FACT BOOK 2021
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Research and Development
Award-winning Technologies
-
The Okochi Prize
(sponsored by the Okochi Memorial Foundation) -
The Ichimura Prize in Industry
(sponsored by the New Technology Development Foundation) -
The Ichimura Prize in Industry against Global Warming
(sponsored by the New Technology Development Foundation) -
National Commendation for Invention
(by Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation) -
MONODZUKURI Nippon Grand Award
(Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and other Ministries) -
The Commendation for Science and Technology by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
(Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology)
The Okochi Prize
(sponsored by the Okochi Memorial Foundation)
The prize is presented every year to individuals and organizations that have attained excellent achievements in research and development of production engineering and production technologies, and in practical applications of advanced production systems.
| FY | Prize names | Achievements |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Grand Production | High-efficiency universal rolling technology for wide-flange beam (jointly with Kawasaki Steel) |
| 1991 | Production | High-grade ERW pipe and tube of non-quenched/tempered type for use as OCTGs |
| 1992 | Production | Development of high strength and corrosion resistant Ni base alloy OCTGs |
| 1994 | Production | Development of high speed and high performance bogie trucks for railway vehicles |
| 1995 | Production | Development of high reliability heat exchanger tube for nuclear power plants |
| Grand Production | Low-cost, low-environmental burden metallurgical coke production technology | |
| 1996 | Production | Roll pair cross rolling method for high accuracy and productivity in steel rolling process of flat products (jointly with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries) |
| 1997 | Production | High-speed tool steel hot-strip mill roll by continuous pouring process for cladding (jointly with Hitachi Metals) |
| 1998 | Grand Production | Environmentally-friendly sintering technology for difficult-to-process iron ore |
| Technology | Development of stainless steel pipe for supply of ultra-high-purity gas (jointly with Sumikin Stainless Steel Pipe Co., Ltd. and Tohoku University) | |
| 1999 | Production | Die-forged crankshaft performance enhancement and development of high production total system |
| Production | Automotive high-strength steel sheet (TRIP) with excellent crash energy absorption capacity | |
| 2000 | Production | World's first endless hot rolling process and new product (jointly developed with Kawasaki Steel, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and IHI Corporation) |
| 2003 | Production | New-generation technologies for the production of medium-size seamless pipes and tubes |
| 2006 | Grand Production | Development of new-generation technologies for the high-quality, high-efficiency and environmentally-friendly steelmaking process |
| 2007 | Production | YP 47kgf/mm2 class higher strength steel plate and new hull structure design for large container ships (jointly with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries) |
| 2008 | Grand Production | Development of advanced stainless boiler tube for ultra-supercritical (USC) coal-fired thermal power plants |
| Production | Diagnose and repair technologies used in enormously harsh space for realization of coke-oven restoring (DOC) | |
| 2009 | Production | Process for recycling dust emitted in steel mills |
| 2010 | Production | Development of technologies that extend the campaign life of blast furnaces |
| 2011 | Production | Municipal waste plastics recycling technology by producing chemical raw materials |
| 2012 | Production | Development of high-alloy seamless OCTG and their manufacturing technologies that increase production of natural gas |
| Production | Innovative new cokemaking technology for expanding raw coal resources and saving energy (SCOPE21) (jointly with Kobe Steel, JFE Steel, Nisshin Steel and Mitsubishi Chemical) | |
| 2014 | Production | Development of a steelmaking process using the multi-functional integrated converter furnace method |
| 2017 | Grand Production | Development of Environmentally-conscious Stainless Steel Making Process Combining Resource Saving and Productivity Enhancement |
| 2018 | Production | Development eco-friendly type steel wire for super-high-tensile-strength bridge cables |
| 2019 | Production | Development of Production Technology for Highly Ductile Steel Plates for Shipbuilding Securing Crashworthiness |
The Ichimura Prize in Industry
(sponsored by the New Technology Development Foundation)
The prize is presented every year to executives and researchers who have rendered distinguished services in nurturing excellent domestically-developed technologies, aiming at contributing to the dissemination of scientific technologies and the improvement of scientific technological level.
