[From Industry-Academia Collaboration to Social Co-creation] 3rd Phase of the Sugiyama Jogakuen University x Shinnichi Kogyo Collaborative Project, Acting as a "Pipe" to Create New Business Value, is Complete
Shinnichi Kogyo, in collaboration with Sugiyama Jogakuen University, completed its 3rd office renovation project using upcycled materials, involving local startups and artists to expand social co-creation.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 23, 2026 at 19:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 23, 2026 at 10:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 24, 2026 at 03:23 (16h 51m after Collected)
Shinnichi Kogyo Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Toyokawa City, Aichi Prefecture; President: Yusuke Kinoshita), which manufactures and sells large-diameter, thin-walled pipes (stainless steel, iron, titanium), has completed and begun using a renovated office space. This marks the third phase of a project working on the "improvement of workspaces" through industry-academia collaboration with the Department of Living Environment Design, Faculty of Human Life and Science at Sugiyama Jogakuen University (Chikusa Ward, Nagoya City).
The primary goal of this project is to provide students with a venue to practice what they have learned in society. For this third collaboration with Sugiyama Jogakuen University, two students led the project as their "graduation work." While fully respecting the free ideas unique to students, it incorporates upcycling that breathes new life into "waste materials" from the manufacturing floor. Furthermore, this time, going beyond industry-academia collaboration with the university, the project utilized circular materials from startups and acted as a bridge (a pipe) connecting with "successor" companies carrying on aspirations similar to ours, as well as young artists. This resulted in an unprecedented office space that appeals to the senses.
Starting from the industry-academia collaboration with the university, this project expanded the circle of co-creation to startups, local successor companies, and young artists, becoming an initiative that maximally expresses the "co-creation with society" that our company aims for.
Honohara Factory / Cafeteria
Honohara Factory / Meeting Room
■ The Core of the Project: Our Social Mission as a "Pipe" Connecting Diverse Entities
Since April 2022, our company and the Hashimoto Laboratory at Sugiyama Jogakuen University have been working on human resource development and the improvement of the workplace environment through the "improvement of workspaces."
Following the 1st phase (FY2022), which involved renovating the rest space at the headquarters factory and the office at the Honohara factory, and the 2nd phase (FY2023), which revamped the cafeteria (polyvalent room) at the headquarters factory, this 3rd phase (FY2024-25) has evolved into a higher level of co-creation.
In this 3rd phase (FY2024-25), Hikari Toshima and Seira Horike, two students from the Department of Living Environment Design, led the project for about 1 year and 4 months. After repeated discussions starting from the initial theme of "Ocean," they finally arrived at the concept of "Fluctuation." Taking advantage of inconsistent light reflections and material textures, they aimed for a space where workers can relax while being stimulated.
In addition, we introduced circular interior materials and furnishings utilizing plant-based waste from the startup company Spacewasp. We also used a wood processing support service utilizing digital technology from the architectural startup VUILD to create original tables. Furthermore, empathizing with the stance of taking on innovation while bearing tradition at Warlon Co., Ltd., a "successor company" like ours, we adopted decorations for the table tops using products from this 100-year-old company. By combining cutting-edge sustainable materials with light reflection and material textures, we elevated inorganic pipe waste (stainless steel) into a warm interior.
Students went beyond simply creating design drawings and proposals; through "self-construction" such as wall painting and creating original tables, the project contributed to providing them with experience and a place to learn the "manufacturing process in the real world" with budgets and deadlines.
In early March, an art piece using pipe waste titled "Spiral Resonance" by Yumi Teramae (Graduate of Tokyo University of the Arts), an excellence award winner in an art competition sponsored by our company, was installed, completing the space. This space, which adds emotional value to functionality, will be utilized not only as a place for employee communication but also as a showroom to communicate the results of collaboration with educational institutions.
A distinctive feature of this initiative is how the "circle of co-creation" has steadily and expansively grown: from Sugiyama Jogakuen University in the 1st phase, adding a local (Aichi) successor company in the 2nd phase, and further expanding to two startups (Spacewasp, VUILD), local successor companies, and young artists in the 3rd phase. This represents our company's consistent intention to act as a gatekeeper that develops "industry-academia collaboration with a university" into co-creation with society as a whole, rather than letting it end as mere joint research. Moving forward, we intend to further expand this "circle of co-creation" with local companies, new industries, and next-generation creators, using collaboration with the university as a starting point.
