Research & Development
Our basic R&D
policy is to pursue the latest in technology for next-generation services, computer servers and networks, as well as the various
electronic devices and materials which serve as building blocks for our products. This policy supports the overarching goals
of creating new value for customers and achieving our Corporate Vision of contributing to the creation of a networked society
that is rewarding and secure, bringing about a prosperous future that fulfills the dreams of people throughout the world.
R&D Expenditure, and Ratio to Net Sales
Fiscal 2008 R&D Expenditure by Segment
Major Achievements for Fiscal 2008
(1) Development of secure USB memory with automatic data-erase function
Secure USB memory device
Fujitsu has developed a new type of universal serial bus (USB) memory that after a fixed period of time automatically erases stored data, and a file redirect technology*1 which ensures that the data from the USB memory device can only be stored on a specified server. Both technologies are designed to prevent the unauthorized disclosure of data from lost USB memory devices or uploads to Winny and other file-sharing networks. This creates an environment that protects confidential information and allows USB memory devices to be used as a convenient way to safely carry customer data back to one's own company to manage and utilize the data.
*1 File direct technology: This technology can prevent data from being copied from the self-erasing USB memory device to specific folders on a PC, or it can give the appearance of data being written to the PC's hard disk drive, when in fact it remains on the USB memory device.
(2) Full-scale operation of new JAXA supercomputer with world's highest computing efficiency
New supercomputer from Fujitsu
(photo courtesy of JAXA)
Fujitsu has constructed a new supercomputer system for the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) using FX1 high-end technical computing server and Fujitsu's "Parallelnavi" middleware. The new system achieved performance of 110.6 teraflops*2 and computing efficiency*3 of 91.19% when running the LINPACK*4 benchmarking tool. These results placed the supercomputer first in the world for computing efficiency, and first in Japan and 17th in the world in terms of computing performance against a list of the world's TOP500*5 supercomputers published in November 2008. The new system began operations on April 1, 2009.
*2 Teraflop: One trillion floating point operations per second.
*3 Computing efficiency: The ratio of actual execution performance against theoretical performance.
*4 LINPACK: A program for measuring computer performance.
*5 TOP500: A project dedicated to comparing the performance of supercomputers.
(3) Development of multi-channel high-speed transceiver circuit for high-speed blade server performance
In the IT systems sector, there is a growing demand for servers and other hardware that achieve greater energy efficiency and consume less space, while also realizing higher levels of performance. Fujitsu has developed a compact and power-efficient multiple-channel high-speed transceiver circuit that enables high-speed transmission at 10 Gbps in backplanes—special circuit boards that act as transmission conduits between the server blades*6 of blade servers. Fujitsu has adopted a new control method that enables the circuit to compensate for transmission losses while reducing noise. Compared to conventional technology, this groundbreaking circuit requires just half the area and only one-fourth the power consumption to realize a transmission conduit capable of 4-channel 10Gbps transmission in backplanes.
*6 Server blade: A single board that contains all of the elements required to function as a server, including memory, hard disk, and microprocessor. Servers that combine multiple server blades that function together as a single server are called blade servers.
(4) Field testing of LTE*7 and confirmation of high-speed transmission in Sapporo's Special Ubiquitous Zone
LTE mobile phone base station developed by Fujitsu
Fujitsu is responding to recent calls for a mobile communications system that will enable mobile phones to utilize broadband. Fujitsu collaborated with NTT DOCOMO, INC. to field test Long-Term Evolution (LTE), a next-generation mobile communications standard. Tests took place in the Special Ubiquitous Zone, a wireless communications testing area in the Japanese city of Sapporo in Hokkaido, designated by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications in 2008. For the tests, Fujitsu used prototype wireless LTE base stations developed jointly with NTT DOCOMO, INC. which, with the utilization of spatial multiplexing (4x4 MIMO)*8 technology, resulted in high-speed wireless transmission with peak speeds of 120 Mbps (using 10 MHz bandwidth). Recalculated using the maximum LTE bandwidth, these transmission speeds are equivalent to 35 times those of services currently available for 3.5G mobile phones. Once available, high-speed wireless communications services of this kind will allow users in various environments to send and receive large data volumes, enabling high-definition video and other applications.
*7 LTE: The name for the wireless communications standard devised by members of 3GPP (the project that produced the detailed specification for IMT-2000 W-CDMA).
*8 Spatial multiplexing technology (4x4 MIMO): A transmission technology that uses multiple antennae transmitting/receiving different signals on the same frequency at the same time. The 4x4 MIMO employed in field testing used four such antennae.
