The history of humanity is told in the narratives printed on paper about how societies have created economies, taught culture to the next generation, and made scientific progress. Through printing products and services, the Printing Group helps people share what they are thinking and doing, and enjoy life. Canon printing products have assisted people in the creation, capture and communication of new value. Although recent societal changes have led to paper being used in fewer situations, the immediacy and convenience of printing continue to surpass digital data and displays functionally in many ways. Canon will continue to provide the printing products and services that cater to the evolving needs of society.
Canon’s from-scratch development of such printing technologies as electrophotography and inkjet printing has contributed to the worldwide adoption of copying and printing. With the shift to digital over the past 20 years, we have created new value by utilizing digital technologies to facilitate rapid duplication and dissemination. With the society of the future expected to be based on cloud computing, we are focused on improving print security and content-on-demand technologies to enable the next generation of on-demand printing services, in which user-designated content can be printed the instant it is required. In this way, our policy is to continue to create new value by providing digital printing services based on cyber-physical systems featuring fully integrated hardware and software.
Supplying products that help to solve social issues also contributes to the achievement of SDGs. For instance, the essence of the digital transformation (DX) can be seen in Canon’s development of highperformance multifunction devices capable of quiet, high-speed scanning of auto-fed documents. In addition, services that seamlessly integrate such devices with the cloud are helping customers make efficiency gains while also saving time and labor. Through these initiatives, the Printing Group is contributing to the achievement of goals such as SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
To achieve these goals, in 2022, we are focusing on upgrading the product lineup and our workflow solutions, and on providing printing environments that function independent of location.
Our medium-to-long-term strategy in digital commercial printing is to focus on accommodating an expanded range of print media, notably printing of labels and packages. In hardware, our aim is to supply product ranges to cover all types of usage from the home or office environment to professional print service providers, as well as commercial and industrial print settings. In addition, Canon will offer print systems to deliver cloud-based on-demand printing services.
We are focused on providing new solutions for the DX era based on Canon’s print management technology originally developed for office environments. We are also striving to create new business possibilities by applying inkjet technology to other industrial sectors. In addition, we remain committed to ensuring all our business activities are environmentally conscious.
Visual information is essential in people’s daily lives. The Imaging Group supplies a diverse range of products and services that enhance the value of the visual image and enable customers to convert embedded information as required.
In the camera business, Canon contributes to the cultural development of photography and video by supplying high-performance products that use the optical technologies we have cultivated over many years to create high-quality images. These visual images not only preserve memories and emotions in vivid color, but also create value by sharing the joy of visual experiences. We are also developing new concept products to enable novel approaches to image creation, and building tools to support production of highly creative content utilizing technologies such as virtual reality (VR) and volumetric video. Our web cameras are also used in offices, schools and other settings to help overcome limitations of time and location.
In the network camera business, Canon’s aim is to help address social issues by converting video-feed data into information. To help realize a more safe and secure society, in addition to supplying network cameras, video management software, and video analytics technology for security applications, we are integrating technologies to develop video solutions for use in recording and monitoring, as well as assessing and responding to emergency situations.
Canon products also have uses in manufacturing or retail settings. Improvements in productivity, quality and customer satisfaction can be achieved by linking video solutions to operating systems. For example, video analytics technology can be employed in factories to help identify defective items or even automate such tasks, thus saving labor. In shops or distribution centers, this technology can also be used to reduce losses and increase profits by tracking movements or product inventories.
By supplying systems that help translate visual experiences into human happiness and providing video solutions to help address social issues, the Imaging Group aspires to support comfortable lifestyles, culture and education. These efforts contribute to the achievement of goals such as SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).
In the camera business, our aim is to generate sustained profits by retaining our leading brand position based on market share. We will also focus on leveraging our technical expertise to develop solutions that explore new possibilities in visual expression, such as XR systems (combining VR, MR and AR) and volumetric video.
We are also striving to utilize imaging technology to expand into business domains that help solve social issues. This includes the development of video analytics solutions for collaborative robots and automated guided vehicles, and efforts to upgrade our lineup of cameras fitted with advanced sensors for capturing images even in the dark. We are also pursuing efforts to grow the business through an open innovation approach by leveraging the strengths of Canon’s imaging technology. In the promising area of autonomous driving, in addition to optical technologies we are developing distance measuring and other perception technologies, working to build a smart mobility business.
