Sumitomo Electric stipulated its Basic Policies on Contribution to Society in April 2007 on the occasion of the 110th anniversary of its foundation. Under the Basic Policies, we are considering the contribution to society we should make and conducting concrete activities for contributing to society such as the establishment of the Sumitomo Electric Group CSR Foundation as a vehicle to contribute to encouragement of research and learning activities and human resource development, contributions to local communities, monetary contributions, human resource development and support of volunteer activities. We also believe that, while contributing to society through business, the Group should autonomously implement activities for contributing to society suitable for the Sumitomo Electric Group, which is aiming to be a "Glorious Excellent Company."

In January 2025, we launched the Social Contribution Subcommittee, headed by the officer in charge of Administration Division, as a sub-organization of the CSR Promotion Committee.
This subcommittee checks whether activities contributing to society are being promoted with appropriate content and scale based on the Sumitomo Electric Group Basic Policies on Contribution to Society and the Mid-term Management Plan 2025, and also shares issues, considers ways to improve the content of activities, and considers how to publicly disclose these activities.
Specific initiatives are being promoted in collaboration across the entire Group, including the Sumitomo Electric Group CSR Foundation (hereinafter referred to as the “CSR Foundation”), each business unit, and business bases in Japan and overseas. Activities of particularly high importance are implemented after they are deliberated and approved by the Board of Directors and other key internal deliberating bodies.

Contributions to CSR activities in fiscal 2024 amounted to 2,131 million yen, equivalent to 0.96% of profit after-tax (221.8 billion yen).

To establish and operate a course (laboratory), we make ongoing donations for three to five years per course. In fiscal year 2024, donations were made to seven courses, including one new course.

To support the research activities of researchers (professors, etc.), we provide subsidies for one year for each research topic. In fiscal 2024, 22 projects were selected from a total of 217 applications.

The Group operates in more than 40 countries and regions. We respect the culture and customs of each country and region and contribute to economic and social development through our business activities. We also aim to coexist with local communities by promoting a variety of activities contributing to society. The number of people who participated in activities contributing to society in fiscal 2024 (*) was 2,205 for Sumitomo Electric alone and 16,477 for the Group.

* The total number of employees who actually participated in activities contributing to society such as cleaning activities, blood donations, and tree planting, not including employees who contributed monetary or in-kind donation

The Group has created an environment that makes it easy for employees to participate in volunteer activities and actively supports their voluntary activities contributing to society.

Since 2007, we have encouraged employees to participate in volunteer activities by allowing them to use accumulated leave for the purpose of volunteering. In April 2025, we will introduce a new volunteer leave program, allowing employees to take up to five days of leave per year in half-day increments for volunteer activities or participation in local events. Additionally, some Group companies have introduced their own vacation and leave systems to encourage volunteering.

As a form of corporate support for employee volunteer activities, Sumitomo Electric and some Group companies have implemented a matching gift program*.

*Matching gift program: A program in which the Group matches employee donations by donating the same amount

The Sumitomo Group supports the Sumitomo Foundation, which subsidizes basic science and environmental research as well as projects for preserving and restoring cultural properties in Japan and abroad. Sumitomo Electric also participates actively in various social contribution activities planned and implemented by the Sumitomo Group Public Affairs Committee in each fiscal year.