Caltech, a former engineer of a major home appliance giant Sharp, launched in 2018, selling annual sales of 6.3 billion yen (September 2001), mainly air purifiers that apply photocatalyst technology.The headquarters is located in Chuo -ku, Osaka."Why is it? It's fun to have a lot of shops," said the president Junichi Somei (60), but seriously says, "I want to save the earth with photocatalyst."We approached the profile of a fast -growing business owner.(The listener is Toru Yoshioka, president of the weekly Osaka Nichi -Nichi Shimbun)

　-Do you have been under the umbrella of Hon Hi's precision industry in Taiwan?

　"It's not a way of quitting like a losing dog. I was originally intended to develop products that apply photocatalytics technology in Sharp Company. If you fuse Sharp's air purification technology" Plasma Cluster ", the performance will improve.I thought I could overcome a major competitors. There were voices that evaluated my opinion, but there was also a view of "Do you deny the plasma cluster?"I decided to make it independent. It is true that we were motivated by the engineers under the umbrella of Hon Hai Precision Industry. In that sense, we joined Cartec.Perhaps we have encouraged 7 engineers to leave the company. "

　-When did you look at the light catalyst?

　"I came across a photocatalyst at a college of college that I graduated from junior high school. I studied at university and graduate school. In the first place, photocatalyst was found by Japanese. In 1967, the research progressed when the gas began to appear when light illuminated the titanium oxide in the electrolyte. However, the application to products has expanded. In the history of photocatalytics for over 50 years, innovation (technological innovation) has occurred in the last 10 years. In 2010, the crystallization of titanium oxide, which is the raw material for photocatalyst. I started a business because I was able to get that material. If it didn't happen, my entrepreneurship would not have been. "

　-You are also working on suppressing infections of new colonoviruses with light catalyst technology.

　When I was an employee of Sharp, it seems that the pesticide of living water I saw in Sri Lanka was a turning point in my life.

　"In the project of the International Cooperation Agency (JICA), I installed an LED insect repellent lamp in Sri Lanka. To prevent human health damage caused by mass spraying pesticides.The local selection criteria were "cheap", and it was a place to choose pesticides that are cheaper than LED insect repellent lamps, so we strive to reduce the cost of LED insect repellent lamps. In other words, we tried to meet local circumstances. However, pesticides.Drinking well water that has penetrated and learned about the reality that children will die. At this time, we strengthened the desire to purify the world's drinking water with photocatalyst. "

　-The company pamphlet says, "Design water, air and food with photocatalyst."

　"We will send out products that can respond to air and water purification, which are common tasks, and strengthen brand power so that all environmental products needed by the world use our photocatalytic technology. If air is purified., The freshness of food can be maintained and the disposal of food can be reduced. The possibility of photocatalytic technology is infinite. If applied, hydrogen can be generated from water. In terms of energy resources, the ultimate device that saves the earth (I think it's a device)

　-What was the hardest thing in the past?

　"I had a hard time securing funds when I started a business, but it was fun. I think that the attitude of cherishing employees with the keyword" environment "has affected investors. About 20 companies talk about investment.I have received it. The funding has progressed smoothly, but I faced the wall of technology. As I mentioned earlier, the raw material of photocatalyst is titanium oxide. This titanium oxide is powdery, so it is liquid and applied to filter.It is necessary. However, when washed with water, it peels off. I burned my hand in "Osaka powder", but with the cooperation of the photocatalyst manufacturer in Osaka, I devised how to apply it.. I call this a "secret sauce". Although there was a technical barrier, people who helped me appeared. I realized that everything was encountered. "

　-In Osaka, we will reach the Expo three years later.

　"Although it is not in the economic environment that actively acts due to the corona evil, we want to actively involve the Expo as a venture company in Osaka when the time comes. Our company is located in Osaka Senba.If you feel, don't develop photocatalysts at the Senba. Why is it here? It's fun because there are many shops.

　-Finally, please tell us about Cartec's future vision.

　"The next theme we will work on is to make a leap from manufacturing. Cartec will shift to material development, which is the source of manufacturing. Developing photocatalyst materials in collaboration with famous labs in Nano -particle research at Tohoku University.I do it. I want to make Cartec original materials and save the earth with photocatalyst. I believe that how to contribute to society will lead to the value of the company. "

　-The engineer soul.Please do your best.Thank you for today.