On December 1, 2022, the Society organized a Nobel lecture by Dr. Akira Yoshino, Nobel Laureate in Chemistry 2019 for his contributions to the development of lithium-ion batteries, a small energy system used to power mobile devices. The lecture was followed by a dinner hosted by the Swedish Ambassador at his residence. In his lecture, Dr. Yoshino explained that in Asahi Kasei Corporation he began with the practical application of polyacetylene, a conductive polymer in the early 1970s, he then proceeded to fundamental research on lithium-ion batteries, which were more stable as electrode materials, and successfully commercialized lithium-ion batteries, emphasizing that the availability of new materials and the freedom to pursue his research objectives within the company sparked the creation of the new products. Additionally, Dr. Yoshino stressed the need for improvements in the intellectual property system beyond licensing to fully utilize economic value in today's globalized world.
