Aviation giant, Boeing will strengthen its partnership with Japan by opening a new Boeing Research and Technology (BR&T) center. The facility will focus on sustainability and support a newly expanded cooperation agreement with Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). 

Boeing and METI have agreed to broaden their 2019 Cooperation Agreement to now include a focus on sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), electric and hydrogen powertrain technologies, and future flight concepts that will promote zero climate impact aviation. In addition, the agreement will extend to exploring electric and hybrid-electric propulsion, batteries, and composite manufacturing that will enable new forms of urban mobility.

“We are excited to open our latest global research and technology center here in Japan,” said Greg Hyslop, Boeing chief engineer and executive vice president of Engineering, Test & Technology. “Working with terrific partners like METI, the new center will expand upon Boeing-wide initiatives in sustainable fuels and electrification, and explore the intersection of digitization, automation and high-performance aerospace composites for greater sustainability in our future products and production systems.”

The BR&T – Japan Research Center will be located in Nagoya, which is already home to many of Boeing’s major industrial partners and suppliers. The facility will further expand Boeing’s research and development footprint in the region, which includes centers in Australia, China and Korea.

Boeing is fully committed to supporting Japan’s SAF industry and has been accepted as the latest member of ACT FOR SKY, a voluntary organization of 16 companies that works to commercialize, promote and expand the use of SAF produced in Japan. It was founded by Boeing airline customers All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Japan Airlines (JAL), along with global engineering company JGC Holdings Corporation, and biofuel producer Revo International.

Masahiro Aika, representative of ACT FOR SKY, said, “ACT FOR SKY welcomes the participation of Boeing. We look forward to Boeing collaborating with the other members to “ACT” for the commercialization, promotion and expansion of SAF in Japan.”

In addition to becoming partners in ACT FOR SKY, Boeing has a long history of aviation innovations with Japanese airlines . This includes pioneering SAF-powered flights with ANA and JAL, and launching the ground-breaking Boeing 787 Dreamliner with ANA as its launch customer. Today, they signed agreements to work together to study advanced sustainable technologies, including electric, hybrid, hydrogen and other novel propulsion systems in an endeavor to reduce the carbon footprint of aircraft.