Idemitsu Kosan has announced plans to construct an innovation centre within its Chiba Complex, China, which is home to the company's largest core petroleum and petrochemical manufacturing center. The Idemitsu Group currently has laboratories in 13 domestic and four overseas locations. Of these, most domestic research functions will be aggregated in the innovation center, focused around the corporate research department, which focuses on medium-to-long-term themes that contribute to greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction and resource circulation, and the research division of the functional materials business, which handles highly functional materials. The company will establish a cross-organizational R&D framework and strengthen coordination with third parties in order to create new technologies and businesses. The Chiba Complex area is currently engaging in efforts such as validation towards manufacturing/supply of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), petrochemical recycling with used plastics, and validation towards commercial production of lithium solid electrolytes. The innovation center will also strive to co-create synergies in these areas.