Creating New Businesses from Es-con Field — Hokkaido Innovation Lab 2nd Term Researcher Recruitment Begins (Opening in June)
The Graduate School of Project Design, in collaboration with ES-CON Japan and Kitahiroshima City, has begun recruiting researchers for the 2nd term of the "Hokkaido Innovation Lab." This program, starting in June 2026, aims to solve regional issues and create new businesses using Es-con Field as its stage, offering practical learning.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 14, 2026 at 23:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 14, 2026 at 14:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 19, 2026 at 16:30 (121h 58m after Collected)
The Advanced Institute of Management, Graduate School of Project Design (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; President: Risa Tanaka), in industry-academia-government collaboration with ES-CON Japan Ltd. and Kitahiroshima City, will open the second term of the human resource development program "Hokkaido Innovation Lab" in June 2026. Accordingly, we have started recruiting researchers and will hold information sessions from April.
**Features of "Hokkaido Innovation Lab"**
This program is scheduled to be implemented as a project adopted by Kitahiroshima City on April 1, 2026, and aims for "human resource development contributing to regional revitalization" and "creation of new businesses" through practical learning in collaboration with the region.
✓ Japan's only practical program by a graduate school that systematizes "project design"
✓ Real problem-solving using Es-con Field HOKKAIDO and Kitahiroshima City as fields
✓ Co-creation learning by diverse industries, companies, and local governments
✓ Lectures and networking by experts in cutting-edge fields such as DX and SDGs
✓ Creation of a "Business Concept Plan" in approximately 10 months, producing output with social implementation in mind
**Recruitment Outline**
■ Number of recruits: 20
■ Period: June 2026 - March 2027 (20 sessions in total)
■ Participation fee: Free (travel and accommodation expenses are self-funded)
■ Main venues: Kitahiroshima City Hall, Es-con Field HOKKAIDO, Online
■ Application deadline: May 13, 2026 (Wednesday)
■ Target:
・Those eager to improve Kitahiroshima City
・Those aiming to create new businesses by utilizing their company's management resources and technology
・Companies and individuals interested in contributing to regional issues
This will be a practical learning opportunity for corporate personnel involved in new business development and those interested in regional issues.
**Information Session Outline**
【Held at Kitahiroshima City Hall】
・April 20, 2026 (Monday) 13:00-14:00
・April 20, 2026 (Monday) 16:00-17:00
【Online Sessions】
・April 27, 2026 (Monday) 13:00-14:00
・May 8, 2026 (Friday) 13:00-14:00
▼ Apply here
https://www.mpd.ac.jp/events/kitahiro2
**Message from Shozo Ueno, Mayor of Kitahiroshima City**
This marks the second year since the project research by the Graduate School of Project Design began in Kitahiroshima City.
In the first year's efforts, lively discussions among researchers from different affiliations and backgrounds gathered enthusiastic ideas for solving issues and revitalizing our city and Hokkaido as a whole, expanding new possibilities, which we found very encouraging. We also heard that there was interaction among the researchers, making it a meaningful year.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Graduate School of Project Design and ES-CON Japan Ltd. for their immense support in promoting research that pioneers the future of our region, continuing from last year.
Through this research opportunity, we look forward to our city becoming a new hub of knowledge and to the development of new businesses envisioned by ambitious individuals in our city.
We await many applications.
**【Achievements of the 1st Term | Creating Business Concepts with Social Implementation in Mind】**
In the first term, which started in June 2025, researchers from diverse industries and positions worked on formulating business concepts for approximately 10 months. On March 27, 2026, a final presentation was held at Es-con Field HOKKAIDO, where highly concrete concepts with social implementation in mind were unveiled.
Mayor Ueno of Kitahiroshima City provided a general review at the 1st term's final presentation. The 1st term completion ceremony and research completion certificates were awarded.
On the day, Kitahiroshima City and ES-CON Japan Ltd. expressed high expectations for the initiative to pioneer the future of the region, sharing the message that "connections between people create medium-to-long-term value," which embodies the essence of this program.
In the 2nd term, based on these achievements and network, we will further promote business creation that is more practical and leads to social implementation.
