Panel Exhibition on “Nobel Prizes and Patents” to be Held

1. Background

In recent years, an increasing number of Nobel Prizes have tended to be awarded not only for basic research but also for research aiming at practical applications and commercialization of research results. In this context, Dr. Yoshino Akira, who won the Nobel Prize in 2019, mentioned in his speech that his winning of the prize was triggered by the “patent” that he had acquired.

The JPO hereby announces that it will hold a panel exhibition titled “Nobel Prizes and Patents,” an event explaining the technologies that were subjects of the Nobel Prizes and the advancement of the technologies afterward, the impacts that the technologies brought about on industries, and the technologies’ contributions to people’s everyday lives.

The panel exhibition will feature Japanese Nobel Prize laureates who have acquired patents in Japan for their inventions. It will also showcase messages from the laureates on the importance of intellectual property and their passions for research and development. The JPO hopes that many of you will visit the exhibition and take note of their messages as well.

2. Outline of the event

Period: From September 28 (Mon.), 2020
Venue: Area next to the statue of Takahashi Korekiyo on the first floor of the JPO office building
(Address: 3-4-3 Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo)

Note: Before you enter the building, please complete the necessary procedure at an entrance counter. For details, visit the JPO website.

• Information on how to access the JPO and enter the building

Note: When you visit the exhibition, please wear a face mask so as  to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus disease. Thank you for your cooperation.

3. Details of the panel exhibition

A panel explaining the relationship between Nobel Prizes and patents

• Dr. Esaki Leo: Esaki Diode (1973)
• Drs. Akasaki Isamu, Amano Hiroshi and Nakamura Shuji: Development of blue LEDs (2014)
• Dr. Shirakawa Hideki: Discovery of conductive polymers (2000)
• Dr. Noyori Ryoji: Research for catalytic asymmetric synthesis (2001)
• Dr. Tanaka Koichi: Mass spectrometric analyses of biological macromolecules (2002)
• Dr. Yoshino Akira: Lithium-ion secondary batteries (2019)
• Dr. Yamanaka Shinya: Manufacturing of iPS cells (2012)
• Dr. Ōmura Satoshi: Discovery of avermectin and development of ivermectin (2015)
• Dr. Honjo Tasuku: Discovery of PD-1 and application of PD-1 to cancer treatments (2018)

• Reference: Information on the panel exhibition on “Nobel Prizes and Patents” (in Japanese)

Division in Charge

Public Relations Office, General Coordination Division, Policy Planning and Coordination Department, Japan Patent Office