Canon will release patents and other intellectual property in order to help a common effort to fight COVID-19, according to Nikkei.
The Japanese financial publication reports that Canon is among 20 Japanese companies, also including Toyota, which has freed up its intellectual property to help researchers find a resolution to the global pandemic.
According to the report in Nikkei Asian Review:
About 20 Japanese companies, including Toyota Motor and Canon, will release patents and other intellectual property held in Japan and overseas for free to help fight the new coronavirus, Nikkei has learned.
The goal is to make it easier for businesses and research organizations to develop medical devices as well as testing and treatment technologies. The hope is that it will lead to a faster resolution of the crisis, which threatens to seriously affect the global economy.
The idea was initially proposed by Professor Fumihiko Matsuda, head of the Center for Genomic Medicine at the Graduate School of Medicine at Kyoto University. Nissan Motor, Honda Motor, Shimadzu, Ajinomoto Group and Tokyo-based SRL, a member of the Miraca Group, will also participate.
Via Canon Watch