To ensure that the Company can continue to thrive and grow, we must cherish and co-create Mazda’s uniqueness together with everyone involved with it. While enhancing alliances with existing partners, the Company will continue to explore new partnerships—even outside the automotive industry. To this end, the Company has promoted collaboration (open innovation) with companies, universities, and government authorities with the aim of efficiently resolving business issues by obtaining new knowledge from outside the Company and of achieving the sustainable growth of society and businesses. The business environment is becoming increasingly competitive due to stricter environmental and safety regulations, new competitors from other industries, and diversification of the mobility business. Through open innovation, the Mazda Group will pursue and contribute to society as it seeks to exercise its corporate philosophy.
OPEN INNOVATION（EXPLORING PARTNERSHIPS FOR "CO-CREATION WITH OTHERS"）
Basic Approach
Objectives of Open Innovation
【Achieve the growth of the Mazda Group】
・Improve engineering capabilities, enhance the brand value, and increase R&D efficiency
【Contribution to society】
・Achieve a sustainable society, advance monotsukuri or product development and manufacturing (share knowledge and skills), and enhance regional empowerment
System Diagram of Open Innovation
① Inter-company collaboration
Collaboration with automakers and suppliers
② Industry-academia-government collaboration
Collaboration with local governments and companies (Hiroshima Council of Automotive Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration)
③ Industry-academia collaboration
Joint research with universities Collaboration with government institutions and research institutions (participation in national projects)
④ Industry-government collaboration
Participation in technology exhibitions organized by government authorities (dissemination of needs and seeds)
Others: Model-based development, Research Association of Automobile Internal Combustion Engines (AICE)
Initiatives
MAZDA INNOVATION SPACE TOKYO
In February 2024, Mazda opened MAZDA INNOVATION SPACE TOKYO in the Roppongi area of Minato City, Tokyo. This hub will serve as a place where partnerships are formed and talented individuals dare to create new value. We established this new space in Tokyo so that we may reach far beyond the conventional framework of the automobile business, encounter a diverse range of talented individuals and business partners, and accelerate our co-creation activities. In addition to recruiting IT, Mobility as a Service (MaaS), and other specialists, this space is slated to host interactions with new business partners, including those engaged in the electrification process, and facilitate new business development, internal workshops, and other activities for co-creation both inside and outside the Company.
Inter-Company Collaboration
Mazda has been promoting inter-company collaboration with other automakers and suppliers, etc., to enhance their manufacturing and engineering capabilities and create synergies.
Collaboration with Partners
By working together with its partners to realize shared aspirations, Mazda wants to be a company to which partners find pride in their connection and feel attachment toward. We thereby aim to make Mazda into the brand that is connected to all stakeholders, including customers, by the strongest of bonds. The Company plans to promote active collaboration founded on mutual trust with various other companies.
【Recent Collaboration Examples】
Support for the Autonomous Growth of Local Suppliers
Mazda has conducted the Autonomy Development program aimed at promoting the autonomous growth of local suppliers since 2019. This program was created for local suppliers based on the approach adopted in the Global Manufacturing Network (GMN), which has been promoted since 2013 to enable production sites in Japan and overseas to autonomously carry out high-quality and highly efficient production activities that improve the value of the Mazda brand and to learn from each other at the same time.
The program is designed to enhance human resources development as a core component of the autonomous growth of local suppliers, a task for which the prior Jiba Achieve Best Cost (J-ABC) program was not sufficient. In the Autonomy Development program, local suppliers assign promoters to play a leading role in promoting understanding of the Mazda Production System (MPS) at their company. These promoters take part in training for senior managers and practical project work as part of promoter training. In this manner, Mazda is supporting the creation of human resources development frameworks at suppliers to drive the Companywide adoption of the MPS. Launched at three model suppliers in August 2019, the program is deployed throughout the organization to include positions such as MPS Master Trainers and other supervisors.
