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 2026, research grants were provided for 23 projects from among 367 applications.

Fiscal 2026 Support Themes

Fiscal 2026 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
Aiichiro Nagaki	Faculty of Sciences, Hokkaido University Professor	Creation of Sequence-Defined Synthetic Molecules with Unexplored Functions Inspired by Biological Evolution
Ryo Matsushima	Kyoto Prefectural University Professor	Bio-Inspired Development of High-Density Particle Packing Based on Starch Biosynthesis in Cereals
Ayato Kanada	Department of Mechanical and Intelligent Systems Engineering, University of Electro-Communications Associate Professor	Hyper-Articulated Robots Inspired by the Snake Skeleton
Akihiro Nishiguchi	Research Center for Macromolecules and Biomaterials, National Institute for Materials Science Senior Researcher	Development of high-strength biodegradable gels based on the mechanisms of spider silk production and their biomedical applications
Masakazu Nambo	Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (WPI-ITbM), Nagoya University Associate Professor	Development of a new technology for the generation of unsaturated hydrocarbons inspired by plants
Wang, Chao	Kanazawa University Associate Professor	Development of Synthetic Methods for Silicon-Containing Enzyme Inhibitors
Atsuro Takai	National Institute for Materials Science Senior Researcher	Development of Self-Propelled Materials Inspired by Biological Taxis toward Resource Circulation
Syuji Fujii	Osaka Institute of Technology Professor	Aphid-Inspired Pressure-Responsive Soft Conductive Materials
Akimasa Fujiwara	Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Hiroshima University Professor	Pedestrian Environmental Responses and Walking Network Formation Based on Physiological Data
Keiko Toya	Graduate School of Global Business, Meiji University Professor	An Organizational Model for Monozukuri Management Inspired by Dynamic Equilibrium of Nature
Akihiro Kishimura	Graduate School of Drug Discovery Sciences, Osaka Metropolitan University Professor	Fabrication and Functionalization of Dynamic Multicompartment Structures Inspired by Living Cells
Dai Owaki	Tohoku University Associate Professor	Jellyfish-Inspired Intelligent Biohybrid Cyborgs for Ocean Monitoring
Tetsuo Yamaguchi	Department of Biomaterial Sciences, The University of Tokyo Professor	Creating tough ground structures inspired by plant roots and developing new ground-reinforcement anchors
Masaru Tanaka	Institute for Materials Chemistry and Engineering, Kyushu University Professor	Design of Biofunctional Materials Inspired by Ubiquitous Hydration States in Nature
Tomohiro Hattori	Department of Applied Chemistry, College of Engineering, Chubu University Associate Professor	Elucidating the Mechanism of Automatic Stereoinversion by Studying Natural Amino Acids
Toshihisa Doi	Osaka Metropolitan University Associate Professor	UX Design Inspired by Places Co-Created by Nature and Humans Over Time
Serina Yamashiro	Graduate School of Natural Science, Konan University Doctoral student	Cell Death Regulation Inspired by Cold Adaptation in Animals
Yuki Ohata	Fukuyama University Lecturer	A Study on the Relationship between Natural Disaster Risk Perception and Community Orientation
Takayuki Miki	School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo Lecturer	One-Step Precision Synthesis of Protein Particles Using E. coli
Takahisa Matsuzaki	Center for Future Innovation, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Osaka Associate Professor	Development of Organoid Measurement Technology Inspired by the Stiffness of Living Organisms
Natsumi Fukaya	Kyoto University Assistant professor	Thermally Stable Supramolecular Polymers Inspired by Cyclic Membrane Lipids of Thermophilic Archaea
Koichiro Ishida	Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University Assistant professor	Development of Bottlebrush Polymer Surfactants Inspired by the Structural Recovery of Mucins
Kunihiko Shizume	Nagoya Institute of Technology Assistant professor	Design of Thermochemical Heat Storage Materials for High Heat Output Inspired by Self-Organized Geological Structures

The recipients of the Fiscal Year 2026 Innovation inspired by Nature Research Support Program, SEKISUI CHEMICAL CO. LTD.

The award ceremony was held on Thursday, October 15, 2026.