Innovations Inspired by
Nature Research Support Program

Using nature's wisdom to build a sustainable society

To aid the application of scientific knowledge in manufacturing, SEKISUI CHEMICAL Group has been running the “Innovation inspired by Nature Research Support Program, SEKISUI CHEMICAL CO. LTD” since fiscal 2002, in commemoration of the 55th anniversary of the SEKISUI CHEMICAL Group’s founding. In fiscal 2025, research grants were provided for 23 projects from among 313 applications.

Fiscal 2025 Support Themes

Fiscal 2025 Support Themes

Name	Affiliated institution Position (Affiliations, positions, and so forth are those at the time of receiving the grant award)	Grant-Receiving Research Theme
Kenji MATSUDA	Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University Professor	Design and Synthesis of Diradicals with Novel Functions Inspired by Navigation System of Migratory Birds
Ayako Gotoh	Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Konan University Associate professor	Mechanisms of long-term sperm storage in ant queens and their applications to other insects
Mototaka Suzuki	Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, The University of Osaka Professor	Elucidation of the Operating Principles of Brain Neural Circuits Where Massively Parallel Structures and Hierarchical Structures Cooperate and Their Application to Next-Generation Artificial Intelligence
Makoto Saito	RIKEN Pioneering Research Institute RIKEN ECL Team Leader	Exploring the evolution of RNA-guided systems in prokaryotes for the development of novel molecular tools
Takahiro Muraoka	Graduate School of Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology Professor	Chromatography-free protein folding promotion inspired by cellular processes
Tomoya Imai	Research Institute for Sustainable Humanosphere, Kyoto University Professor	Cellulase-Inspired Engineering of PETase
Hiroki Iida	Shimane University Professor	Development of Sustainable Organocatalytic Transformations Inspired by Biological Functions of Vitamin B2
Yoshinari Sawama	Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Science, The University of Osaka Professor	Unnatural sugars synthesis by direct isomerization of sugars
Tsuyoshi Murata	Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering, Aichi Institute of Technology Professor	Development of energy storage materials inspired by natural dyes: water-soluble indigo derivatives for the anolytes of aqueous organic redox flow batteries
Tomoki Ishikura	Tokyo Metropolitan University, Faculty of Urban Environmental Sciences, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Associate Professor	Building resilient land and infrastructure under climate change: Lessons from significant disaster damage
Takuya Hikima	Division for Memory and Cognitive Function, Research Center for Advanced Medical Science, Dokkyo Medical University Assistant professor	From Multisensory Integration to Memory: A Systems-Level Approach to Cognitive Enhancement
Yasuhiro Sugimoto	Osaka University Associate professor	Adaptive Gait Generation Techniques for Diverse Environments by Leveraging Structural Asymmetry Inspired by Various Locusts
Yusuke Saijo	Nara Institute of Science and Technology Professor	Learning from Plant-Derived Molecular Signals: Harnessing Beneficial Bacteria for Nutrient-Cycling Agriculture
Kentaro Kadota	Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University Assistant Professor	Enzyme-Inspired Coordination Materials for Energy-Efficient CO₂ Capture
Tomoyo Goto	Division of Materials Science, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology Professor	Development of nano-sized inorganic sorbents inspired by the self-purification of rivers
Yuichi Ambe	Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Hiroshima University Associate Professor	Agile Quadrupedal Locomotion Control Inspired by Asymmetric Animal Gaits
Yuichiro Kobayashi	The University of Osaka, Graduate School of Science Assistant professor	Volcanic Sulfur Cycles as a Model for Developing Polymer Materials to Fix and Recycle Waste Sulfur
Mitsuo Hara	Kagawa University Associate Professor	Bioinspired humidity-responsive adhesives based on biological wet-detachment mechanisms
Atsushi Kimishima	Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences Specially Appointed Assistant Professor	Induction of small-molecule cross-affinity antibodies inspired by mammalian adaptive immunity
Yutaro Tanaka	Department of Nephro-urology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya City University Assistant Profeser	Development of a Risk Prediction Technology for Urolithiasis Based on Nature-Inspired Crystal Formation Mechanisms
Masanori Nagatomo	Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hokkaido University Professor	Development of a Cavitation-Induced Radical Reaction System Inspired by the Pistol Shrimp
Ryusei Kuma	University of Miyazaki Lecturer	Control of leached calcium in incineration ash studied from fossilization mechanism
Yuya Murakami	Department of Applied Chemistry and Biochemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Shizuoka University Lecturer	Development of a Real-Time Fluid Analysis Device Inspired by the “Eye”

The recipients of the Fiscal Year 2025 Innovation inspired by Nature Research Support Program, SEKISUI CHEMICAL CO. LTD.

The award ceremony was held on Monday, October 20, 2025.