新社会システム総合研究所 List of News Articles

[Lecturer] Hitachi, Ltd. Research and Development Group Mobility & Automation Innovation Center Robotics Research Department Chief Researcher Hiroyuki Yamada Researcher Hiroshi Ito [Key Lecture Content] The rapidly evolving physical AI has progressed to the demonstration stage, and it is expected that by 2026, there will be numerous application cases across various industries. On the other hand, for industrial application, investment costs that establish economic rationality, as well as versatility and reliability that can operate without failure, are required. To solve these issues, one key is how to effectively utilize AI-native Simulation, where AI explores and learns in a virtual space, and its core World Foundation Model, and how to incorporate them into on-site operations to enhance the feasibility and continuous evolution of AI. In this lecture, we will overview the initiatives of physical AI in the world, organize the challenges for industrial application, introduce research and development cases being pursued at Hitachi, and look ahead to the future industrial applications of physical AI.

[Lecture Topics] 1. Current Status and Challenges of Environmentally Controlled Land-based Aquaculture, Closed-loop Systems, and Aquaponics Associate Professor Masato Endo, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology 1. What is land-based aquaculture? 2. Land-based aquaculture and environmental control 3. Cultivation of seafood and water treatment in closed-loop systems 4. Examples of land-based aquaculture 5. Current status of aquaponics and new initiatives 6. Q&A / Business card exchange 2. Examples of Sustainable Land-based Aquaculture Businesses Connected to the Future and Expansion through Franchise Models ~ Challenging Next-Generation Fisheries Business and Community Revitalization through the Fusion of DX and Reality ~ Akihiro Takada, Head of Franchise Promotion and Planning Department, Netz Forest Land-based Aquaculture Co., Ltd. 1. Current status of fishery resources and the necessity of land-based aquaculture 2. "Examples" of land-based aquaculture businesses on a commercial scale 3. DX (Digital Transformation) in aquaculture sites 4. Business development and strengths through franchise models 5. "Community revitalization creation" model starting from land-based aquaculture 6. Steps towards business entry: Utilizing small packages 7. Q&A / Business card exchange

[Lecturer] Professor Emeritus, Nagoya University Director, Aichi-Nagoya Resilience Co-Creation Center Chair, Advisory Committee for the Establishment of the Disaster Management Agency, Cabinet Office Member, Council for Promoting National Resilience, Cabinet Office Nobuo Fukuwatari [Key Lecture Content] Last year, various measures related to disaster prevention and mitigation were developed, including the review of damage estimates for the Nankai Trough earthquake and the Tokyo Metropolitan Area earthquake, preparations for the establishment of the Disaster Management Agency, and crisis management investments in the Growth Strategy Council. On the other hand, earthquakes occurred around the Tokara Islands, the Kamchatka Peninsula, off the coast of Sanriku, and off the coast of Aomori, leading to the first issuance of a post-event earthquake warning for Hokkaido and Sanriku. As large-scale earthquakes of national crisis level become imminent, it is necessary to learn from past earthquake disasters, examine modern society, and adopt an attitude of preparedness for the future. In this lecture, I would like to think together about how to achieve turning calamity into fortune with the attitude of learning from the past and being vigilant about potential dangers. [Lecture Topics] 1. Various trends surrounding disaster prevention in 2025 2. How past earthquake disasters have changed history 3. The Nankai Trough mega earthquake, which can be considered a national crisis 4. The vulnerabilities of modern society characterized by interdependence and overpopulation/underpopulation 5. Disaster prevention business that turns weaknesses into strengths 6. Thorough pre-disaster measures and collective efforts with the establishment of the Disaster Management Agency 7. Q&A

[Speaker] Attorney Yukihiro Miwa, TMI General Legal Professional Corporation [Lecture Items] 1. What "thinking" is and what it is not - Correctly understanding its significance - 2. How to use "thinking" - Sword, shield, guidepost; utilization methods for rights holders, developers/providers, and users - 3. Responses based on "thinking" in practice - From the perspective of developing and providing AI - 4. Responses based on "thinking" in practice - From the perspective of utilizing AI - 5. Future prospects - The achievements and limitations of "thinking," and what is expected of us - 6. Q&A / Business card exchange

