Orbray Receives Top Honor at the 21st Japan New Business Creation Awards

Orbray has been honored with the Small and Medium Enterprise Agency Director-General’s Award, one of the Grand Prizes, in the Entrepreneur Division of the 21st Japan New Business Creation Awards.

This award recognized our commitment to the development of synthetic diamond substrates and other advanced materials.

Diamond is widely known as the hardest material found in nature. It also possesses such exceptional properties as extremely high thermal conductivity, excellent radiation resistance, and outstanding electrical characteristics. By advancing synthetic diamond research and development, Orbray has established technologies for the development and mass production of the world's largest diamond substrates.

Today, diamond substrates are expected to contribute to a wide range of cutting-edge applications, including quantum technologies, radiation detectors, aerospace and satellite systems, power semiconductors, and next-generation communications. We are also working on next-generation semiconductor materials, such as gallium oxide, creating substrate technologies that will support a more energy-efficient society in the future.

For details regarding the award, please refer to the announcement by the Japan Association of New Business. （Japanese only）

Recognition for Creating New Industries

The Japan New Business Creation Awards recognize companies and entrepreneurs who create new markets and value through innovative businesses, and contribute to the development of Japan’s economy and regional communities.

We believe this award recognizes not only technological innovation, but also our efforts to pioneer the implementation of synthetic diamond technologies to serve society.

Transforming research achievements into solutions for problems facing society requires much more than technology alone. It demands capital investment, talent development, collaboration with customers, and the creation of new markets. Leveraging the precision processing technologies cultivated since Orbray’s founding, we are committed to investing in diamond technologies.

By December, 2026, Orbray will relocate its headquarters to Yuzawa City, Akita Prefecture, where we are promoting regional industrial development and human-resource cultivation in collaboration with local communities. Balancing cutting-edge technological development with the advancement of manufacturing in regional Japan, we see our mission as creating and sharing new value with the world from the Tohoku region.

These efforts have contributed to this prestigious recognition.

While we had been informed in advance that we were selected as one of the award-winning companies, the specific award category was not disclosed until the day of the ceremony. The awards were announced following the screening of introductory videos featuring each company.

The presentations highlighting each company’s business activities and entrepreneurial journey were particularly inspiring, and provided an opportunity to appreciate the passion behind new business creation and the value these initiatives bring to society.

Speech by President Riyako Namiki.

At the awards ceremony, President and CEO Riyako Namiki delivered the following speech.

Technology is not built in a single day.

Even after years of research and development, success is never guaranteed. Moreover, there is a significant gap between establishing a technology in the laboratory and delivering it to society as a sustainable business.

Our diamond business has overcome numerous challenges and obstacles as we have steadily advanced toward commercialization.

We value investment not only in technology, but also in people. Ultimately, it is the passion and willingness of individuals to take on challenges that give birth to new technologies and industries.

With the relocation of our headquarters to Yuzawa City, Akita Prefecture, we hope to grow together with the local community while creating and sharing new value with the world from the Tohoku region.

Encouraged by this award, we will continue to create technologies and businesses that contribute to society.

This achievement is the result of the dedication and perseverance of every employee who has continued to take on new challenges over many years, as well as the support of our customers, business partners, and local communities. We sincerely thank everyone who has contributed to our journey.

Guided by our philosophy of “Contributing to Society Through Technology,” Orbray will continue pursuing the creation of new value and new industries for the future.