AGC Inc.(AGC), a world-leading manufacturer of glass, chemicals and high-tech materials, has completed the integration of its R&D bases, which were previously split between the Research Center (Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama) and the former Keihin Plant (Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama), and will start a new R&D structure today as the AGC Yokohama Technical Center (Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama).

AGC held a commemorative event to celebrate the center's opening with distinguished guests, including Yokohama Mayor Fumiko Hayashi and Tokyo University Executive Vice President Tatsuya Okubo.

As the speed of social change becomes faster and faster, materials development also needs to accelerate to keep pace. Against this backdrop, in April 2018, AGC began construction of the new research building based on a concept of “a place for seamless internal and external integration, response, and collaboration." In November 2020, a collaborative creation space called AO (AO/AGC OPEN SQUARE) was opened to accelerate internal and external collaboration. In June 2021, the relocation and integration of the dispersed R&D organizations was completed, and AGC's new R&D structure has been launched today.

In his address to open the event, AGC Group CEO Yoshinori Hirai commented, "The facility was named the AGC Yokohama Technical Center after 'Yokohama' because the port has always actively embraced and developed new culture since its opening. AGC will contribute to the further development of Japan's manufacturing industry by developing cutting-edge technologies while integrating internal and external technologies in Yokohama, where a number of development bases are being successively established."

The AGC Group will promote technological innovation to provide products and solutions that satisfy customers and add new value through internal and external collaboration under its AGC plus 2.0 management policy.