Masayoshi Mizutani: Materialmimetics

Now that I am in a position to run a laboratory, I find myself spending more time thinking deeply about research once again.

My specialization is production and manufacturing engineering, and I conduct research on what is known as monozukuri (manufacturing). I imagine that for many people, terms like "processing" and "manufacturing" evoke "hard" words like craftsmanship and technical skills, and it is precisely on these foundations that Japan leads the world.

On the other hand, when it comes to manufacturing that incorporates "soft" words like IoT and AI, I cannot shake the impression that we are yielding our position to other countries. For example, which leaves a stronger impression: Japan's "Society 5.0" or Germany's "Industry 4.0"? It is frustrating because Japan is actually at the top level in the world, regardless of whether it is "hard" or "soft."

I have my own thoughts on this matter, but I will save that for another occasion. I am challenging myself with "manufacturing that creates functions" by utilizing such manufacturing technologies.

This is also the core of biomimetics (biomimicry), where living organisms possess various functions by "changing" themselves to adapt to their environment through the process of evolution.

My research aims to give materials themselves various functions, just like living organisms, by imitating these organisms and applying "changes" to the materials. I have created many functions so far. This is the exact moment when manufacturing leaps off the "blueprint."

So, what should I think about next? One direction is the expansion into "soft" manufacturing, such as how to optimize or automate the processes that create these functions. Process DX is, of course, essential here. We have already started moving on this.

What else? You are likely familiar with iPS cells. These are pluripotent cells that can grow into desired tissues according to the internal environment of the body by incorporating certain genes. Wait a minute—could we then make "materials" pluripotent? In other words, could we create a "pluripotent material" that can grow into a desired function according to the environment in which it is used by incorporating (modifying) something into the material?

"Materialmimetics" (material mimicry)—this is a term I coined, but it would be interesting if living things, including humans, began to mimic the "growth" of materials.