(5) Consumer sales of FLEPia, world's first color e-paper mobile terminal
FLEPia mobile information terminal
A special feature of e-paper is that it consumes power only when refreshing screens, and no power is consumed to hold an image displayed. Fujitsu developed FLEPia as the world's first mobile terminal using color e-paper, and launched consumer sales of the unit in March 2009. Compared to earlier commercial samples used in field marketing, the latest FLEPia offers 1.5 times higher brightness and greater contrast, enabled through optimization of the product's optical properties. By realizing a faster driver circuit, the screen refresh speed is also now 1.7 times faster than before. Users can purchase e-books online using the device itself, and FLEPia's wide, 8-inch screen makes reading away from home or the office easy. In addition to a digital photo frame function, FLEPia can be used with a variety of other software for viewing spreadsheets, reading e-mail, and other applications.
(6) Development and commercialization of ultra-low power full HD H.264 CODEC LSIs
Fujitsu has developed H.264 CODEC LSI devices capable of encoding and decoding Full HD (1,920 dots x 1,080 lines) video in the H.264 format*9. Shipments of two H.264 CODEC LSI products commenced from April 2009. The first, the MB86H55, features industry-leading low power consumption of only 500mW during encoding (including the in-package memory). The second, the MB86H56, offers processing of Full HD video at 60 frames per second, thereby delivering high picture quality. Both products enable greater miniaturization and lower power consumption in portable devices such as digital video cameras, AV equipment, and commercial broadcast equipment, while also enabling high-quality recording, playback and transmission of HD video.
*9 H.264: A video compression standard noted for offering higher compression than MPEG-2 and earlier formats.
Prizes and Awards
Two Commendations for Science and Technology (Development Category) and the Young Scientists'
Prize From the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in Fiscal 2009
The Fujitsu Group was honored with two Commendations for Science and Technology (Development Category), and a Young Scientists' Prize by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in fiscal 2009. These awards are in recognition of the outstanding success that the Group has enjoyed in R&D and in advancing our understanding of science and technology.
- "Development of Content Protection Technology for Digital TV receivers on PCs" (Science and Technology Commendation, Development Category)
- "Development of heat-stable electromagnetic recording media through magnetic exchange coupling" (Science and Technology Commendation, Development Category)
- "Research on telecom-band single photon sources for quantum key distribution" (Young Scientists' Prize)
Fujitsu has formulated a "10-Year Vision" as a guide for providing people across the globe with the prosperous and rewarding future we envisage. Fujitsu is systematically promoting the research and development of advanced technology in its determination to make this vision a reality.
Enabling a Human-Centric Networked Society
By linking everything together, we generate value, realizing a human-centric networked society that delivers inspiration, discovery, reliability and growth.
Strategic Direction in Fiscal 2009
With sights on future development, the company intends to focus its cutting-edge research efforts on the targets outlined below in order to create a stronger, more strategic business base for the Fujitsu Group.
1. Enhancing the contributions of research to core businesses
The company will focus on the following research domains to enhance the Fujitsu Group's global core businesses.
(1) x86 servers
The goal here is a top-down approach that goes beyond simply boosting the performance of individual platforms by developing elemental technologies that will enhance performance for the entire IT system. Specifically, this will entail a focus on the development of elemental technologies for achieving virtualization and energy efficiency, simplifying management and operation, and realizing high-speed interconnection. Such achievements will set Fujitsu's high-performance blade servers and large-scale datacenters apart from competitors.
(2) Cloud computing
Fujitsu will develop distinctive technologies for cloud computing such as technology to create the virtual platforms required for cloud computing, as well as an intuitive development and operation environment that is open and highly expandable.
(3) LTE
Fujitsu is an industry leader in LTE field testing. We are leveraging this experience to develop differentiated technologies that will support our LTE business. At the same time, we are pursuing the technical standardization and intellectual property that will be necessary for the LTE-advanced communications standard of the future.
(4) Platform technologies
Fujitsu will focus on the development and enhance the competitiveness of distinctive device technologies for the hardware used in IT systems.
2. Pioneering R&D and new businesses creation
Determined to create the new businesses of tomorrow, Fujitsu is advancing research in the following areas.
(1) Human-centric computing
Fujitsu will develop innovative technologies that merge sensors, terminals, and services in ways that enable us to use sensors to transform real-world information into intelligence, and offer new services tailored to peoples' actual situations.
(2) Green technologies
Fujitsu will take steps to create innovative, cutting-edge technologies that focus both on enhancing the energy efficiency of IT systems themselves, and achieving greater energy efficiency through IT utilization. In this way, the company will build an ecological value chain that contributes to society and generates new businesses.
