KIRISHIMA CITY, JAPAN – Kyocera will begin construction of a new research and development center here in January. The company plans to invest approximately 10 billion yen ($96 million).

Kyocera has executed a location agreement with the mayor of Kirishima City for the 22,902 sq. m. center, which will focus on information and communications, environmental preservation, and smart energy.

The campus is already the site of three R&D groups: Kyocera’s Monozukuri R&D laboratory, which focuses on advanced material technologies; its Production Technology Division for manufacturing process innovation; and its Analysis Center, which develops simulation and evaluation technologies.

R&D programs there currently include 5G smartphone technologies, electronic and semiconductor components used in IoT devices, and components for smart energy technologies.