Beyond Energy and Minerals, What Other Interesting 'Future Industries' (Such as Hydrogen Energy, Energy Storage, Healthcare) Are They Expanding Into?

Future-Oriented Industry Investments by Buffett’s Five Japanese Trading Houses

Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway has invested in five major Japanese trading houses—Mitsubishi Corporation, ITOCHU Corporation, Mitsui & Co., Sumitomo Corporation, and Marubeni Corporation. As comprehensive trading giants, they are actively expanding beyond traditional energy and mineral sectors into diverse "future-oriented industries." These initiatives reflect their strategic foresight in sustainability, technological innovation, and global trends. Below is an overview of their investments in hydrogen, energy storage, healthcare (as per the query), and other emerging fields, highlighting specific cases and innovations (based on public information and recent developments).

1. Hydrogen Energy

These companies view hydrogen as pivotal for clean energy transition, engaging across the entire value chain—production, transportation, and application—to build a "hydrogen society."

Mitsubishi Corporation: Collaborating with Shell on hydrogen infrastructure; investing in Australian hydrogen production; supporting Toyota’s fuel cell vehicle (FCV) ecosystem in Japan.
Mitsui & Co.: Investing in Norway’s Nel ASA; developing green hydrogen projects with Japanese partners; exploring hydrogen for decarbonizing steel and chemical industries.
ITOCHU Corporation: Investing in fuel cell technology via subsidiaries; building hydrogen supply chains in Southeast Asia; partnering with European firms on storage/transport.
Sumitomo Corporation: Participating in Australian hydrogen export projects; funding hydrogen power generation technology.
Marubeni Corporation: Partnering with Korean firms on hydrogen imports; backing domestic hydrogen demonstration projects in Japan.

2. Energy Storage

As energy storage underpins renewable transition, these firms focus on battery tech, grid optimization, and renewable storage—including lithium-ion and solid-state batteries.

Mitsubishi Corporation: Investing in U.S. storage firm Fluence Energy; deploying large-scale battery systems; joining Japanese smart grid projects.
Mitsui & Co.: Securing lithium resources and battery material supply chains; co-developing next-gen storage tech with Panasonic.
ITOCHU Corporation: Funding EV battery recycling/reuse; advancing solar-plus-storage projects in Southeast Asia.
Sumitomo Corporation: Developing high-voltage cables and storage systems via Sumitomo Electric; researching solid-state batteries.
Marubeni Corporation: Investing in Australia’s mega-battery projects; exploring hydrogen-coupled storage tech.

3. Healthcare

Amid aging populations and pandemic challenges, they expand into pharmaceuticals, digital health, and biotech—emphasizing preventive care and novel therapies.

Mitsubishi Corporation: Investing in U.S. biopharma firms; co-developing cancer drugs with Japanese partners; launching digital health platforms (e.g., telemedicine).
Mitsui & Co.: Backing gene therapy/regenerative medicine via subsidiaries; funding medical infrastructure in India/Southeast Asia.
ITOCHU Corporation: Holding stakes in pharma companies; investing in health-tech startups (e.g., wearables); expanding into nutraceuticals and precision medicine.
Sumitomo Corporation: Funding biotech firms (focus: stem cell therapies); co-developing AI-assisted diagnostics with hospitals.
Marubeni Corporation: Strengthening medical device supply chains; investing in telemedicine platforms for emerging markets.

Other Future-Oriented Investments

Beyond the above, these conglomerates diversify into cutting-edge sectors:

EVs & Smart Mobility: Mitsubishi invests in EV charging networks; ITOCHU partners with BYD on EV batteries; Mitsui develops autonomous driving tech.
Carbon Capture & Sustainable Materials: Sumitomo backs CCS projects; Marubeni explores bioplastics and circular economy models.
Digital Transformation & AI: Mitsui invests in AI-driven agritech; ITOCHU adopts blockchain for supply chains.
Space & Aviation: Mitsubishi engages in satellite communications/space exploration; Sumitomo funds drone technology.

These investments not only mitigate risks but also accelerate innovation through global partnerships (e.g., with U.S./European startups). Buffett’s endorsement partly stems from their long-term vision and stable cash flow, enabling sustained bets on future industries. As technologies mature, these sectors may become key growth engines.