| FY | Prize names | Achievements |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Distinguished Achievement | In-line heat treatment for high-strength DHH (deep head hardened) rail |
| 1991 | Excellent Achievement | Development of high performance ferritic stainless steel with Nb and Cu (jointly with Nippon Stainless Steel Co., Ltd.) |
| Distinguished Achievement | Corrosion diagnosis for steel structures using electrochemical technology | |
| 1993 | Distinguished Achievement | Development of wide aluminum/stainless steel clad coil |
| 1995 | Excellent Achievement | Ultra-high-strength steel wire for bridge cables |
| 1996 | Distinguished Achievement | Heat-proof domain refining method for grain-oriented electrical steel sheet |
| 1997 | Excellent Achievement | Development of powder top blowing process under reduced pressure |
| 1998 | Distinguished Achievement | Hot-rolled titanium-clad steel coil |
| 1999 | Distinguished Achievement | Weathering steel for use in coastal regions |
| 2001 | Distinguished Achievement | Development of high performance 60-kg high tensile strength steel plate with strikingly improved welding capabilities |
| 2003 | Distinguished Achievement | Super high HAZ toughness technology with fine microstructure imparted by fine particles (HTUFF™) |
| 2004 | Distinguished Achievement | Innovative antiseismic technology using unbonded brace and advanced steel |
| Distinguished Achievement | Development of processing technology to promote the generation of protective rust for weatherproof steel | |
| 2006 | Excellent Achievement | Sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid dew-point corrosion resistant steel (New S-TEN™1) |
| Distinguished Achievement | Development of non-oriented electrical steel sheet for high-efficiency motors | |
| 2008 | Distinguished Achievement | Superior corrosion resistant and environmentally-friendly steel sheet for automotive fuel tanks (ECOKOTE™-S) |
| Distinguished Achievement | Development of steel plate for improving the fatigue strength in welded joints | |
| 2010 | Distinguished Achievement | Corrosion resistant steel for cargo oil tank (NSGP™-1) |
| 2011 | Outstanding Achievement | Multi-coated Cu bonding wire for LSI packaging (EX1) (jointly with Nippon Micrometal) |
| 2013 | Distinguished Achievement | Vibration controller for railroad cars (active suspension) |
| 2014 | Outstanding Achievement | Eco-friendly type steel wire for super-high-tensile-strength bridge cables |
| 2018 | Distinguished Achievement | Improvement of crashworthiness for ship collision by development of highly ductile steel plates |
| 2019 | Distinguished Achievement | Improvement of safety for heavy vehicles by developing high efficiency and lightweight permanent magnet retarder |
| 2020 | Distinguished Achievement | Development of forming technology of ultrahigh-strength steel sheet contributing to evolution of automobiles |
The Ichimura Prize in Industry against Global Warming
(sponsored by the New Technology Development Foundation)
The prize is presented every year to researchers or groups who have made a contribution to the development of an excellent Japanese technology in the industry to prevent global warming. (Newly established from FY2018).
| FY | Prize names | Achievements |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Distinguished Achievement | Development of high strengthened stainless steel for high pressure hydrogen environment to accelerate hydrogen-based society |
| 2019 | Distinguished Achievement | Restoring seaweed bed using steelmaking slag, which bring about various natural benefaction |
National Commendation for Invention
(by Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation)
The Imperial Invention Award, from the Imperial Bounty, is presented every year to those who have made particularly significant inventions. The invention and other awards are also given every year to those who have made excellent inventions, devices and designs, and those who have put into practical use these achievements and made significant contributions pertaining to encouraging inventions.
| FY | Prize names | Achievements |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Keidanren Chairman's Prize | Ultra-low core loss grain-oriented electrical steel sheet treated by laser irradiation |
| 1995 | Japan Patent Attorneys Association President's Prize | Web-height flexible control method for H-beam rolling by skew roll mill |
| 1997 | Invention Prize | Ultra-low-carbon steel sheet with combined addition of Nb and Ti, having formability and good adherence of galvannealed coating |
| 1998 | Invention Prize | High crack-arrestability endowed steel plate having surface layer with ultra-fine-grain microstructure |
| 2001 | Invention Prize | Rail with high wear resistance and internal fatigue damage resistance for heavy-haul railway use |
| 2003 | Invention Prize | Recycling method of chlorine-containing waste plastics in coke ovens (jointly with the University of Kitakyushu) |
| Invention Prize | Protective rust-layer accelerant technology for weather-resistant steel (jointly with Himeji Institute of Technology Graduate School) | |
| 2005 | Invention Prize | High formability zinc coated steel sheets for automobiles |
| Economy, Trade and Industry Minister's Prize | New-generation technologies for the production of medium-size seamless pipes and tubes | |
| 2007 | Invention Prize | Development of mold flux for high-speed continuous casting |
| 2008 | Imperial Invention Prize | Development of super-high strength low-alloy steel oil country tubular goods (OCTG) for sour service |
| Invention Prize | Compact type hydroforming equipment (jointly with Toyota Motor) | |
| 2009 | Invention Prize | Invention of strengthened low-alloy steel for economical boilers (jointly with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Kyushu Institute of Technology) |
