Fujifilm’s innovation ensures competitive edge for 90-year-old company
OVER the past 30 years, as photography and imaging technologies have transitioned into the digital realm, some brands have disappeared while others have remained standing thanks to the power of innovation and their ability to adapt quickly.
During the era when digital photography and videography flourished, many brands failed to survive. Brands such as Kodak, Agfa, Konica Minolta and Rollei vanished, while Fujifilm managed to stay afloat with its innovative investments.
Celebrating its 90th anniversary this year, Fujifilm positions itself as one of the foremost technology companies globally, conducting its operations driven by the mission to enhance the quality of life for people worldwide.
Fujifilm’s commitment is evident through its Open Innovation Hub, a platform aimed at solving societal issues and fostering new values under the priority areas of environment, health, daily life and work style, as outlined in its Sustainable Value Plan 2030 (SVP2030).
BUILDING FUTURE
Present in Türkiye since 2012 as Fujifilm Foreign Trade Inc., the company actively operates in various sectors including medical systems, graphic systems, industrial products, digital cameras and photo printing products.
Keitaro So, head of Fujifilm Türkiye and Fujifilm Healthcare Türkiye, attributes the company’s success in swiftly adapting to digital transformation to its innovative capabilities and strategic acquisitions made at the right time.
“Fujifilm utilizes ‘open innovation’ methods to enhance its innovation activities. It collaborates with partners to develop new solutions and seeks opportunities to acquire technologies and businesses through M&A or small investments in startups. To support these open innovation approaches, facilities are provided for visitors to inspire, discuss and brainstorm,” said Keitaro.
“With the corporate slogan ‘Value from Innovation,’ Fujifilm brings together various innovative technologies, perspectives and competencies with a flexible mindset, creating new value for customers and building a better future for everyone.”
INNOVATION COMPETITION
In a bid to encourage innovation among Turkish students, Fujifilm organized an open innovation competition in 2023, aiming for the creation of highquality projects that could be implemented.
The Fujifilm Innovation Competition, with its algorithm named “Özgelecek,” attracted participation from undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate students, making it one of Türkiye’s most comprehensive and unique competitions.
During the competition, 95 teams developed projects under the metaverse category, 21 teams under Fujifilm Technologies, and 183 teams under climate change.
SEGREGATING WASTE OIL
Its second term has attracted 1,422 applications selecting one of the three categories and applying through kargakarga.com. The teams from 49 different cities and 63 universities started not only a competition but also a natural learning process.
The winning team in the climate change category was FAMK, focusing on segregating household waste oil using a CBS system, converting them into biofuel to contribute to the economy and engage the public in the fight against climate change.
The FAMK initiative earned the opportunity to visit the Fujifilm Innovation Hub.
Ahmet Fatih Akansu, a member of the team alongside Meryem Payveren and Alieren Sarı, visited the center that opened in July 2022 in Ratingen, Germany.
The center, built upon Fujifilm’s expertise in photosensitive materials, serves as a space where cutting-edge technologies, continuously developed through collaborative projects, are merged with needs and ideas to create new values.