DNP and Kobe Shoin University Sign Partnership to Develop IP Business Talent

Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd. (DNP) signed a partnership agreement with Kobe Shoin University on May 8, 2026, to jointly promote the development of talent capable of handling everything from creative production to business development in the field of IP, including manga and anime. The two parties will begin working together on areas such as curriculum design for the university’s IP Produce Course in the Department of Fashion and Housing Design, as well as initiatives that make use of the university’s own IP. As background to the agreement, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry is working to expand overseas sales in the content industry, including anime and manga, from 5.8 trillion yen in 2023 to around 20 trillion yen by 2033. While exports of Japanese content are growing, anime, manga, and related fields face challenges in maximizing revenue for domestic content holders and building business models for overseas expansion. The industry needs talent that not only has the creative ability to generate IP, but can also oversee the full business picture, including communications, overseas distribution know-how, and mechanisms to secure the interests of domestic content holders. To address these issues, Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs is supporting stronger industry-academia-government education and the development of practical training programs. Kobe Shoin University is working to develop “IP generalists,” talent capable of handling the full process from IP creation to business development, as one of its distinctive educational initiatives. In April 2026, the university launched the IP Produce Course, where students can study these areas comprehensively. DNP operates a content business that maximizes the appeal and value of IP and converts it into a variety of experiences. In actual business settings, comprehensive knowledge and practical capabilities are required, including creativity to maximize IP value, advanced technologies such as AI, IP licensing, laws in each country for overseas expansion, domestic and international distribution, and anti-piracy measures. DNP has these technologies and expertise, and is also working on talent development in this area. Through this partnership, the two parties will pursue the development of IP generalists and the creation of new IP businesses through industry-academia collaboration. The agreement covers planning, developing, and implementing educational programs to train IP production talent; practical education and talent exchange through instructor dispatch, special lectures, and workshops; new content planning and IP development using the knowledge of students and researchers; public communication of intellectual assets through publishing, video, exhibitions, and digital content; joint research and demonstrations on new forms of content expression using digital technology; creation of practical opportunities through student projects and internships; new business creation and industrial development through industry-academia collaboration; knowledge sharing through symposiums and events; and other matters necessary to achieve the purpose of the agreement. Specific initiatives include developing university curricula using DNP resources. By leveraging DNP’s IP-related services, the program will provide students with opportunities to experience IP business firsthand. The two parties will jointly develop diverse programs that allow students to learn the full business flow, from IP business planning and production to exhibition and communication. The aim is to strengthen students’ planning and expressive abilities while giving them practical knowledge needed for IP business. Example programs include experiencing the planning and production process of DNP’s proprietary anime production method, Light Anime; learning how to develop and operate IP-based exhibitions; studying new IP communication methods such as the metaverse and DNP’s Content Interactive System Midokoro Cube; and learning manufacturing processes such as printing on various materials and film processing and forming. The partnership will also use the university’s own IP for product development and branding through awareness-building around IP generalist education. This includes jointly developing new products and businesses using university-owned IP such as the Kobe Shoin Tartan, broadly communicating the need for IP generalists and the university’s unique talent development approach, and improving the university’s brand through diverse IP-based initiatives. Going forward, the two parties will deepen their IP talent development initiatives by combining their respective expertise and know-how, aiming to continuously create value through next-generation education, new business creation, and other industry-academia collaboration.