【Statistics from FY March 2024】
・ Introduction of MPS at a total of 25 suppliers in Japan
・ Appointment of 23 MPS Master Trainers at 10 suppliers
Vision to Promote MPS
MPS Flow Chart
Program Developed for Local Suppliers
Implementation of the Autonomy Development Program at Overseas Production Sites and Their Local Suppliers
In the course of transition to the Autonomy Development program in Japan, the Company has adopted the Global Manufacturing Network (GMN) at overseas production sites to support the autonomous growth of local suppliers. The GMN is being implemented at five overseas production sites: AutoAlliance (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (AAT), Mazda Powertrain Manufacturing (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (MPMT), Changan Mazda Automobile Co., Ltd. (CMA), Changan Mazda Engine Co., Ltd. (CME), and Mazda de Mexico Vehicle Operation (MMVO).
【Statistics from FY March 2024】
- Introduction of GMN at a total of 25 suppliers overseas
- Appointment of 31 MPS Master Trainers at 25 suppliers
Industry–Academia–Government Collaboration
Mazda, in establishing the Industry–Academia–Government Collaboration Secretariat, has promoted collaboration with local companies, universities, and government authorities. Through collaboration among industry, academia, and government, the Company has contributed to local communities in terms of developing new creative technologies and fostering human resources capable of bringing about innovation.
Hiroshima Council of Automotive Industry- Academia-Government Collaboration (Hirojiren)*1
As a company which has its R&D and production facilities mainly in Hiroshima Prefecture, Mazda believes that cooperation with local business and industry is extremely important. Under this belief, Mazda is collaborating with the Chugoku Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry, Hiroshima Prefecture, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Industrial Promotion Organization, and Hiroshima University to support local automobile-related companies and promote innovation and the vitalization of the region. Toward achieving the 2030 Industry- Academia-Government Collaboration Vision established in 2015, various activities have been conducted, such as creating new frameworks to support local businesses, investigating next-generation automotive societies, and raising awareness in society.
Following its selection for a subsidy under the Cabinet Office’s Project for Revitalization of Local Universities and Regional Industries*2 for FY March 2019, Mazda was chosen in FY March 2024 for additional support to further expand upon its original activities and established the Digital Monozukuri Education Research Center at Hiroshima University. Mazda has been conducting R&D activities related to innovative materials technology, data-driven control technology, smart inspection monitoring, and smart battery/air-conditioning systems. Mazda will continue to accelerate activities with a view to the social implementation of development technologies in the future.
*1 A council that promotes industry-academia-government collaboration. Motivated by the strong hope and enthusiasm for encouraging the manufacturing industry in Hiroshima, its member organizations have voluntarily joined Hiroshima Council of Automotive Industry- Academia-Government Collaboration, to consider what manufacturing ought to be and to leverage innovation that will lead to industrial development.
*2 The Hiroshima Prefecture Special Committee to Promote the Project for Revitalization of Local Universities and Regional Industries was established. Chairperson: Hidehiko Yuzaki, Governor of Hiroshima Prefecture; Project manager: Kiyotaka Shobuda, Representative Director and Chairman of the Board of Mazda Motor Corporation
The 2030 Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration Vision Upheld by Hirojiren
- Transform Hiroshima into a hub that attracts people seeking innovative automotive technologies and dynamic car culture, and a place that continually produces technologies that amaze the world.
- Industry, government and education sectors work together to nurture human resources capable of innovation across all generations, and enliven the region through monozukuri (product development and manufacturing).
- Develop Hiroshima’s unique Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration into a leading model for “regional empowerment” in Japan, serving also as a benchmark for the rest of the world.
