Wacom Launches Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration Project with Amakusa City, Kumamoto, and HAL College of Technology and Design

Wacom Co., Ltd. (Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya), in collaboration with Amakusa City, Kumamoto Prefecture, and HAL College of Technology and Design (hereinafter referred to as HAL), an institution that cultivates specialists active in the IT and digital content fields, has launched an industry-academia-government collaboration project where HAL students will work on projects themed around actual regional challenges and creative initiatives in Amakusa City.

In this project, approximately 200 HAL students will engage in production as part of their coursework, based on challenges presented by various departments within Amakusa City. These challenges include designing web pages for the "Digital Art Island Creation Project," creating flyers for young people, producing brand movies, and developing promotional materials related to local products and tourism resources. Students will select challenges in teams and proceed with their work, with interim review opportunities during the production period, aiming for an evaluation in August and results announcement in September. Outstanding works are also being considered for utilization in Amakusa City's various initiatives.

Amakusa City is promoting the "Digital Art Island Creation Project," which aims to create an island that attracts people through the creation of digital content industries such as games, anime, and video. In this initiative, HAL students will approach actual regional challenges, which are also related to Amakusa City's policies, from a creative perspective, engaging in planning and production. For the students, this will be a practical learning opportunity to experience production that connects with society, using actual regional policies as their theme.

Wacom has supported the creation of learning environments for digital creativity for students by introducing Wacom® Cintiq® Pro 27 and Wacom® Intuos® (used as teaching materials) at HAL's campuses in Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka. As a company supporting digital creativity, Wacom will foster opportunities for next-generation creators to face real-world challenges by connecting educational institutions, local governments, and regional creators. Furthermore, through online seminars for participating students by creators residing in Amakusa City and support for production environments utilizing pen tablets, Wacom will assist students in the process of tackling real regional issues. Wacom products are also planned to be provided to the creators of outstanding works to support their future creative activities.

Comments on this Project

<Comment from Amakusa City>

Hiroyuki Sakita, Director of the Industrial Policy Division, Economic Department, Amakusa City

Amakusa City is advancing the creation of an attractive region by improving its creative capabilities through initiatives such as fostering digital content industries like games and anime, attracting creative talent and companies, and promoting design-led management. We look forward to the proposals from students utilizing their youthful sensibility and creative power as they tackle the city's challenges. We also hope that more people will come to know Amakusa and wish to be involved in the region in the future.

<Comment from HAL College of Technology and Design>

Masashi Taku, General Manager, HAL Tokyo

Learning with companies and testing in society before entering the workforce. Based on HAL's emphasis on "Industry-Academia Direct Case Studies," we value practical production experience that spans from planning to actual creation. We view this initiative as an opportunity to realize that learning in a more concrete form within the cutting-edge educational environment that utilizes Wacom's pen tablets.

Tackling regional challenges in Amakusa City is a valuable learning experience for students that extends beyond the classroom. We expect this collaboration with Wacom and the people of Amakusa City to lead to the further growth of our students.

<Comment from Wacom Co., Ltd.>

Koji Yano, Senior Vice President, Creative Experience Unit, Wacom Co., Ltd.

As a company that supports digital creativity, Wacom values the creation of opportunities for next-generation creators to learn, express themselves, and connect with society. Wacom, together with Amakusa City and HAL, will support the HAL students as they engage in practical challenges aligned with Amakusa City's regional policies and apply their sensibilities and skills in their creations. We hope this experience will be a new learning opportunity for the students and lead to their future creative endeavors.

Main Challenges for Students

In this project, students will work on production based on the following challenges presented by various departments of Amakusa City:

Web page design for the "Digital Art Island Creation Project"

Flyer design for young people aimed at job matching with invited companies

Design related to attracting creators

Brand movie for the "Digital Art Island Creation Project"

Catchphrase for the CG Department of Amakusa Technical High School's Information Technology Department

Rediscovering the Charm of Amakusa's Fish Project

Promotional material design to promote seasonal citrus fruits

Promotional material design to promote Amakusa National Park on the occasion of its 70th anniversary

Production of Kamishibai (paper play) for the promotion of new sports

Creative Project to Visualize Child-Rearing Security

Future Schedule

During the production period, Amakusa City and Wacom will provide opportunities for interim reviews, with judging scheduled for August and results announced in September. The utilization of outstanding works in Amakusa City's various initiatives is also under consideration. Through this project, Wacom will support students' practical learning and the creative utilization of the region.

About Wacom

Wacom Co., Ltd. (TSE Prime: 6727) is a "Technology Leadership Company" that delivers various experiences tailored to customer needs based on digital pen technology, aiming to master "drawing" and "writing" and pioneer the next "creation." Wacom's pen tablet products, originating in Japan, are widely used in over 150 countries and regions worldwide by professional creators in fields such as film production, industrial design, and by designers and manga artists, as well as by individuals who enjoy illustration and photo editing as a hobby. Furthermore, Wacom products are used in educational settings such as schools and cram schools where "learning by writing" is essential, in medical fields for electronic health records, and in financial institutions for various application forms. Wacom also provides its pen technology as OEM to manufacturers of computers, tablets, and smartphones equipped with digital pens for office and home use, and its technology is incorporated into many mobile IT devices. Wacom will continue to deliver new digital pen experiences and value, considering collaboration with cutting-edge technologies.

* Wacom, Wacom, Cintiq, and Intuos are trademarks or registered trademarks of Wacom Co., Ltd.

* Other company names or product names mentioned in this document are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

* The content described in this document is as of the time of announcement. Changes to the content may occur due to unavoidable circumstances.

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