*The research and lectures in this program are held utilizing corporate hometown tax donations from ES-CON Japan Ltd. to Kitahiroshima City.
**About the Graduate School of Project Design**
Opened in Minami-Aoyama, Tokyo, in April 2012, it is a graduate school for working professionals to build and implement business concepts and plans. It offers diverse curricula aimed at generating ideas from the ground up, envisioning ideal business concepts, and building concept plans for their realization.
**Features of "Hokkaido Innovation Lab"**
This program is scheduled to be implemented as a project adopted by Kitahiroshima City on April 1, 2026, and aims for "human resource development contributing to regional revitalization" and "creation of new businesses" through practical learning in collaboration with the region.
✓ Japan's only practical program by a graduate school that systematizes "project design"
✓ Real problem-solving using Es-con Field HOKKAIDO and Kitahiroshima City as fields
✓ Co-creation learning by diverse industries, companies, and local governments
✓ Lectures and networking by experts in cutting-edge fields such as DX and SDGs
✓ Creation of a "Business Concept Plan" in approximately 10 months, producing output with social implementation in mind
**Recruitment Outline**
■ Number of recruits: 20
■ Period: June 2026 - March 2027 (20 sessions in total)
■ Participation fee: Free (travel and accommodation expenses are self-funded)
■ Main venues: Kitahiroshima City Hall, Es-con Field HOKKAIDO, Online
■ Application deadline: May 13, 2026 (Wednesday)
■ Target:
・Those eager to improve Kitahiroshima City
・Those aiming to create new businesses by utilizing their company's management resources and technology
・Companies and individuals interested in contributing to regional issues
This will be a practical learning opportunity for corporate personnel involved in new business development and those interested in regional issues.
**Information Session Outline**
【Held at Kitahiroshima City Hall】
・April 20, 2026 (Monday) 13:00-14:00
・April 20, 2026 (Monday) 16:00-17:00
【Online Sessions】
・April 27, 2026 (Monday) 13:00-14:00
・May 8, 2026 (Friday) 13:00-14:00
▼ Apply here
https://www.mpd.ac.jp/events/kitahiro2
**Message from Shozo Ueno, Mayor of Kitahiroshima City**
This marks the second year since the project research by the Graduate School of Project Design began in Kitahiroshima City.
In the first year's efforts, lively discussions among researchers from different affiliations and backgrounds gathered enthusiastic ideas for solving issues and revitalizing our city and Hokkaido as a whole, expanding new possibilities, which we found very encouraging. We also heard that there was interaction among the researchers, making it a meaningful year.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Graduate School of Project Design and ES-CON Japan Ltd. for their immense support in promoting research that pioneers the future of our region, continuing from last year.
Through this research opportunity, we look forward to our city becoming a new hub of knowledge and to the development of new businesses envisioned by ambitious individuals in our city.
We await many applications.
**【Achievements of the 1st Term | Creating Business Concepts with Social Implementation in Mind】**
In the first term, which started in June 2025, researchers from diverse industries and positions worked on formulating business concepts for approximately 10 months. On March 27, 2026, a final presentation was held at Es-con Field HOKKAIDO, where highly concrete concepts with social implementation in mind were unveiled.
Mayor Ueno of Kitahiroshima City provided a general review at the 1st term's final presentation. The 1st term completion ceremony and research completion certificates were awarded.
On the day, Kitahiroshima City and ES-CON Japan Ltd. expressed high expectations for the initiative to pioneer the future of the region, sharing the message that "connections between people create medium-to-long-term value," which embodies the essence of this program.
In the 2nd term, based on these achievements and network, we will further promote business creation that is more practical and leads to social implementation.
*The research and lectures in this program are held utilizing corporate hometown tax donations from ES-CON Japan Ltd. to Kitahiroshima City.
**About the Graduate School of Project Design**
Opened in Minami-Aoyama, Tokyo, in April 2012, it is a graduate school for working professionals to build and implement business concepts and plans. It offers diverse curricula aimed at generating ideas from the ground up, envisioning ideal business concepts, and building concept plans for their realization.