The TOPPAN Group sees intellectual property (IP) as a core source of competitiveness in business. We follow an IP strategy that secures competitive advantages in markets. Based on an IP strategy aligned with our business and R&D plans, we will further link IP activities with R&D activities and market-orientation to acquire intellectual property rights for the products and services generated from our integrated efforts.
Intensified IP initiatives will ensure that we have the IP capabilities needed to bolster the business portfolio transformation and business management of the Group.

1. We develop proactive intellectual property initiatives from a global perspective based on an intellectual property strategy that further aligns our market orientation and R&D activities by positioning intellectual property and intangible assets as important management resources to generate competitiveness in business.
2. We strategically use the intellectual property we have created to enhance corporate value and attain sustainable growth through the execution of Group management, higher business profits, and effective solutions for social issues.
3. We respect the intellectual property rights of others and take appropriate measures such as infringement avoidance and prevention when operating our businesses.
4. We comply with the laws and regulations pertinent to intellectual property rights across the world and exercise our legitimate rights appropriately when any of our intellectual property rights is infringed by a third party.
5. We appropriately and accurately use the trademarks we hold to enhance our brand value.

We have launched a project to enhance our IP capabilities by integrating business, R&D, and IP strategies across the Group. Project participants discussed the ideal structure for the future and concluded that the IP function must be strengthened, leading to the establishment of an Intellectual Property Division spun out from the Legal Affairs & Intellectual Property Division in April 2022.

Meanwhile, IP strategy departments newly set up in the business divisions are coordinating with the strategy departments in the Intellectual Property Division to build the foundation for advancing IP initiatives at TOPPAN. IP and technical managers from the business divisions direct the IP enhancement project to comprehensively take charge of activities focused on IP issues throughout the Group.

We aim to establish a framework that enables the business departments to formulate and implement their own IP strategies in line with the business plan. The following measures have been taken to form this framework: IP analysis to determine the direction of technology development based on hypothetical business plans (e.g., a clear understanding of positioning); planning and execution of IP strategies for construction of an IP portfolio linked to technology development aiming at gaining business advantages and clearing obstacles posed by the intellectual properties of competitors. Strategy, technology, and IP departments formulate a Groupwide IP strategy by jointly preparing an original IP strategy sheet. The business departments have been using this sheet to identify TOPPAN’s strengths in the businesses they handle by reviewing market environments, technological trends, and the intellectual property rights held by the Group and competitors. Once our strengths are confirmed, we search for the optimal approaches to applying for and acquiring IP throughout our business.

The Intellectual Property Division leads the implementation of Groupwide IP training programs. The division releases news on intellectual property at regular intervals and arranges e-learning and group-training programs tailored to each employee’s experience and duties. We continue to enhance the IP knowledge of individual human assets, along with their abilities to effectively use that knowledge. Personnel at the Intellectual Property Division also provide IP support through all the stages from invention consultation to IP application, to any investee companies that need IP resources. The IP division personnel further enhance customer trust by visiting SME business partners to hold onsite IP training on topics such as patents and trademarks.

FY 2022 Intellectual Property Achievement Award (Award from the Commissioner of the Japan Patent Office)

Toppan Inc. won an award from the Commissioner of the Japan Patent Office (JPO) at the Intellectual Property Achievement Awards organized by the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and JPO in fiscal 2022. METI and JPO recognized Toppan Inc. as a corporation that effectively utilizes intellectual property rights, especially patents. We will advance IP activities under a comprehensive strategy closely linked to our business and R&D strategies to enhance the corporate value of TOPPAN through the transformation of our business portfolio.

*The number of patent applications, etc., is based on the figures for Toppan Inc. as of the end of fiscal 2022, and may increase or decrease due to changes in our in-house aggregation methods.