Innovation Workshop 2018 Final Presentation

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On Wednesday, December 12, 2018, the final presentation event of the subject workshop was held. The opening remarks was delivered by Hiroshi Yanagishita, Director of the Center for Collaborative Research and Community Cooperation, Hiroshima University. “Throughout this workshop, young researchers/students with diversified background gathered, thought about the future trends/prospects and refined their proposals to tackle challenges in the society. You can’t get these types of experience through normal classes at campus. Please leverage the experience and outcome of this workshop in your research. They’ll help you identify new aspects within yourselves and design new concept at the research.”

Following after the opening remarks, the workshop overview was given by the main facilitator, Maki Kawase, Visiting Associate Professor at the Center for Collaborative Research and Community Cooperation and Translational Research Center Bio Design, Hiroshima University, from the objectives of the entrepreneurship education to the expected outcome, types of experience delivered and the PBL-based flow of this workshop, etc.

The Innovation Workshop 2019 was designed based on the challenges proposed by the three companies. Representatives from those three companies first made presentation to describe their business as well as the background of those proposed challenges.

After that, three groups made their final presentation. Group 1 analyzed the future prospects in terms of population, environment and economy, and drew the three different future scenarios, based on the insights given by the fieldwork at Lucks, Co., Ltd and the Ota Memorial Hospital. Based on those scenarios, they presented three different proposals to leverage rooftops (1) as workplace for the elderly people, (2) as day-care community space for those living alone in the elderly care facilities, and (3) as venue to be used by the young couple in the region suffering the air pollution. Mr. Tetuya Yamada, CEO at Lucks., Co. Ltd., gave them comments, “There were key words we’ve never thought about, such as ‘the young couple’- we will take it into future consideration. I was also impressed by the variety of data carefully investigated in depth. On the other hand, I wanted to hear more crazy idea from students. I would expect you to think beyond the region, think about your own region as a part of the whole globe. For instance, it’ll be interesting approach if you could make it related to SDGs. “

Group 2 created two opposite future scenarios focusing on the population of international residents in the Shitami area, based on the insights given from the fieldwork at the Event Space “Ripple” operated by Planning Supply, Co., Ltd., one showing the rapid increase, the other showing the decrease. Based on those two scenarios, they came up with two proposals. To face international population growth, they suggested to use Ripple to provide residential information for international students or to hold cross-cultural events. On the other hand, to face potential decrease in size of international students, they proposed to utilize Ripple as an environment for students to interact with children in the region, for instance to have students/researchers with highly qualified skills and expertise to hold science/history/cultural classes for different layers of children. Mr. Masanori Tagi, Area Manager at Higashi-Hiroshima Region, Sales Department, Planning Supply, Co., Ltd. gave them the following comments, “They’ve created respective proposals against two opposite scenarios, but both of the ideas are worth trial regardless of the future trends. It is now our responsibilities how to leverage these ideas.”

Group 3 conducted PESTLE analysis and stake holder analysis in depth, based on the history/mission/upcoming risk in the newspaper industry, shared by the owner of Koizumi Shinbunho at their open event space, the Koizumi Salon, as a part of the fieldwork. Based on the analysis results, they proposed new products and enhanced services to provide information support to the local community, including new products with SNS and smart technology, enhancement of public-relations activities, utilization of their assets leveraging their delivery channels, maximization of the event space (Koizumi Salon). Mr. Keita Suzuki, CEO at Koizumi Shinbunho made comments as follows: “Most of their proposals are what we haven’t tackled so far, though we should have done. We’d like to consider the possibility of those proposals, properly allocating dedicated resources. I’ve found really unique ideas on delivery service, especially, which I’d like to take quick actions against, getting cooperation from local community.”

At the end of the program, the panel discussion was held among representatives from each group as well as from proposing companies, facilitated by Visiting Associate Professor Kawase. They have shared the findings and learning experiences gained from the series of the workshop. It seems most of the students felt high value on their experience to have shared opinions among group members from diversified background. They also felt that they have learned different perspectives, different methods of analysis, unique tools for ideation, which can be all leveraged to their thesis or research. Proposing companies have given different types of feedback, such as “Gained new perspectives.” “We would like our colleagues to hear about the presentation.” “It is our challenge how to maximize these proposals.”, etc. Visiting Associate Professor Kawase concluded as follows: “There is no right answer to these proposals. I’d like everyone here to leverage what you have learned back into your life.”
The two months program seems to have added different types of values to students, researchers as well as proposing companies. The final proposal will be further refined by individuals as final reports. We wish any part of the proposals will be realized somehow, somewhere to add value to the society.