[Speaker] Ruriko Okimoto CEO of Cheerful Co., Ltd. One-Minute Talk Consultant Expert in cultivating autonomous human resources and organizations through "5-Minute Meetings" (R) [Key Lecture Content] Good news for those who lament that their subordinates don't take action even after saying "I understand!" or that the other party doesn't act as communicated! If you are struggling with effective communication, let's work on conveying your message effectively to advance work efficiently and build smooth human relationships while reducing stress. The tips for "communicating in one minute" can be applied not only in urgent situations but also in speeches and presentations. This time, I will also share a method for "organizing your thoughts by visualizing a table in your mind," which is not covered in my book. Let's take this opportunity to learn. [Lecture Items] 1. Introduction 2. Purpose of Communication 3. Tips for Communicating Without Being Asked, "What Do You Want to Say?" 4. Tips for Communicating That Encourages Action 5. Tips for Communicating That Exceeds Expectations 6. Conclusion 7. Q&A *Please note that the program may be subject to change.

[Speaker] Miyamoto Mariko, Senior Researcher, Public Policy Research Department, SOMPO Institute Plus Inc. [Key Lecture Content] Due to the aging of railway infrastructure and changes in railway demand caused by the spread of telework, a transformation of station functions is necessary. Stations have traditionally been used as transit points for commuting and schooling, but recently, urban development centered around stations has been promoted in line with infrastructure updates. Railway urban development requires a series of processes such as financing, operation, planning, design, and construction, based on consensus among various stakeholders, including the national government, local governments, businesses, and citizens. Incorporating green elements such as parks, plazas, greenways, and open spaces can facilitate the smooth progress of these projects. This lecture will frame this as a green initiative and introduce the latest trends in railway urban development, particularly by private railway companies, using domestic and international examples. [Lecture Items] 1. Development of railway urban planning 2. Domestic examples 3. International examples 4. Summary 5. Q&A / Business card exchange

[Speaker] Takahiko Tsumura, Chairman of the Board, London Research International, UK [Key Lecture Content] The future of the hydrogen market is uncertain. In fact, while many projects aimed at hydrogen production have been announced, many have also been abandoned. More than half of the announced projects are located in Europe, with the number exceeding 1,000. Our company has investigated these projects to forecast hydrogen supply and demand by 2030 and confirmed that there are 431 projects considered to have high feasibility. We have scrutinized their production scales, off-takers, and clarified the geographical distribution of hydrogen, supply and demand outlook, consumption purposes, and key players by 2030. This lecture will explain the findings from this investigation. Additionally, we will discuss trends in manufacturing costs and off-take prices. Finally, we will introduce examples of already operational plants. [Lecture Items] 1. Findings from the aforementioned investigation 2. Manufacturing costs and off-take prices 3. Examples of already operational projects 4. Q&A / Business card exchange

[Instructor] Representative Member of Value Up LLC Yuuichi Yonezawa, Small and Medium Enterprise Consultant, Career Consultant [Key Lecture Content] Japanese manufacturing has focused on "how to reduce costs while maintaining quality" to secure profits, but relying solely on this approach has its limits. On the other hand, there are companies that have achieved high performance by increasing unit prices, leading to a widening gap between "companies that can only generate profits through cost reduction" and "companies that can create products with high customer value." This seminar will explain the concept of "Profit Thinking (R)," which aims to "increase profits without relying on cost reduction," using a wealth of case studies. It will focus on achieving unit price increases while learning accounting, competitive strategy, and marketing in an integrated manner. Engineers who acquire "profit thinking skills beyond cost reduction" will be the strongest. We welcome participants from design development and production technology roles who feel limited by cost reduction. [Lecture Items] 1. Understanding the mechanism of profit generation 2. Understanding competitive strategies to achieve unit price increases 3. Understanding customer value provided to achieve unit price increases 4. Achieving unit price increases through the development of high value-added products 5. Q&A

[Speaker] Yukio Sakaguchi, Representative of the Clean Energy Research Institute [Lecture Items] 1. Overview: Structural changes in AI data center investment (demand, capital, bottlenecks) 2. Power constraints in the United States: It's harder to "connect" than to "create" 3. What will happen to the grand plans of GAFAM and Stargate? 4. The reality of SMR: The gap between media hype and reality 5. The truth and falsehoods of nuclear fusion startups: Distinguishing between science and financial products 6. Conclusions for the next decade: Practical solutions and business opportunities in Japan 7. Q&A / Business card exchange *The program may change according to the latest situation.

