September 15th 2012 will mark one hundred years since the founding of Sharp Corporation. Our founder, Tokuji Hayakawa, would be astounded by the 60” Quattron TV that we are selling today, but he would have no trouble identifying the culture of creativity that he instilled in Sharp and that still drives us today. It is that creativity that has produced a history of industry firsts and caused us to evolve to the company we are today.
Sharp Laboratories of Europe has played a prominent role in the development of technology for Sharp products since our formation in 1990. For example, we have been the centre of expertise within the corporation for “added function displays” creating technologies such as no glasses 3D, sensor in display, memory in display and variable viewing angle displays.
In 2012 we will be researching high efficiency solar cells, home energy management, personal health management and mobile learning, as well as continuing our successful innovation in displays. We have assembled a team of over one hundred mathematicians, scientists and engineers who share three things; they are all exceptional specialists, they thrive on collaboration and they are keen to set their own direction. They are a wonderfully diverse group representing nineteen countries, many academic disciplines and with a huge range of hobbies and interests.
For the last five years we have run a very successful graduate programme. We started it because we wanted to attract more people just starting their careers in research and development. We have been delighted with the response from graduates who know they want to continue with science or engineering, but are not sure what a career in industrial research is like. We have structured a programme that allows graduates to carry out projects on several topics around the lab in their first year. As we expected, our new recruits have found this very useful. An unexpected bonus for us has been how much they have achieved on the projects and how much synergy they captured whilst moving around the lab. So, if you want to do research and development but are not decided on whether optics, semiconductor devices, electronics or systems research is more interesting, then this could be the place for you.
As well as research we have a substantial European Design Centre. The EDC was founded in 2001 to give engineering support to our larger customers. It is an essential link in the chain of creating new technology and moving it into production. Engineers in the EDC are helping customers to design new products using our very latest components. The feedback from this activity gives very clear direction for our future research.
We think of ourselves as a learning organisation. Over the last few years we have run a number of development programmes where more experienced members of the lab pass on the lessons that they have learnt the hard way. We believe that life is too short to repeat the mistakes of others, but we do ask that when you have made your own mistakes, then you share your learning with others!
In 2012 we will be developing innovative technology to delight our customers just as Tokuji Hayakawa did in 1912. Whatever your reason for visiting, I hope that you will take the time to read about some of our research.
Stephen Bold
Managing Director