Major Initiatives
| Initiatives | Details |
|---|---|
| Support for programming education at elementary schools | Support for programming education at elementary schools in Hiroshima Prefecture following a curriculum designed under the guidance of Hirojiren and using videos and car-shaped robots as part of efforts to foster human resources capable of bringing about innovation. 【Achievements in FY March 2024 】 ・Support provided to around 720 students at 10 schools |
| Co-creation and technology exchanges with suppliers | ■Joint research on next-generation automotive technologies with local companies ■Training for engineers and digital technology expertise (industry–academia collaboration) ■Investigation of means of providing government support to local companies (coordination with government agencies) |
| Popularization and use expansion of next-generation liquid fuel | ■Verification tests of SUSTEO next-generation biofuel made by Euglena Co., Ltd. ■Microalgae culture research based on the island of Osakikamijima ■Lectures and exhibitions at universities and Next-generation Liquid Fuel Symposium |
Fundamental research to support model-based development* of power sources for vehicles |
■Joint research with universities on battery management using model-based development to expand scope of research from internal combustion engines to batteries, motors, and other EV devices |
| Research and development in KANSEI (sensibility) field | ■Research and development of KANSEI technology and basic research on sensibility in collaboration with Hiroshima University ■Joint research on sensibilities with local suppliers ■Social contribution through Hiroshima’s Council for the Promotion of Innovation with KANSEI |
| Human resources development in model-based development field | Basic courses for development of human resources with model-based development and computer-aided engineering skills for automobile suppliers and manufacturing companies organized in collaboration with the Hiroshima Digital Innovation Center to enhance the R&D capabilities of local companies 【Achievements in FY March 2024 】 ・ Model-based development and computer-aided engineering courses administered to aggregate total of 7,346 individuals since 2016 (as of the end of March 31, 2024) ・Model-based development process training course certified as a Course on IT-Skill Training to Meet the Era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (certification maintained since 2018) |
* Model-based development is a development process employing simulation technologies.
Industry–Academia Collaboration
Mazda has implemented frameworks for efficiently advancing research and development through collaboration with educational institutions such as universities and research institutions.
Participation in World-Leading National Projects and Joint Studies with Research Institutions
Mazda participates in world-leading national projects and joint studies with external research institutions with the aim of resolving social issues facing the automotive industry.
| Relevant government institutions/organizations | Project name |
|---|---|
| Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization, NEDO Green Innovation Funding Program Coordination Office | Green Innovation Fund Projects/Development of Next-Generation Batteries and Next-Generation Motors (in Japanese only) |
| Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization, Energy Conservation Technology Department of New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization | Program to Develop and Promote the Commercialization of Energy Conservation Technologies to Realize a Decarbonized Society (in Japanese only) |
| Cabinet Office, Regional Development Bureau | Local University and Industry Grant Program for Digital Transformation of Hiroshima’s Manufacturing Industry (in Japanese only) |
Collaboration with Universities
Through enhancing collaboration with universities in various fields, Mazda aims to help resolve a broader range of issues from a wider perspective and to thereby contribute to society.
| University | Collaboration outline |
|---|---|
| Hiroshima University | ■Next-generation automotive technology joint research course (since April 2015) Mazda has set up joint research courses with the university to find solutions to long-term technological issues and to develop human resources to implement the solutions |
| ■Comprehensive collaboration agreement (since February 2011) Through collaboration in broad areas, from technologies related to research and development and production to social science fields such as planning, management, and marketing, proactively conducting joint research. |
|
| ■Regional empowerment and open innovation Mazda contributes to regional empowerment and human resources development of the Chugoku region and Hiroshima Prefecture, and to SDGs through collaboration with Hiroshima University and local communities and participation in national projects, etc. |
|
| Hiroshima City University | ■Mazda and Hiroshima City University Faculty of Arts Co-Creation Seminar (since May 2017) Set up a co-creation seminar with the university, aiming to develop human resources who are capable of creating new manufacturing for a new era, and make Hiroshima a place to generate human resources for manufacturing that Hiroshima can boast to the world. |
| Kyushu University | ■Establishment of a joint research department (since August 2017) Mazda has set up a joint research department with the university to find solutions to long-term technological issues and to develop human resources to implement the solutions. |
| ■Inter-organizational collaboration regarding next-generation automotive technologies (since May 2011) Mazda has been working together with the university to reinforce research and development projects and to encourage academic research and education activities. |
|
| Kindai University | ■Agreement concerning comprehensive research collaboration (since December 2012) Cooperating in bolstering cutting-edge research and development and in strengthening the technological capabilities of local industries. |
| University of Hyogo | ■Concluded an agreement on joint research using Spring-8, a large synchrotron radiation facility (May 2016) Cooperating in the development of innovative materials and product development technologies using radiation analysis techniques. |
| Tokyo Institute of Technology | ■Participation in Tokyo Institute of Technology’s Super Smart Society Promotion Consortium (from October 2018) Collaboration between industry, academia, and government to accelerate the development of both element technologies and human resources to realize a super smart society (Society 5.0.) Contribution to education and research on cyber- and physical-space technologies to connect people, the earth, and society. |
| ■Automotive technology lectures Organization of automotive technology courses at the School of Engineering every three years on a rotating basis together with Toyota Motor Corporation and Honda Motor Co., Ltd. |
|
| University of Tokyo | ■Joint research with Pre-emptive LCA Social Cooperation Research Department (from April 2023) Participation in cross-industry consortium tasked with developing methodologies for analysis and assessment of interactions between advanced technologies and social systems that contribute to carbon neutrality and circular economies and impacts of social adoption of technologies on performance, communities, and climate |
Industry–Government Collaboration
Mazda efficiently promotes cutting-edge joint research and other projects through collaboration with government authorities.