| 2010 | Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Minister's Prize | Measurement and evaluation technology for hot repair of coke-oven chamber walls |
| 2011 | Chairman’s Prize | Development of advanced stainless boiler tube for Ultra-Supercritical (USC) coal-fired thermal power plants |
| 2012 | Keidanren Chairman's Prize | Development of the functional steel plate with high enhancement to fatigue life for welded structures |
| Invention Prize | Excellent corrosion-resistant hot-dip alloy coated sheet (SuperDyma™) | |
| 2013 | 21st Century Invention Prize | Invention of high-strength non-oriented electrical steel of resource-saving design |
| Patent Office Commissioner's Prize | Invention of new type high performance copper bonding wire for LSI (jointly with Nippon Steel & Sumikin Materials, Nippon Micrometal) | |
| 2015 | Invention Prize | Invention of steering bogie for railway vehicle (Jointly with Tokyo Metro) |
| 2016 | Keidanren Chairman's Prize | Invention of eco-friendly-type steel wire for ultra-high-tensile-strength PWS |
| 2019 | Invention Prize | Invention of threaded joint with solid lubrication coating for oil country tubular goods |
MONODZUKURI Nippon Grand Award
(Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and other Ministries)
(held biannually)
| FY | Prize names | Achievements |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Prime Minister's Prize (Manufacturing and Production Process Category) |
Invention of manufacturing method of high quality steel plates using nano-size particles |
| Economy, Trade and Industry Minister's Prize (Product and Technology Development Category) |
Abrasion-resistant, internal fatigue damage-resistant heavy load-bearing rails for railways | |
| 2009 | Prime Minister's Prize (Product and Technology Development Category) |
Development of ECOKOTE™-S, environmentally sensitive steel sheet for fuel tanks with outstanding corrosion-resistant properties |
| Special Prize (Product and Technology Development Category) |
Development of high-strength Pb-free non-heat-treated steel for the application of fracture splitting connecting rods (jointly with Honda Motor) | |
| Excellence Prize (Manufacturing and Production Process Category) |
Blast furnace operation/maintenance technology that has enabled Japan's longest operating days of the furnace | |
| Excellence Prize (Manufacturing and Production Process Category) |
Development of an innovative production method allowing the production of flat hot-rolled high-tensile steel plates | |
| Excellence Prize (Product and Technology Development Category) |
Development of ultra-strength, formable steel sheet delivering improved fuel economy and protection for passengers | |
| Excellence Prize (Product and Technology Development Category) |
Uncoated, highly weather-resistant nickel-steel alloy for use in bridge construction and the anti-corrosion technology that supports this product Practical implementation of a technical system (jointly with the Public Works Research Center) |
|
| Excellence Prize (Product and Technology Development Category) |
Development of high strength, highly tough thick steel plate for use on large container vessels (47 kg/mm2); contributions to the structural design of new vessels (jointly with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries) | |
| Excellence Prize (Product and Technology Development Category) |
Development of environmentally-friendly lead-free, low-carbon free-cutting advanced steel materials | |
| 2011 | Prime Minister's Prize (Manufacturing and Production Process Category) |
Development of an approach to use inferior quality ferrite dust as a raw material as part of a recycling process to manufacture steel |
| Prime Minister's Prize (Product and Technology Development Category) |
Development of a groundbreaking next-generation approach for the manufacture of stainless steel that radically reduces the amount of rare metals required (jointly with Nippon Steel & Sumikin Stainless Steel) | |
| Economy, Trade and Industry Minister's Prize (Manufacturing and Production Process Category) |
Development of new continuous casting technologies for very thick plate (PCCS) | |
| Special Prize (Product and Technology Development Category) |
Development and practical application of a highly corrosion-resistant steel sheet NSGP™-1 for use on crude oil tankers | |
| Excellence Prize (Manufacturing and Production Process Category) |
Development of the world’s first hot rolling steel sheet thermometer with high precision even during a cooling process and the high-tensile steel sheet manufacturing technology by using this thermometer | |
| 2013 | Special Prize (Manufacturing and Production Process Category) |
Development of a new steelmaking process that achieves high efficiency, high quality, and low environmental load, simultaneously |
| Excellence Prize (Product and Technology Development Category) |
Development of lightweight and highly corrosion-resistant IP gold titanium through ultrafine-pattern grinding technology and advanced vacuum technology (jointly with Toyo Stainless Polish Industry and Nihon Teppan) | |
| 2017 | Special Prize (Development Category) |
Development of permanent magnet type compact lightweight retarder |
| 2019 | Economy, Trade and Industry Minister's Prize (Manufacturing and Production Process Category) |
Development of forming technology of ultrahigh-strength steel sheet that contributes to weight reduction of automobile parts and reduction of material usage |
| Economy, Trade and Industry Minister's Prize (Product and Technology Development Category) |
Development of next-generation high-strength steel material MSB20 and gears that enable rare metal-less (jointly with Aisin AW Co., Ltd. and Aichi Steel Corporation) | |
| Special Prize (Manufacturing and Production Process Category) |
Manufacturing technology for hot-rolled high strength steel sheet using the shape meter employing LED dot pattern projection method | |