[Lecture Topics] 1. Overview and Budget of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Fire and Disaster Management Agency Yuki Hatanaka, Director, General Affairs Division, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Fire and Disaster Management Agency 2. Promotion of Research and Development in the Fire and Disaster Prevention Field Hitomi Nakajima, Fire Technology Specialist, Technical Strategy Office, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Fire and Disaster Management Agency 3. Current Status and Future Prospects of Emergency Services Akira Ando, Deputy Director, Emergency Planning Office, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Fire and Disaster Management Agency 4. Current Status and Future Prospects of Disaster Prevention Information and Communication Policies Akifumi Ikemachi, Deputy Director, Disaster Prevention Information Office, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Fire and Disaster Management Agency 5. Recent Disasters and Disaster Prevention Policies Yuto Ikuta, Disaster Response Officer, Disaster Prevention Division, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Fire and Disaster Management Agency 6. Strengthening Community Disaster Prevention Capabilities Centered on Firefighting Organizations Yuki Arimura, Deputy Director, Community Disaster Prevention Office, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Fire and Disaster Management Agency

[Instructor] Toshimasa Ito, Manager, KPMG Consulting Co., Ltd. [Key Lecture Content] There is a trend towards regulation that introduces mandatory recycling material content rates for metal materials based on the noble cause of resource circulation, similar to the EU ELV. To support this, the EU is considering the introduction of regulations on the export of iron scrap, aimed at protecting industries and promoting low-carbon materials through domestic recycling material production. From the perspective of low-carbon materials, there are initiatives like green steel, but in the EU, there have been repeated delays and cancellations. As a result, the EU has established CO2 offsetting through green steel as a condition for continuing the sale of internal combustion vehicles to create demand. On the other hand, in China, there is a movement to promote the use of recycled materials to achieve carbon peak reduction, highlighting the differences in approaches by different countries. In this social context, the lecture will explain the current state of the metal industry along with the trends in policies and regulations related to recycling.

[Instructor] Mr. Toshio Kimura, Senior Consultant, Japan Management Association Consulting, Inc. [Purpose of the Event] The primary mission of the Research and Development (R&D) department is to create a growth trajectory for the business and the company through the development of new products and new businesses. However, even if one possesses competitive technologies, a lack of marketing capability will prevent the successful commercialization of new ventures, overcoming the "river of death," the "valley of death," and "Darwin's sea." On the other hand, established marketing theories are often inadequate in the dynamic field of creating new markets, making "R&D-led marketing" essential. This course will provide a detailed explanation of the marketing elements (capabilities) required of the R&D department in both foundational theory and practical application, focusing on the "theme creation process" for generating "0 to 1" and the "commercialization concept and planning process" for the successful commercialization of key themes.

[Speaker] Masaru Miura CEO of Team Dynamics Inc. Human Resource Development and Organizational Development Consultant / Executive Coach <Expected Outcomes of This Seminar> - Ability to explain the reasons why strategies are not progressing through structure - Clarity on what needs to change for the field to move as a leader - Understanding the essentials to become a "dual-skilled leader" in "strategy" × "organizational development" - Determining the initial points to be organized and taken back to one's own company [Lecture Topics] 1. Why strategies stall in the field 2. Three common divisions in organizations where strategies do not move * Simple workshop to organize one's own situation 3. The leader's role in translating strategy into people's actions 4. Secrets to "empowerment" for demonstrating leadership 5. Blueprint for becoming a "dual-skilled leader" 6. Q&A / Business card exchange *Some content may be subject to change.

[Instructor] Naoki Kunimine, President of Thermal Design Lab, Inc. [Key Lecture Content] The automotive industry is undergoing a significant transformation that occurs once every hundred years. As symbolized by CASE, constant connectivity through high-speed communication (Connected), autonomous driving (ADAS), and EVs (motors, inverters, batteries) all require high-speed, high-power (high-heat) devices. These semiconductor devices necessitate proper temperature management and efficient cooling. Since in-vehicle equipment is implemented in sealed units, heat dissipation materials and cooling devices are extensively used. Additionally, lithium batteries are sensitive to low temperatures and need to be heated to appropriate levels, but it is crucial to utilize thermal management that minimizes electrical energy consumption and makes use of waste heat. This lecture will explain the recent thermal issues in EVs and the corresponding cooling technologies.