secondary vocational education. In this way, Sekisui Design Studio has become an active participant in the local community.
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Edwin Zonder
Japan & Korea
Toine Cleophas
Maarten Brouwer
