Science as a tool for commercialization: A case of Kaneka´s development of the solar business

With growing public concern about environmental issues, solar photovoltaics is becoming one of the most promising industries. The solar battery or solar cell module is a key device for this industry. Japanese solar cell manufacturers have been at the forefront in the progress of this technology. Most of these companies are electronics manufacturers, such as Sanyo electronics, Sharp, and Kyocera. Although Kaneka is one of these companies, it manufactures chemicals. How did Kaneka venture into this industry and build their competitiveness? This study analyzes its new business creation process. The results of this study show that science was Kaneka´s key success factor. The paper proposes a new perspective on science as a tool for commercial innovation.