The Brief

Universities have three main missions: education, research, and social contribution.
Universities, especially comprehensive universities, conduct various research activities and produce a wide range of research outcomes on a daily basis. Representative examples include intellectual properties such as patents and papers, agricultural, livestock, and fishery products developed in experimental farms and tanks, as well as various other research outcomes.
Research is the process of academically investigating and revealing the truth about things. In other words, it involves uncovering things that were previously unknown and has the potential to greatly evolve in the future, like seeds with the possibility of significant growth.
For example, many of the patents owned by universities have not been widely implemented in society because the technology has surpassed the current societal needs. Additionally, products produced experimentally in farms may not be suitable for mass consumption due to low yields. Furthermore, the commercialization of these seeds requires considerations such as marketing and branding.
Is it not possible to utilize such research achievements for commercialization? And can't students themselves start a business using their own entrepreneurial ideas?
We are seeking the collective power of individuals who go beyond the boundaries of science and humanities!

Category

【Emerging Technologies】
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The Background

Hokkaido University, the Industry-Academia Collaboration Promotion Headquarters of the Organization for the Promotion of Industry-Academia Collaboration and Regional Cooperation, strategically facilitates a wide range of business activities such as licensing initiatives and collaborative development through patents, as well as commissioned research and industry-academia collaboration projects, with the aim of commercializing inventions and knowledge derived from Hokkaido University's research for societal utilization.
As part of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's "EDGE-NEXT Program" for nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurs, Hokkaido University launched the DEMOLA HOKKAIDO office in 2018. Since then, we have collaborated with 38 companies and successfully resolved 42 challenges.
Hokkaido University believes that "co-creation and collaboration with society are more important than ever" and aims to foster collaboration throughout all of Hokkaido.

The Challenge

What does a university mean to all of you? Is it a place of learning, gaining experience, encountering new things and people, or obtaining academic credentials? According to Article 7, Paragraph 1 of the Fundamental Law of Education, a university is defined as an institution that serves as the center of academia, cultivating high education and specialized skills, delving deep into the pursuit of truth, creating new knowledge, and providing these achievements to society at large to contribute to its development. In other words, a university carries three main missions: "education" (transmission of knowledge, nurturing talent), "research" (creation of knowledge), and "social contribution" (returning educational and research outcomes to society). Among these, research can be seen as a seed that holds the potential to bring about significant breakthroughs by revealing previously unknown phenomena. However, in recent years, many of the social contributions made by universities have mainly revolved around information disclosure through papers and books, as well as patent applications, but a considerable number of these research outcomes have not been effectively utilized in society.
Within a university, there exist various "things" related to education and research, such as experimental farms, test forests, and aquaculture facilities. Additionally, the university's most valuable resources are the young students (both from science and humanities backgrounds) and the "people" involved, including researchers who specialize in different fields. By combining these elements, new ventures can emerge, potentially leading to innovations in the future.
Is it possible for students themselves, regardless of their academic disciplines, to come up with business ideas utilizing such research outcomes and embark on entrepreneurial endeavors? We believe so! Let's join forces and bring innovation to the world together!

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