White LEDs contain no environmentally hazardous substances such as mercury or other heavy metals, and use less electricity than either halogen or fluorescent lamps, so they are noted as next-generation lighting. The Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Group has a track record of providing phosphors, compound semiconductors, etc., for the continuing evolution of LEDs, and are now involved in the development of violet light emitting chips as well as phosphors for lighting. These products will help achieve interior lighting that is closer to natural white in color and warmth which should result in a more comfortable, relaxing ambience. Because of their low heat levels and natural color, white LEDs may well be used in the healthcare and medical industries as endoscope lighting sources, etc.

Automotive manufacturers and battery manufacturers are now joining forces in various ways, competing to develop Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) for vehicles. Although a small number of LIB-powered vehicles have started to reach the market, full-scale expansion of LIBs is still to come. Apart from the obvious need for high power output, LIBs for vehicles require a much higher level of durability and safety compared to LIBs for mobile phones.
Looking ahead, the LIB looks set to expand beyond mobile phones, HEVs and EVs, and into new applications such as an environmentally friendly smart grid that will help regulate supply and demand in the industrial and residential power grid. Through the Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Group's ability to supply all four main components of LIBs, we are making a significant contribution to the evolution of an important source of power for future generations.

As we move toward a sustainable carbon society, hybrid and electric vehicles should help reduce CO₂ from transport and mobility. However, not only must the weight of these vehicles be significantly reduced, but they also need effective heat management to boost the efficiency of their air conditioning systems. The Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Group can contribute to both automobile body weight reduction and heat management. We are developing new high-level composites with our resin products, carbon fiber, and a wide variety of world-class materials for body panels, structural components, and electrical parts to replace the heavy metals and glass of automobile windows.

Plastics and various chemical products have become indispensable in our daily lives and have contributed significantly to development of societies as a whole. Recently, however, the finite nature of fossil resources, global warming, and the environmental burden caused by these products have made them a large social issue. The Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Group believes "plastics from sustainable resources" and "biodegradable plastics" are vital challenges to chemical companies in the 21st century. We will develop these advanced products with a combination of top-level biotechnology, catalytic technology, and plastics production and processing technology that we have cultivated. GS Pla is a biodegradable plastic that decomposes into water and CO₂ in the environment. This plastic has already been introduced, and is applied to appropriate uses, such as agricultural films, compostable garbage bags, and so on. Furthermore, we are going to shift toward sustainable resources such as biomass as raw materials. Innovative engineering plastics from sustainable resources are under development, too. These plastics show better heat resistance and durability, and their superior optical-characteristics should make them useful in the field of flat panel displays, among other leading-edge applications.

The lighting industry has seen next-generation fixtures that feature LEDs and OLEDs, and seems primed for major change. OLEDs, unlike incandescent bulbs, LEDs, or fluorescent lights, do not product a point or line of light. Rather, they produce light from an entire membrane, which can be very easy on the eyes. Further, OLEDs can be adjusted for brightness and color, and they can be transparent and flexible as well. Concerning next-generation lighting in the form of OLEDs, the Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Group, in cooperation with other non-lighting industries, plans go beyond development of mere lighting materials to create final products. Not only do we plan to lead the market, but are also working on the development of OLED coating, which we see as the trump card to low-cost products. We intend to contribute not only to sustainability, but also to comfort in everyday lives and lifestyles.

Sunlight is a blessing of nature. Essential technology for the effective use of this rich source of energy is indispensable and vital to achieving a society in harmony with its natural environment. Through the fusion of organic synthesis technology, coating technology, and coverings technology, and device development technology, the Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Group has successfully developed the world's first solution conversion type organic photovoltaic. The product's outstanding characteristic is the use of unique organic photoconductor transformers for the thin-film photovoltaic. The organic thin-film photovoltaic created with this technology is both thin and flexible, and further development of the thin film technology should provide cost reduction. The photovoltaic can be used on the walls of buildings, on automobiles, on farms, in interiors, in the fashion industry, and so on. The possibilities are endless and offer possible entry into completely new industries.

Against a background of a low birth rate and an aging population, along with diversifying medical needs, the role of health care faces a major turning point. One focus is on how to use limited resources to maintain and improve the level of medical care, and how to achieve individualized medical care for patients.
A new type of medical care that could help solve this problem is personalized medicine, which would be able to pinpoint a patient's susceptibility to disease and monitor changes in physical conditions, chart changes in the course of any disease or disorder, and ensure the proper preventive measures, diagnosis, and treatment.
The Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Group is working to realize personalized medicine and boost the quality of life by discovering biomarkers, which are key to sophisticated diagnosis, research and development on pharmaceuticals that utilize biomarkers, and health and disease management based on information from regular checkups and the diseases database.