The University and ESPEC Corporation (headquartered in Kita-ku, Osaka City) have decided to conclude a comprehensive cooperation agreement　with the aim of promoting the SDGs by working closely with each other and promoting collaborative activities to promptly and appropriately address various social issues, such as biodiversity conservation and environmental and energy issues. A ceremony was held at the Hyogo Prefectural Government on Tuesday, August 30 to celebrate the signing of the partnership agreement. This is the first SDGs-related collaboration agreement with a company.

Founded in 1947, ESPEC Corporation was the first company in Japan to develop environmental testing equipment (equipment that reproduces environmental factors such as temperature and humidity and analyzes and evaluates their effects on products) in 1961, and has since held the largest share of the global market. The company is also working to realize the SDGs through its business centered on environmental creation technologies.

As part of its efforts to realize the SDGs, the company contributes to the development of advanced technologies by providing environmental testing equipment to support the advancement of preventive safety technologies such as automatic braking, automated driving technologies, eco-cars, and automotive batteries. In addition, the company contributes to global warming and biodiversity conservation through environmental conservation projects to restore the natural environment, such as “forestation” using local native species and “waterside creation” to restore natural rivers.

At the Kobe R&D Center (Kita-ku, Kobe City), a base for technological and new product development and a center for promoting biodiversity conservation, employees and their families planted and nurtured approximately 30,000 native species in the “ESPEC Forest” and greened the roof of the Technology Development Building using more than 30 species of native plants that grow in the northern Rokko area. The biotope consists of two ponds and a stream, which are frequented by many birds such as ducks and shorebirds.

The University of Hyogo has also long been engaged in education and research to help achieve the goals of SDG 17. In March of this year, the University of Hyogo issued the “University of Hyogo SDGs Declaration” and has been making further efforts to promote the SDGs so that the entire university can contribute to the realization of a sustainable society. For example, we are engaged in research in the energy field, as well as research and policy proposals on the relationship between the natural environment and human society, where wild animals inhabit, and organisms living in rice paddies and rivers. We are also engaged in a wide variety of initiatives, including research and practice in line with the SDG philosophy of “leaving no one behind,” and disaster mitigation and recovery efforts, such as research and studies on promoting the evacuation of the elderly, disabled, and other people in need of assistance.