Basic and Applied Research on Technologies for Internal Combustion Engines and Cleaner Exhaust Emissions
Mazda participates in the Research Association of Automobile Internal Combustion Engines (AICE), an organization that promotes joint research on the Japanese automotive industry through collaboration between industry, academia, and government. AICE is a technical research union established in April 2014 with the certification of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. This organization is designed to enable automobile manufacturers to conduct basic and applied studies jointly with universities and research institutions on themes common to automobile manufacturers and to use the research results to accelerate their in-house development activities. AICE is advancing research projects based on research scenarios aimed at achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 while being funded by subsidies from the Japanese government’s Green Innovation Fund. Through its involvement in AICE, Mazda is working to resolve common technological issues via coordination with universities and other automobile manufacturers. One part of our multi-solution approach, these activities are aimed at achieving carbon neutrality and zero emissions for internal combustion engines with an eye toward using carbon-neutral fuel.
Promotion of Model Distribution in the Automotive Industry
Mazda has participated in the Study Group for Ideal Approaches to Model Utilization in the Automobile Industry organized by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry since its launch in November 2015. The Company works on initiatives with other automakers and parts manufacturers to spread model-based development, a development technique to achieve the advanced development and performance assessment process for automobiles through virtual simulation. In April 2018, the Company agreed on the Enrichment of SURIAWASE 2.0*1 for the Automobile Industry (an industry-academia-government joint strategy project policy), and announced that the Company would continue with the initiatives to enrich model-based development and harmonization areas, etc. In addition, Mazda formulated the guidelines for smoothly promoting model distribution between companies, based on the results of activities implemented by the study group thus far.
In December 2018, the study group and ProSTEP iVip,*2 an international standardization preparatory organization, and the DX promotion organization SystemX*3 jointly announced these guidelines to the world, as international rules originating from Japan. This study group concluded its activities in March 2021, and the Japan Automotive Model-Based Engineering center (JAMBE) was established in September 2021 to promote the widespread use of model-based development technology widely throughout the Japanese automotive industry in order to carry on the results of the study, at which time 10 companies became operating members. In March 2023, the organization was made a general incorporated association. Mazda is also participating as one of the operating member companies, and takes full advantage of the accumulated virtual simulation and unique model-based development knowledge that has been accumulated through Mazda Digital Innovation (MDI) to contribute to activities for increasing the global competitiveness of the Japanese automobile industry.
【Statistics from FY March 2024】
JAMBE membership of 171 companies and organizations as of the end of April, 2024
*1 An initiative to enhance the harmonization of development processes by taking advantage of a model-based development process that uses virtual simulations instead of physical machines across entire supply chains in Japan. A Study Group for Ideal Approaches to Model Utilization in the Automobile Industry was organized in November 2015 by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, to further enhance the international competitiveness of the automotive industry.
*2 An international standardization organization based in Germany. Its membership comprises 185 companies, primarily automakers in Europe, the United States and Japan, as well as airlines and software companies. ProSTEP iVip works to develop and promote international rules regarding computer-aided design and model-based development.
*3 A DX research organization based in France