Niigata University's 2025 Intrapreneur Training Course Creates New Product Prototypes for Regional Companies through Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration

Key facts

  • Niigata University's 2025 Intrapreneur Training Course Creates New Product Prototypes for Regional Companies through Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration
  • NTT DX Partners and Niigata University conducted an "Intrapreneur Training Course" from December 2025 to March 2026. This program, part of Niigata Prefecture's recurrent education aimed at solving regional issues, involved mixed teams of employees from AOYOSHI Co., Ltd. (metal processing) and Shinwa Plating Industry Co., Ltd. (plating), general participants, and students. Over approximately three months, new product prototypes (such as a resin memorial object and a titanium bookmark) were created, utilizing NTT DX Partners' generative AI "Virtual Product Mall" for idea generation.
  • Source: PR Times
  • Date: April 13, 2026

Direct answer

NTT DX Partners and Niigata University conducted an "Intrapreneur Training Course" from December 2025 to March 2026. This program, part of Niigata Prefecture's recurrent education aimed at solving regional issues, involved mixed teams of employees from AOYOSHI Co., Ltd. (metal processing) and Shinwa Plating Industry Co., Ltd. (plating), general participants, and students. Over approximately three months, new product prototypes (such as a resin memorial object and a titanium bookmark) were created, utilizing NTT DX Partners' generative AI "Virtual Product Mall" for idea generation.

Citation
Niigata University's 2025 Intrapreneur Training Course Creates New Product Prototypes for Regional Companies through Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration (April 13, 2026), PR Times
Source
PR Times
Date
April 13, 2026
NTT DX Partners and Niigata University conducted an "Intrapreneur Training Course" from December 2025 to March 2026. This program, part of Niigata Prefecture's recurrent education aimed at solving regional issues, involved mixed teams of employees from AOYOSHI Co., Ltd. (metal processing) and Shinwa Plating Industry Co., Ltd. (plating), general participants, and students. Over approximately three months, new product prototypes (such as a resin memorial object and a titanium bookmark) were created, utilizing NTT DX Partners' generative AI "Virtual Product Mall" for idea generation.
産学官連携, 教育プログラム, 新製品開発（プロトタイプ）, 地域振興NQ 69/100出典：PR Times

📋 Article Processing Timeline

  • 📰 Published: April 13, 2026 at 23:30
  • 🔍 Collected: April 13, 2026 at 16:35
  • 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 13, 2026 at 17:20 (44 min after Collected)
The "Intrapreneur Training Course," jointly organized by NTT DX Partners and Niigata University, ran from December 2025 to March 2026. It focused on leveraging the technologies of regional companies, AOYOSHI Co., Ltd. (metal processing in Tsubame City, Niigata Prefecture) and Shinwa Plating Industry Co., Ltd. (plating in Joetsu City, Niigata Prefecture). The course was designed to address regional challenges in Niigata Prefecture, such as a shortage of construction technicians and successors for small and medium-sized enterprises. Participants, including company employees, general adults, and students, formed mixed teams. They learned new product development methodologies, including design thinking and business model canvas, and utilized generative AI, specifically NTT DX Partners' "Virtual Product Mall" (launched December 2024), for idea creation. Within approximately three months, the teams successfully produced prototypes, including a resin memorial object for AOYOSHI Co., Ltd. and a titanium bookmark for Shinwa Plating Industry Co., Ltd. The course curriculum included five days of workshops covering self-understanding, design thinking, generative AI for idea creation (Dec 12, 2025), customer understanding (Dec 22, 2025), service model design (Jan 21, 2026), marketability and profitability assessment (Feb 18, 2026), and final presentations to company management (Mar 9, 2026).

FAQ

What was the primary objective of Niigata University's 2025 Intrapreneur Training Course?

The primary objective was to create new product prototypes for regional companies by leveraging their existing technologies through industry-academia-government collaboration.

Which regional companies participated in the Intrapreneur Training Course and what were their specialties?

AOYOSHI Co., Ltd., specializing in metal processing, and Shinwa Plating Industry Co., Ltd., specializing in plating, participated in the course.

What methodologies and tools were utilized by the participants during the training course?

Participants learned new product development methodologies like design thinking and business model canvas, and utilized generative AI, specifically NTT DX Partners' 'Virtual Product Mall,' for idea creation.

What types of prototypes were successfully developed by the mixed teams within the approximately three-month course?

The teams successfully produced prototypes including a resin memorial object for AOYOSHI Co., Ltd. and a titanium bookmark for Shinwa Plating Industry Co., Ltd.

What were some of the key workshop topics covered in the Intrapreneur Training Course curriculum?

Key workshop topics included self-understanding, design thinking, generative AI for idea creation, customer understanding, service model design, and marketability and profitability assessment.

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