——Please tell us about your career so far!

Zhang:  I became interested in chemistry when I was in junior high school, and I went on to Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, where I could study pharmacy and chemistry. At the pharmaceutical university, I wanted to study Japanese, which I had been interested in for a long time, so I chose a department where I could study pharmacy in Japanese. After graduating from the undergraduate program, I studied under a professor who had mastered organic chemistry under a world-renowned professor at the University of Tokyo. I often heard stories about research in Japan from the professor, so I was looking for a chance to say, “I want to be in Japan someday!” Then, in my third year of the master’s program, the professor wrote me a letter of introduction to Kyushu University, and I was able to come to Japan in 2011.

——What kind of experience have you had since coming to Japan?

Zhang: At Kyushu University, I encountered catalyst research, which would lead to my current job. Catalysts play an important role in the synthesis of all kinds of chemicals, even though they themselves do not change or get consumed before and after the reaction, and they promote reactions that are originally difficult to occur, even in small amounts. I was completely hooked on the fun of catalyst reaction research, and after completing my doctoral program, I became a postdoc (postdoctoral researcher) at the Microbial Chemistry Research Institute in Osaki, Tokyo, where I worked on further catalyst reaction development research under the guidance of Professor Shibasaki, a former professor at the University of Tokyo.

——What made you decide to leave academia?

Zhang:  Yes, after my postdoc, I was forced to choose between staying in the academic world or going into the private sector and joining a company. And for foreigners like us, we are also forced to choose between staying in Japan or returning to China. I thought deeply about what kind of life I wanted to lead in the future. And the answer I came to was that it would be a waste not to give back to society the experience I had gained by studying up to the doctoral level in Japan, so I decided to stay in Japan, get a job in a company, and contribute to society. And I began to think that the experience and knowledge I had gained as a Chinese studying abroad in Japan was special, and that if I could work in the future to contribute to the development of both countries, I could express my value more.

And the company I joined was a bio-venture in Hokkaido. I worked there for about four years, and was involved in product development for new technologies that are useful in cancer treatment. I remember being very excited because my research was actually contributing to people’s health. However, the product development of pharmaceuticals takes an enormous amount of time for approval review. I also had the feeling that there might be a place where I could make better use of my knowledge between Japan and China.

——What made you decide to join HighChem?

Zhang: In my previous job, I was able to fulfill my desire to give back to society the knowledge I had gained at university, but I was not able to fulfill my dream of being active between Japan and China. At that time, I learned about a company called HighChem, which developed its business as a bridge between Japan and China in the chemical industry. And I also heard the information that they were looking for people in the industrial catalyst division, which is my specialty. I thought this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and applied. I thought it was a chance where what I had done so far, what I wanted to fulfill, and what I wanted to do all matched.

——How was it when you actually joined?

Zhang:  At HighChem, we established SEG® technology (a technology that uses synthetic gas as a raw material and manufactures ethylene glycol, a type of polyester manufacturing material, from non-petroleum sources) in Japan and licensed it to China, increasing the domestic self-sufficiency rate of ethylene glycol and establishing it as a technology that leads to high-value-added use of coal. And this company was conducting research and development of catalysts essential for this SEG® technology, and had established a consistent system for manufacturing and sales. I thought this company was the place where I could excel.

——Please tell us about your current job at Zhang Ming.

Zhang: Currently, HighChem is working on improving and improving SEG® catalysts. HighChem established SEG® technology in 2009 and has been leading the industry. And the current theme is whether we can propose a good second-generation catalyst to our customers. My role at HighChem is to support the development of how we can maintain our SEG® catalyst as the best catalyst. And we are also focusing on the development of new catalysts to reduce the risk of single catalyst products and expand HighChem’s catalyst business. Therefore, we are working in close coordination with the laboratory and the factory. In August of this year, I also went on a long business trip to China. I am always busy with things to do, such as going around manufacturing sites and customers in China and interacting with them, together with Deputy Director Yamamoto of the Tokyo Research Institute.

——What is HighChem to Zhang Ming?

Zhang: HighChem, which is working on solving environmental and energy problems by utilizing and practicalizing cutting-edge technologies in China and Japan, is a place that provides me with a wonderful stage where I can excel. And it’s a place where I can take on what I want to do, what I find rewarding. I also like the fact that I can challenge myself to reach goals with excellent seniors and colleagues. In the future, I would like to create a job where I can express my value as a “catalyst” between China and Japan with my colleagues.