News release overview
Hitachi to establish “Chōwa-no-Oka,” a next-generation social infrastructure R&D hub in Hitachi City, strengthening research toward a harmonized society
Accelerating growth beyond Lumada 3.0 and advancing Society 5.0 demonstration through co-creation with the local community
Conceptual image of the Chōwa-no-Oka research building
Tokyo, May 27, 2026 - Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501, “Hitachi”) today announced that it will establish “Chōwa-no-Oka” (“Harmony Hill”), a next-generation R&D hub for social infrastructure in Hitachi City, Ibaraki Prefecture, in 2030. The hub will contribute to the realization of a harmonized society in which the environment, wellbeing, and economic growth are in balance. Through active investment in research, Hitachi will build a global, state-of-the-art R&D hub. The company will share the results of demonstration projects and translate them into practical applications in society, thereby creating new businesses, achieving sustainable growth, and generating value for the local community.
At the new Chōwa-no-Oka facility, Hitachi will conduct research and demonstration projects aimed at advancing the design, control, and operation of social systems through an integrated, cross-disciplinary approach. These activities will take a holistic view of how multiple fields interact with and influence one another within social systems. The facility will serve as a world-leading R&D hub for “convergence research,” bringing together technologies from fields such as energy, mobility, and manufacturing to solve social challenges. The results obtained through demonstration projects will be shared with society and leveraged to create new value.
In coordination with the “Next-Generation Future City” (Smart City)*1 co-creation project pursued by Hitachi and Hitachi City, Chōwa-no-Oka will help accelerate the process from research to demonstration and generate value for the local community. For example, in order to realize a “Green Industrial City,” the center will advance research aimed at managing electric power, heat, and CO2 in an integrated manner to optimize regional renewable energy use and help businesses achieve carbon neutrality. Furthermore, based on this vision for future social systems, the center will advance the use of AI and data, while integrating insights from the Kyoto Institute of Philosophy to help shape and share values essential for everyday life for citizens. Serving as a hub in an open ecosystem that connects local companies, universities, and research institutions, Chōwa-no-Oka will adopt an integrated approach—from identifying issues to demonstrating solutions, sharing results, and developing key talent—to create new value that helps solve social challenges.
Through these initiatives, Hitachi will develop digitalized assets and services that drive growth for Lumada 3.0 and beyond, supporting the company’s sustainable growth.
“Chōwa-no-Oka,” title by calligrapher Souun Takeda
*1 See the Hitachi press release of December 21, 2023: “Hitachi and Hitachi City sign comprehensive partnership agreement on project for creating a “Next-Generation Future City” (Smart City) utilizing digital technology” (in Japanese)
