Nishio Rent-All Establishes Joint Research Chair with Shibaura Institute of Technology

Nishio Rent-All Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Osaka, Osaka; President and CEO: Koji Nishio; hereinafter "the company"), a subsidiary of Nishio Holdings, has established a joint research chair with Shibaura Institute of Technology (Headquarters: Koto-ku, Tokyo; President: Jun Yamada).

The research, led by Professor Hiroshi Kaniyama of the Department of Architecture (Architectural Production Laboratory), aims to verify labor-saving and efficiency improvements at construction sites, contributing to increased productivity across the construction industry and improved working conditions for skilled workers.

The research chair will operate from July 1, 2026, to March 31, 2031, a period of four years.

Key Points

● Establishment of a joint research chair with Shibaura Institute of Technology, the only private science and engineering university designated as a Super Global University (as cited from the university's website)

● Objective to verify labor-saving and efficiency improvements at construction sites to enhance productivity in the construction industry

● Implementation of concrete pilot experiments involving the entire construction industry, with practical social implementation in mind

Social Experiments Targeting Social Implementation to Address Social Challenges in the Construction Industry

The construction industry currently faces a critical shortage of skilled workers, with persistently high turnover rates due to harsh working conditions, including long working hours, and insufficient wage levels. Amid declining productivity, the company and Shibaura Institute of Technology have shared concerns and established this joint research chair in July 2026 to study sustainable architectural production systems.

This joint research chair will identify social challenges in the construction industry, focusing particularly on skilled workers. It will conduct concrete pilot experiments with practical implementation in mind, involving the entire industry, including general contractors and specialized subcontractors. Additionally, it will disseminate information relevant to construction-related policies and cultivate talent to address these challenges.

Specific research topics will initially include prefabrication focused on interior finishing work, deployment of multiskilled workers including educational systems, and concrete studies to improve material productivity through rationalization of construction management using ICT. Research will also address human resource-related challenges and their solutions.

Overview of the Research Chair

Name: Joint Research Chair for Sustainable Architectural Production Systems

Research Topic: Research toward improving productivity and sustainability in the construction industry

Operation Period: From July 1, 2026, to March 31, 2031

Chair Composition: Hiroshi Kaniyama (Professor, Department of Architecture; Principal Investigator) Koji Nishio (President and CEO, Nishio Rent-All Co., Ltd.; Principal Investigator) Noriyoshi Nozaki (Manager, Corporate Strategy Office, Nishio Rent-All; Administrative Coordinator) Shoji Koguro (Senior Sales Manager, Kansai Branch Headquarters, Nishio Rent-All; Research Promotion Coordinator)

About Shibaura Institute of Technology

Faculties: Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Systems Engineering, Faculty of Design Engineering, Faculty of Architecture, and Graduate School of Engineering Sciences

https://www.shibaura-it.ac.jp/

A leading science and engineering university in Japan, renowned for its global education with one of the highest numbers of student overseas exchanges and extensive industry-academia collaborative research involving many students. With two campuses in Tokyo (Toyosu) and Saitama (Omiya), the university comprises four faculties and one graduate school, hosting approximately 10,000 students and around 300 full-time faculty members. In 2024, the Faculty of Engineering transitioned from a department-based to a program-based system. The Faculty of Design Engineering will restructure its educational system in 2025, followed by the Faculty of Systems Engineering in 2026, pursuing new models of science and engineering education. In 2027, marking its 100th anniversary, the university aims to become a top 10 science and engineering university in Asia, advancing in education, research, and social contribution.