Amid global trends of rapidly aging populations, rising healthcare costs and the ongoing infectious threat posed by COVID-19, demand for healthcare has risen to unprecedented levels, and promoting better health while preventing disease is now a common challenge across countries and regions worldwide. Under such conditions, Canon’s Medical Group is engaged in business that respects a shared set of values with patients and healthcare professionals. In terms of value creation, the foremost priority for Canon is to work out what kinds of technology are required to fulfill the needs of those providing healthcare; to supply the technology for realizing this practically; and to find ways of ensuring ease-of-use and maximizing economic value. These ideas are summarized in the Canon Medical management slogan Made for Life, which plays a guiding role in the Medical Group.
The Medical Group is mainly focused on the three fields of diagnostic imaging, healthcare IT and in vitro diagnostics. Our products and services help to prevent disease, maintain people’s health, and contribute to recovery from illness in varied ways. In the field of diagnostic imaging, we are utilizing AI technology to develop CT, MRI, and PET-CT image reconstruction technology that offers higher image quality while reducing radiation dose and noise, and to realize easy-to-operate diagnostic ultrasound systems that allow more efficient testing. In healthcare IT, we are developing IT solutions to collect, integrate, analyze and process different types of diagnostic images and data. In the field of in vitro diagnostics (IVD), we are supplying rapid genetic testing systems, antigen test kits and IVD reagents for COVID-19 testing.
These business activities are directly involved with solving social issues related to human health and welfare, thus contributing to achieving the SDGs, most notably SDG 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
In diagnostic imaging, we will develop technology to facilitate commercialization of photon-counting CT systems that have the potential to deliver ultra-high image quality while significantly reducing radiation dose required in scanning. In addition, we are developing next-generation high-performance MRI scanning systems by combining technologies from Group companies, notably the RF coil technology of QED, with image-processing technology based on AI. In ultrasound equipment, we are working on cutting the cost of sales via in-house production of a common platform using proprietary technology.
To develop businesses beyond diagnostic imaging, we are working to develop healthcare IT systems that gather, integrate, and analyze image and non-image data collected in clinical settings. In the IVD field, we are working to expand Canon’s business portfolio by broadening our presence into areas such as peripheral devices used in testing.
In 1970, Canon became the first Japanese firm to launch semiconductor lithography equipment. In 1986, we began applying the technology to the development of lithography equipment for manufacturing flat-panel displays (FPD). These areas still form the core of the Group’s business today. In the past, to address the miniaturization of semiconductors, we pursued a business strategy of expanding our lineup of products to offer to the market. Although the need for miniaturization continues to exist, from the 2010s, we shifted our strategy toward product development that incorporates specific customer requirements from the design stage, in line with diversifying customer needs, leading to increased earnings and the flexible provision of value to customers.
Today, Canon develops, manufactures and sells lithography equipment based on i-line (mercury lamp) or KrF (krypton fluoride) technology to help lower production costs and increase productivity for customers. Due to high power consumption of lithography equipment, we are working to develop more energy-efficient models and otherwise add value to our existing range by proposing solutions tailored to specific customer usage conditions.
Canon’s products in this field are one of the forces driving global establishment of social infrastructure, industrial innovation, and energy-saving initiatives. Hence, our related business activities directly create value for society. Moreover, by stamping the circuits directly onto the wafer, our nanoimprint lithography equipment revolutionizes the semiconductor production process, enabling the creation of highly detailed nano-level circuitry at reduced cost and energy consumption. This will create added value for the entire semiconductor industry.
By helping to build the base for new industries and provide flexible value in line with customer needs, Canon’s efforts in the field of industrial equipment contribute to the achievement of SDGs such as SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).
In semiconductor lithography equipment, our aim is to maintain our overwhelming market share in i-line lithography equipment while working to increase our share of the KrF lithography equipment market. In addition, we will work on establishing nanoimprint lithography technology, including stepping up technological development to enable mass production while also developing new applications through our participation in R&D into upgrading the basic telecommunications infrastructure for a post-5G world.
Responding to rising demand for high-resolution images and streaming video (including 4K and 8K), we are also focusing on the OLED display manufacturing equipment sector by developing new manufacturing processes and materials. In the FPD lithography sector, we are developing more competitive products based on advances in our proprietary optical technologies. Canon Anelva is also focused on developing film deposition equipment for next-generation non-volatile memory applications that realize energy savings.
