Hakuhodo Concludes Comprehensive Partnership Agreement with Ritsumeikan Trust

Hakuhodo Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director and President: Kenji Nagura; hereinafter Hakuhodo) has concluded a comprehensive partnership agreement with Ritsumeikan Trust (Location: Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto; President: Yoshio Nakatani; hereinafter Ritsumeikan) to solve social issues through the development and dissemination of immersive reality (IR) technology.

Background and Purpose of the Agreement As the realization of "Society 5.0," where cyberspace (virtual) and physical space (real) are highly integrated, progresses, there is a demand to elucidate the impact of advanced technology on people's minds, bodies, and communication, and to implement it as a richer social infrastructure. This agreement integrates Ritsumeikan University's advanced academic knowledge in areas such as cinematic arts, informatics, neuroscience, and sports science, with Hakuhodo's expertise in consumer insights, creativity, and video production. By combining the strengths of both parties, the aim is to redefine digital technology as an "element that supports mental and physical well-being" in daily life, contributing to the realization of a "well-being" society where each individual can live a rich and fulfilling life in their own way.

Collaboration Hub The hub for this project will be the newly established "Ritsumeikan Cross-verse Innovation Commons (CVIC)" at Ritsumeikan University Biwako-Kusatsu Campus (Kusatsu City, Shiga Prefecture). CVIC aims to create a new research domain called "Physical Sphere" and serves as an interdisciplinary co-creation hub where diverse research fields intersect. It will be utilized as a demonstration field to scientifically verify the impact of the fusion of virtual and real spaces on human activities and well-being, and to promptly implement research results into society.

Main Collaboration Items Based on the Agreement Based on this agreement, both parties will promote collaboration and cooperation on the following matters: (1) Research and development of new healthcare content through the fusion of immersive technology and human sciences. (2) Prototyping aimed at creating next-generation infrastructure with high social acceptance through industry-academia-government-local collaboration. (3) Nurturing innovative human resources who will pioneer the future, utilizing cutting-edge technology. (4) Promoting demonstration experiments and social implementation that contribute to solving regional issues and creating new value.

Future Developments Both parties will henceforth fully launch joint research and demonstration projects based at CVIC, aiming to build model cases for social implementation in various fields such as education, sports, medicine, and entertainment. Hakuhodo will continue to seek new co-creative relationships with industry, government, and academia to solve social issues in various fields.