| Kyushu Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry Director Award (Product and Technology Development Category) |
Improvement of crashworthiness for ship collision by development of highly ductile steel plates |
The Commendation for Science and Technology by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
(Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology)
| FY | Prize names | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Distinguished Service in Science and Technology | Development and promotion of steel tube and pipe for oil refining and petrochemistry |
| Meritorious Services in Research | Research of analysis model on solidification and segregation of steel | |
| Meritorious Services in Research | Fracture mechanics research for the thick steelmaterials application technology to large-sized structures, such as a LNG reservoir | |
| 1999 | Distinguished Service in Science and Technology | Development and promotion of high efficiency dimensionally stable electrode and high quality electrolytic galvanized steel sheets technology |
| Distinguished Service in Science and Technology | Development of a chrome-plated thin steel sheet that can be welded | |
| Innovator Award | Development of a process and related machinery for melting and continuous casting of steel | |
| 2000 | Distinguished Service in Science and Technology | Development of laser technology to join steel sheets during the manufacturing process |
| Meritorious Services in Research | Research into processing methods for steel rods and wire; optimizing the selection of raw materials | |
| 2001 | Distinguished Service in Science and Technology | Development of a system to estimate the residual corrosion lifespan of steel materials used as structural materials in construction |
| Meritorious Services in Research | Research of environmentally friendly free-cutting steel | |
| Meritorious Services in Research | Theoretical analysis of migration speeds for coagulation phenomena and continuous casting; research into the applications thereof | |
| 2002 | Meritorious Services in Research | Research into the fault rates, causes and control in continuously cast steel slabs |
| 2003 | Distinguished Service in Science and Technology | Development of a system to identify and prevent the causes of weld cracking |
| 2004 | Meritorious Services in Research | Research into creative technologies and predictive controls for organizations, systems and materials for thin steel sheet |
| 2005 | Prize for Science and Technology: Development Category | Development of high quality and high speed round billet casting technology |
| 2007 | Prize for Science and Technology: Development Category | Development of a thin-walled, heat resistant integrated stave for a large-scale blast furnace |
| 2008 | Prize for Science and Technology: Development Category | Development of non-oriented electromagnetic steel sheet for high efficiency motors |
| 2009 | Prize for Science and Technology: Development Category | Development of crash-box that improves fuel efficiency and crash safety (jointly with Toyoda Iron Works) |
| 2010 | Prize for Science and Technology: Development Category | Development and commercial application of new functional steel material with an extended fatigue-life |
| Prize for Science and Technology: Development Category | Development of high fatigue strength stainless steel for cylinder head gasket (jointly with Honda R&D Americas) |
|
| Prize for Science and Technology: Development Category | Research into the highly functional properties of ferrite heat-resistant steel tempered at high temperatures over
a long period of time (jointly with the National Institute for Materials Science and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries) |
|
| 2011 | Prize for Science and Technology: Development Category | Development of abrasion-resistant, internal fatigue damage-resistant heavy load-bearing rails for railways |
| 2012 | Prize for Science and Technology: Development Category | Development of a high environmentally sensitive Sn-Zn plated steel sheet for use in automobile fuel tanks |
| 2013 | Prize for Science and Technology: Development Category | Development of SuperDyma™ - a highly corrosion-resistant Zn-Al-Mg-Si plated steel sheet for use as a construction material |
| Prize for Science and Technology: Development Category | Development of highly accurate cooling control technology through the use of a thermometer applied to cooling steel sheets at the hot rolling mill | |
| 2014 | Prize for Science and Technology: Development Category | Development of a new, highly functional Cu bonding wire for LSI (jointly with Nippon Micrometal) |
| Prize for Science and Technology: Development Category | Development of waste plastic recycling technology using a coke oven (jointly with Tetsugen, Nippon Coke & Engineering, Nippon Steel & Sumikin Texeng, and Nippon Steel & Sumikin Engineering) | |
| 2015 | Prize for Science and Technology: Development Category | Development of eco-friendly, high-performance, low-carbon, unleaded, free-cut steel |
| 2016 | Prize for Science and Technology: Development Category | Development of the multi-functional integrated converter furnace method that achieves production of a large amount of eco-products |
| 2017 | Prize for Science and Technology: Development Category | Development of permanent magnet type compact lightweight retarder |
| 2018 | Prize for Science and Technology: Development Category | Development of steelmaking process achieving minimum chromium emission |
| 2019 | Prize for Science and Technology: Development Category | Development of manufacturing technology for hot-rolled high strength steel sheet using the new shape meter with high measurement accuracy |
| 2020 | Prize for Science and Technology: Development Category | Invention of environmentally-friendly steel wire rods for super-high-strength bridge cables |