Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.

The history of Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd. begins in 1980 with the R&D of solar batteries. Since then, we have expanded our R&D fields to liquid crystal displays, organic EL displays and thin-film integrated circuits. In recent years, we have also pioneered a new field of research on electronics involving crystalline oxide semiconductors.

At SEL, we believe that R&D is an art that contributes to the advancement of the world, and our presence as a company specializing in R&D has been established by delivering our technologies, which are the results of our developments, to the world in the form of patents. By acquiring patents and enforcing them, we are able to protect the sophisticated technology of Japan in an ever-globalizing world.

Ever since our founding, we have strongly held to the following philosophies that are at the root of all our R&D activities: continually asking the "why" to investigate essential principles and causes, and achieving the level of technology that satisfies our customers. Above all, we must face challenges with a pure heart and a clear conscience, without losing our sense of gratitude. If we do not have a pure heart, we cannot create inventions that have a good impact on society.

In this country of Japan with very little natural resources, we are determined to live on by inventing new technology. We will continue to improve ourselves day by day with the goal of being part of Japan's further development in mind, while getting our technologies out to the world. I am very confident that the technologies we invent are going to have a great impact on the improvement of technology in Japan and the world.

President Yamazaki completed the Master's Degree Program at Doshisha University Graduate School of Engineering in 1967. In 1970, while being a Ph.D. student at Doshisha University, he invented a basic device of a non-volatile memory known as "flash memory". Since then, he has devoted himself to R&D of silicon-related technology. In 1971, he received his Ph.D. in Engineering and joined the TDK Corporation (formerly known as Tokyo Denki Kagaku Kogyo K.K). In 1980, he founded SEL (Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.) and assumed the position of President.

In 2007, he was ranked 58th in the survey “the top 100 Living Geniuses” conducted by Synectics (UK) and received W. David Kingery Award by The American Ceramic Society in 2018. He is a Life Fellow of IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) and a foreign member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA), and he received an Honorary Doctor Degree of Culture from Doshisha University. He is also a member of Doshisha Shayu, the distinguished contributors to the Doshisha.

■ The President was awarded a Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon from the Cabinet Office of the Japanese Government for the innovation of MOS LSI element technology.

*Purple-ribboned medals are awarded to individuals who have contributed to academic and artistic developments, improvements and accomplishments.