Initiatives that contribute to addressing social issues

Business Innovation Group

Message from the Group President

Contribute to Solving Diversifying Social Issues by Creating New Businesses that Transcend Existing Frameworks

Photo:Hiroshi Sakakibara

Hiroshi Sakakibara
Executive Officer, Group President, Business Innovation

The Business Innovation Group contributes to solving diversifying social issues faced by the sustainable society by promoting the integration of Mitsubishi Group technologies and collaboration among the Group, and by taking on themes that cannot be addressed by existing frameworks and incorporating them into our own businesses.
Specifically, we aim to create new customer value by accelerating digital transformation (DX) in our businesses, leveraging open innovation with promising startups in and outside Japan in the fields of digital and green innovation through the "ME Innovation Fund" corporate venture capital, utilizing Mitsubishi Electric AI technology Maisart, and promoting the integrated IoT ClariSense*.
In addition, we will focus on the company’s philosophy of "realizing a vibrant and sustainable society" as we search for new business domains in an era of high uncertainty, as demographics change (with labor force shortages and aging), and as the waves of digitalization accelerate. We are creating businesses in the five domains of "i-Construction," "Healthtech," "Smart Mobility," "Infrastructure," and "Smart Cities" as well as "Green Innovation."

  • *A word coined by Mitsubishi Electric that means clarifying the hidden essence of information sensed from equipment to resolve challenges.
Major social issues for which risks and opportunities have been recognized and evaluated Priority SDG initiatives
  • Demographic changes and the deterioration of social infrastructure
  • Increase in the severity of disasters as well as environmental and energy problems
  • Creation of a society that includes the elderly and those in poor health
  • Decrease in the number of construction workers and productivity declines
icon: Priority SDG initiatives

Initiatives that Contribute to Addressing Social Issues

Improve Productivity at Construction Sites with AI Rebar Arrangement Inspection System

The AI rebar arrangement inspection system is a service which utilizes Mitsubishi Electric’s proprietary AI technology Maisart®* to support inspection of the correct arrangement of rebars when constructing concrete structures.
The System instantly and automatically measures the number, diameters (thicknesses), and spacing of rebars from images taken by the device equipped with a stereo camera, reducing the time and effort required to perform rebars inspections. With this system, one person can measure and inspect rebars, whereas conventionally such inspections require many people. By reducing the amount of labor required and improving the efficiency of rebar inspections, the System helps solve the problem posed by the decreasing number of workers and improves productivity at construction sites.

  • * An abbreviation of Mitsubishi Electric's AI creates the State-of-the-ART in technology. Mitsubishi Electric’s AI technology brand that aims to make all devices smarter.
  • diagram: (Above) Conventional inspection of rebars (Below) Inspection of rebars with the System

    (Above) Conventional inspection of rebars
    (Below) Inspection of rebars with the System

  • photo: Inspection conducted using AI rebar arrangement inspection system

    Inspection conducted using AI rebar arrangement inspection system

Verification and Implementation of Healthtech for the Elderly

As the birthrate declines and the population ages, there is growing demand for elderly services that ensure safety and privacy while also being attentive and accommodating individual needs. On the contrary, labor shortages are a serious concern in the field, and providing services that are individually tailored and satisfying for all parties is difficult.
MelCare security monitoring support is a solution that supports the health care and welfare industry, which faces labor shortages and increasing workloads. The AI smart sensor grasps the situation inside the room and quickly alerts care workers in collaboration with cloud computing in the event of any unusual activity. It helps reduce the burden of onsite staff and improve work efficiency and the quality of care.

  • illustration:Monitoring service for the elderly

    Monitoring service for the elderly