Niigata University's 2025 Intrapreneur Training Course Creates New Product Prototypes for Regional Companies through Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration

The "Intrapreneur Training Course," jointly organized by NTT DX Partners and Niigata University, ran from December 2025 to March 2026. It focused on leveraging the technologies of regional companies, AOYOSHI Co., Ltd. (metal processing in Tsubame City, Niigata Prefecture) and Shinwa Plating Industry Co., Ltd. (plating in Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture). The course was designed to address regional challenges in Niigata Prefecture, such as a shortage of construction technicians and successors for small and medium-sized enterprises. Participants, including company employees, general adults, and students, formed mixed teams. They learned new product development methodologies, including design thinking and business model canvas, and utilized generative AI, specifically NTT DX Partners' "Virtual Product Mall" (launched December 2024), for idea creation. Within approximately three months, the teams successfully produced prototypes, including a resin memorial object for AOYOSHI Co., Ltd. and a titanium bookmark for Shinwa Plating Industry Co., Ltd. The course curriculum included five days of workshops covering self-understanding, design thinking, generative AI for idea creation (Dec 12, 2025), customer understanding (Dec 22, 2025), service model design (Jan 21, 2026), marketability and profitability assessment (Feb 18, 2026), and final presentations to company management (Mar 9, 2026).