■ Toward "Co-creation with Society": The Next Stage Our Company Envisions
Our company will continue to cross reliable technological capabilities in manufacturing with the free sensibilities of students, promoting "open manufacturing" that connects with the local community and the next generation, despite being a BtoB company.
Specifically, through collaboration with universities, we will provide students with diverse opportunities such as internships, part-time jobs, and project participation, nurturing relationships where we can grow together. We will also further enhance co-creation with local businesses and like-minded partners.
The primary goal of this project is to provide students with a venue to practice what they have learned in society. For this third collaboration with Sugiyama Jogakuen University, two students led the project as their "graduation work." While fully respecting the free ideas unique to students, it incorporates upcycling that breathes new life into "waste materials" from the manufacturing floor. Furthermore, this time, going beyond industry-academia collaboration with the university, the project utilized circular materials from startups and acted as a bridge (a pipe) connecting with "successor" companies carrying on aspirations similar to ours, as well as young artists. This resulted in an unprecedented office space that appeals to the senses.
Starting from the industry-academia collaboration with the university, this project expanded the circle of co-creation to startups, local successor companies, and young artists, becoming an initiative that maximally expresses the "co-creation with society" that our company aims for.
Honohara Factory / Cafeteria
Honohara Factory / Meeting Room
■ The Core of the Project: Our Social Mission as a "Pipe" Connecting Diverse Entities
Since April 2022, our company and the Hashimoto Laboratory at Sugiyama Jogakuen University have been working on human resource development and the improvement of the workplace environment through the "improvement of workspaces."
Following the 1st phase (FY2022), which involved renovating the rest space at the headquarters factory and the office at the Honohara factory, and the 2nd phase (FY2023), which revamped the cafeteria (polyvalent room) at the headquarters factory, this 3rd phase (FY2024-25) has evolved into a higher level of co-creation.
In this 3rd phase (FY2024-25), Hikari Toshima and Seira Horike, two students from the Department of Living Environment Design, led the project for about 1 year and 4 months. After repeated discussions starting from the initial theme of "Ocean," they finally arrived at the concept of "Fluctuation." Taking advantage of inconsistent light reflections and material textures, they aimed for a space where workers can relax while being stimulated.
In addition, we introduced circular interior materials and furnishings utilizing plant-based waste from the startup company Spacewasp. We also used a wood processing support service utilizing digital technology from the architectural startup VUILD to create original tables. Furthermore, empathizing with the stance of taking on innovation while bearing tradition at Warlon Co., Ltd., a "successor company" like ours, we adopted decorations for the table tops using products from this 100-year-old company. By combining cutting-edge sustainable materials with light reflection and material textures, we elevated inorganic pipe waste (stainless steel) into a warm interior.
Students went beyond simply creating design drawings and proposals; through "self-construction" such as wall painting and creating original tables, the project contributed to providing them with experience and a place to learn the "manufacturing process in the real world" with budgets and deadlines.
In early March, an art piece using pipe waste titled "Spiral Resonance" by Yumi Teramae (Graduate of Tokyo University of the Arts), an excellence award winner in an art competition sponsored by our company, was installed, completing the space. This space, which adds emotional value to functionality, will be utilized not only as a place for employee communication but also as a showroom to communicate the results of collaboration with educational institutions.
A distinctive feature of this initiative is how the "circle of co-creation" has steadily and expansively grown: from Sugiyama Jogakuen University in the 1st phase, adding a local (Aichi) successor company in the 2nd phase, and further expanding to two startups (Spacewasp, VUILD), local successor companies, and young artists in the 3rd phase. This represents our company's consistent intention to act as a gatekeeper that develops "industry-academia collaboration with a university" into co-creation with society as a whole, rather than letting it end as mere joint research. Moving forward, we intend to further expand this "circle of co-creation" with local companies, new industries, and next-generation creators, using collaboration with the university as a starting point.
■ Toward "Co-creation with Society": The Next Stage Our Company Envisions
Our company will continue to cross reliable technological capabilities in manufacturing with the free sensibilities of students, promoting "open manufacturing" that connects with the local community and the next generation, despite being a BtoB company.
Specifically, through collaboration with universities, we will provide students with diverse opportunities such as internships, part-time jobs, and project participation, nurturing relationships where we can grow together. We will also further enhance co-creation with local businesses and like-minded partners.