MI-6 Ltd. (Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan; hereafter "MI-6"), a provider driving digital and physical transformation in research and development, is pleased to announce that its cumulative number of client companies has surpassed 300. To date, MI-6 has supported research and development across a diverse range of industries, expanding beyond materials and chemical manufacturers to include automotive, battery, electrical, and electronic component sectors.
In addition to "miHub®"—a platform supporting data analysis, experimental design, and the accumulation of research data and knowledge—MI-6 offers "Hands-on MI®," training, and ongoing collaborative support led by Materials Informatics (MI) experts. Furthermore, through its Lab Automation initiatives aimed at advancing digital control and automation in experimentation and measurement, MI-6 continues to expand its support across both the digital and physical domains of R&D.
Critical Challenge for Manufacturing: Accelerating R&D
Since the 2010s, Japan’s domestic market contraction due to population decline has intensified, driving a continuous rise in the overseas sales ratio, particularly within the manufacturing industry. Overseas business expansion and supply chain globalization have accelerated even further.
Recently, global economic disruptions have arisen from challenges such as procurement bottlenecks for petroleum-derived raw materials and shortages of ultra-advanced semiconductors driven by the explosive adoption of AI. Amid these rapid transformations, not only the materials industry but the manufacturing sector as a whole faces demands for higher performance standards and shorter development cycles, making R&D acceleration an urgent priority.
Adoption and Utilization of Materials Informatics (MI) Across Diverse Industries
Materials Informatics (MI) serves as a key approach to achieving rapid and efficient research and development. By delivering various MI-powered solutions, MI-6 contributes to establishing data-driven R&D within client organizations. In recent years, adoption has expanded beyond materials and chemical manufacturers to encompass a broad array of sectors—including automotive, battery, electrical, and electronic components—leading to this milestone of over 300 client companies.
Operational Insights Cultivated Through Hands-on Client Engagements
Beyond the R&D DX platform miHub®, MI-6 leverages expertise in material science and data science through Hands-on MI® to help clients organize research topics, clarify objectives, and design the necessary data, analytical methods, and measurement protocols. MI-6 provides deeply integrated support within actual research projects, covering everything from result interpretation to subsequent experimental and strategic R&D decisions.
In terms of talent development, MI-6 defines the roles and training frameworks for researchers who utilize or integrate MI. Through practical hands-on programs and expert reviews, MI-6 helps establish environments where researchers can seamlessly apply MI in daily R&D workflows. Additionally, for projects where establishing measurement techniques poses a key bottleneck, MI-6 structures development pathways based on product and technical goals and builds validation environments within its own laboratory facility.
Transforming AI and Data-Driven R&D into Organizational Capabilities
Customer Transformation (CX) is a transformation support program that empowers R&D organizations to routinely utilize data, accumulate knowledge, and independently continue learning through analysis, training and education, coaching, and ongoing support.
By viewing human resources, business processes, data, and organizational frameworks as an integrated whole, MI-6 collaborates with clients to design target visions and roadmaps. Utilizing miHub® and Lab Automation according to specific needs, MI-6 facilitates knowledge sharing, connects experimental/measurement processes with data analysis, and embeds structured R&D practices into the client organization.
MI-6 is systematic about organizing the practical insights gained from past analytics, training, and ongoing support to further strengthen its CX offerings. In addition to accumulating deeper MI technical capabilities, MI-6 will continue advancing miHub® as a platform and developing Lab Automation solutions to contribute to the R&D capabilities and business growth of client companies.
