FLN's Collaboration with Taki Shoun President Higashide: Current Status of Industry-Academia Partnerships Expanding Corporate Possibilities

Future Link Network (FLN), a company promoting the creation of a 'relationship population' (individuals who maintain a connection to a specific region), has conducted an interview with President Higashide of Taki Shoun Co., Ltd., a logistics company in Suzuka City, Mie Prefecture.

For local companies, investments in industry-academia collaboration and relationship population policies are often avoided due to the perceived lack of return on investment. President Higashide was no exception, but through his participation in the 'Regional Work Honest Salon' and an industry-academia collaboration program targeting ZEN University students, he discovered the importance of information dissemination and the potential for new business opportunities for local enterprises.

Although President Higashide was initially skeptical about industry-academia collaboration, he was surprised by the students' high business sensitivity and their quick understanding of AI and automation technologies. He realized it was a meaningful investment, stating, 'By exchanging the students' young, free minds with our operational needs, I could see possibilities for research and development and new businesses that were difficult to achieve on our own while keeping costs down.'

He also emphasized the importance of a 'relationship population' that maintains engagement at various distances using online tools, rather than focusing solely on employment or migration. Taki Shoun continues to work on implementing proposals from students even after the program ends, practicing the creation of a mechanism that goes beyond one-time events.

President Higashide advises local governments and companies nationwide struggling with creating a relationship population to 'start by consulting with professionals and getting on board with their preparations.'