16 Industries, 54 Workplace Challenges x Student AI Teams: Nishi-Tama SMEs Take on 'Small DX'

The adoption rate of digital transformation (DX) among SMEs remains at 18.9%. Despite 78.3% of those who have engaged in DX reporting tangible results, the majority struggle to take the first step. To address this, the Ome Hojinkai—a public interest incorporated association—launched the 'Labor-Saving Challenge Project' in May 2026 as a 75th-anniversary initiative. The project matches students with AI skills from universities and vocational colleges to 54 types of operational challenges across 16 different local industries, utilizing an industry-academia-government PBL (Project-Based Learning) framework.

While labor-saving is a top national priority, with the government investing a total of 500 billion yen in subsidies, adoption remains slow due to hurdles like a lack of IT talent, high deployment costs, and unclear application methods. Since its founding in 1950, Ome Hojinkai has supported tax and management foundations for 75 years. This new effort advocates for 'small DX'—selecting a single immediate workplace challenge and using AI to test and iterate quickly.

In this project, student teams from Waseda University, Hitotsubashi University, and Tokyo Institute of Science (Tokyo Kagaku Daigaku) are tackling real-world challenges in fields such as tourism, energy wholesale, and food manufacturing. Results are shared among other member companies facing similar issues.

Kazuo Kikuchi, Chairman of Ome Hojinkai, commented: 'Without relying on subsidies, we aim to create an opportunity for private-led, constructive action among SMEs, leading to regional economic revitalization.'