[Nikken Total Sourcing] Collaboration with Hiroshima University's 'Semiconductor Recurrent Academy'

Nikken Total Sourcing Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Ota-ku, Tokyo; President: Koji Shimizu), a 'Human Capital Creation Company' that views diverse talent as human capital, is collaborating with the 'Hiroshima University Semiconductor Recurrent Academy' promoted by Hiroshima University. To address the deepening talent shortage in the semiconductor industry, the company will leverage its existing training expertise to develop and implement practical basic education programs in collaboration with Micron Memory Japan, Inc. (hereinafter 'Micron') and the Academy. Through this, the company aims to contribute to the development of high-level human resources, including those entering from different industries, and support the growth of Japan's core industries.

Contributing to industry development by leveraging our training expertise (Photo shows semiconductor maintenance technician training at our Higashi-Hiroshima Manufacturing Skills Center).

■ Background
With the evolution of technologies such as generative AI, Japan's semiconductor industry is required to strengthen its competitiveness, making the securing and development of talent an urgent issue. In particular, semiconductor manufacturers planning large-scale capital investments are in urgent need of technicians to maintain manufacturing equipment and handle research and development.

Hiroshima University conducts semiconductor-related recurrent education programs, primarily for working adults, with the goal of producing talent that contributes to the sustainable development of the entire semiconductor industry.

The program we are collaborating on this time is part of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's 'Recurrent Education Ecosystem Construction Support Project,' developed through industry-academia-government collaboration with Hiroshima University (Semiconductor Research Institute), the Setouchi Semiconductor Consortium, and Micron Memory Japan, Inc. We will collaborate on the development of programs and the dispatch of instructors to train semiconductor operator talent (skilled workers) for this program. The main details of the collaboration are as follows.

■ Development of Training Programs for Cross-Industry Talent and Dispatch of Instructors
We possess unique know-how with 62 training facilities nationwide and an annual training track record of approximately 13,500 people. Leveraging this know-how, we will collaborate with Hiroshima University and Micron in the newly developed 'Semiconductor Technician Dispatch Program' to dispatch instructors and develop curricula.

In the 'Semiconductor Technician Dispatch Program' that we are in charge of, we will dispatch instructors with extensive industry experience. We plan to conduct training over approximately 10 days aimed at acquiring technical basics and safety knowledge/experience for employment at semiconductor manufacturing companies, including semiconductor basics, process safety lectures, equipment inspection simulations, safety education, and equipment maintenance training. This program is scheduled to be held a total of 5 times this fiscal year, targeting a total of approximately 100 people.

We will continue to address the talent and technician shortages in the semiconductor industry by utilizing our strength in 'training capabilities' and will strive to solve industry talent issues by training and developing semiconductor talent from scratch through our own training facilities.

■ 'Semiconductor Technician Dispatch Program' Implementation Overview
- Target: Working adults belonging to industries other than the semiconductor industry
- Instructors: Experts and faculty members with experience in semiconductor technical basics from Hiroshima University, Micron, and Nikken Total Sourcing
- Purpose: Acquiring technical basics and safety knowledge for employment at semiconductor manufacturing companies, confirming adaptability to the special environment of a clean room, and experiencing work using manufacturing equipment in a clean room
- Duration: 10 days (we plan to be in charge of 8 days)
- Program Content: Semiconductor basics, process safety lectures, clean room tour, equipment inspection simulation, safety education, equipment maintenance training

■ About Nikken Total Sourcing
As a 'Human Capital Creation Company,' we transcend the frameworks of industries and job categories, viewing talent active in various fields as 'human capital,' and create possibilities for workers, companies, and society through human resource solutions.