Science Meets Solutions: Inside TRC

By Sasha Lauture and Cian O Neill

Toray Research Center (TRC) isn’t your average lab—it’s a high-tech, solutions-driven powerhouse leading the charge in materials analysis and innovation across a vast array of industries.

“Our mission is to contribute to society through advanced technologies,” says President Masanobu Yoshikawa, who has overseen TRC’s transformation from a small subsidiary of Toray Industries into a globally recognized research center. Founded in 1978, TRC now serves over 2,000 clients around the world, spanning sectors from semiconductors to biotechnology, with a remarkable 91 percent of its revenue sourced outside Toray.

One of TRC’s biggest advantages is its proprietary technology. “We’re not just using the latest devices,” Dr. Yoshikawa explains. “We also develop our own tools to solve industry-specific problems.” For example, TRC’s NanoSIMS device, initially used in geology, has been adapted for semiconductor analysis, offering unrivaled sensitivity down to parts-per-billion levels. In 2022, TRC introduced a state-of-the-art electron microscope with a groundbreaking 53-picometer spatial resolution—making it one of the world’s most advanced and unique in its class.

Atomic resolution analytical electron microscope

Looking to the future, Dr. Yoshikawa’s vision is to keep TRC on the cutting edge of research. “Our aim is to be not only an analysis company, but a true research center recognized globally for innovation,” he says. In line with this, TRC is expanding its international reach with a strategic focus on North America, India and Southeast Asia, while building strong partnerships in countries like Germany and China.

Amid global tensions in technology and semiconductor production, Dr. Yoshikawa sees TRC positioned at the forefront of advanced materials like silicon carbide and diamond semiconductors. “The 21st century is becoming the age of semiconductors,” he asserts. TRC, with its pioneering spirit and relentless pursuit of innovation, is not just keeping pace with the rapid changes in global tech—it’s poised to drive key advancements across this rapidly evolving landscape, ready to shape the future of materials science and semiconductor technology.