Tokyo – March 17, 2026 – TOPPAN Holdings Inc. (TYO: 7911) (TOPPAN Holdings) and subsidiary TOPPAN Digital Inc. (TOPPAN Digital) have both received the Award for Encouragement of Research at the fiscal 2025 Research Presentation Meeting held by the Japanese Society of Printing Science and Technology (JSPST). TOPPAN Holdings was recognized for the results of its research on technology for cultured meat production employing proprietary biomaterials, while TOPPAN Digital received the award for work on a technique for estimating color-matching functions1 to enable the appearance of colors on displays to be tailored to the user.
The Award for Encouragement of Research recognizes outstanding projects selected from those presented at the JSPST’s Research Presentation Meetings held in spring and fall every year. TOPPAN Holdings and TOPPAN Digital were honored at a ceremony held on February 20, during the JSPST’s annual general meeting at the Japan Printers’ Institute.
About the Research
1. Technology for producing cultured meat using proprietary biomaterials
TOPPAN Holdings established the Joint Research Laboratory (TOPPAN) for Advanced Cell Regulatory Chemistry at the University of Osaka in 2017, and has been collaborating with Professor Michiya Matsusaki of the university’s Graduate School of Engineering on research and development of invivoid™, a 3D cell culture technology. The project has created a proprietary biomaterial in the form of collagen microfibers,2 which are combined with cells to produce an ink that can be used in a 3D printer. This has enabled the team to successfully overcome the challenge of fabricating cultured meat that replicates the distinctive marbling of muscle tissue and fat.
2. Establishment of technique for color-matching function estimation
TOPPAN Digital is building on color management technologies accrued over decades to drive R&D focused on resolving individual differences in the perception of the colors of real objects and those shown on displays. In collaboration with Professor Yasuki Yamauchi of Yamagata University, who researches color-matching functions, TOPPAN Digital has developed a method for using comparatively low-cost equipment to assess the visual characteristics of individuals. By enabling colors displayed to be tailored to the perception of each individual viewer, this technique resolves the issue of inconsistency when proofing designs remotely or shopping online. This research was recognized for making a meaningful contribution to the fields of printing and imaging.
Future Activities
TOPPAN Holdings intends to further its technical expertise in the production of cultured meat as a potential means to support sustainable food supply while pursuing enhancements in flavor and texture with the University of Osaka and other collaborators. TOPPAN Holdings will also apply the invivoid™ 3D cell culture technology to support expansion of personalized medicine in which the best possible course of treatment is selected for each patient.
TOPPAN Digital aims to help stimulate color-based communication by honing its color management technologies for diverse applications, including personalized displays of product textures on e-commerce websites and accurate color reproduction in telemedicine.
2 Collagen microfiber: A proprietary material created by physically refining collagen to make it water-soluble.
About the TOPPAN Group
Established in Tokyo in 1900, the TOPPAN Group is a leading and diversified global provider committed to delivering sustainable, integrated solutions in fields including printing, communications, security, packaging, décor materials, electronics, and digital transformation. The TOPPAN Group’s global team of more than 50,000 employees offers optimal solutions enabled by industry-leading expertise and technologies to address the diverse challenges of every business sector and society and contribute to the achievement of shared sustainability goals.
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