Startup Support Office
The Startup Support Office, established in December 2024, provides university-wide startup support. We have built a comprehensive support system for students and researchers aspiring to entrepreneurship.
Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship Development Program
Creating startups that solve social challenges through the power of Social Data Science. An innovative approach to nurturing future Captains of Industry.
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Philosophy
Philosophy of Entrepreneurship Development
— Creating Captains of Industry
Since its founding, Hitotsubashi University has aimed to develop human resources to create "Captains of Industry" as leaders in the business world. In modern times, not only large corporations but also startups have become the driving force of industrial innovation.
Social Data Science combines social sciences and data science to solve social challenges, training personnel who can flexibly combine these disciplines to solve problems. Their areas of activity include not only large corporations but also startup ventures.
Moreover, depending on the demands of the times, starting a business as a startup may often be more natural. The relationship between Social Data Science and startups is extremely close.
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University Support
Hitotsubashi University Startup Support
International Collaboration Program
Through strategic partnership with Gachon University in Korea, we develop global entrepreneurship education programs. Cross-border collaboration promotes innovation creation.
Data-Driven Entrepreneurship
Evidence-based entrepreneurship approach utilizing Social Data Science knowledge. We support sustainable business model construction starting from quantitative analysis of social challenges.
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GCSC 2025
GCSC 2025 Global College Startup Camp: International Collaboration Program Implementation Report
Program Overview
GCSC (Global College Startup Camp) 2025 was a 6-day intensive international education program co-hosted by Hitotsubashi University and Gachon University, held at Gachon University in Seoul, Korea from January 8 to 13, 2025. A total of 80 students participated, with 40 each from Korean and Japanese universities, working on developing innovative solutions to important social challenges facing the East Asian region using data science methodologies.
This program was implemented as a valuable opportunity to practice the educational philosophy of Hitotsubashi University's School of Social Data Science—"utilizing data science for social problem solving"—on an international stage. Participating students experienced the entire process from data analysis, hypothesis testing, solution design, to prototype development for actual social problems, going beyond theoretical learning.
6
Days of Intensive Program
80
Participating Students
2
Co-Hosting Universities
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Key Challenge Areas
Collaboration Achievements with Hitotsubashi University School of Social Data Science
Direct Relevance to Faculty Education
The educational policy of Hitotsubashi University's School of Social Data Science, which combines data science technical skills with social science thinking, was realized in an international context through the GCSC program. Professor Naohiro Shichijo from the faculty participated as a main lecturer, delivering lectures on "Social Data Science and Entrepreneurial Spirit."
Practice of Problem-Solving Approaches with International Perspectives
The "global perspective on understanding social challenges" emphasized in the education of the School of Social Data Science was practically experienced in this program. Students conducted data-based analysis and solution proposals for common challenges (population decline and aging, climate change measures) between Korea and Japan, countries with different cultural backgrounds and social systems.
Academic Achievements of the Program
Importance of Addressed Social Challenges
GCSC 2025 focused on two extremely important challenges for the East Asian region: "population issues" and "climate change issues." For population issues, it was confirmed that multiple challenges exist in Korea and Japan, where rapid aging is progressing, including urban overcrowding and rural depopulation, labor shortages, and sustainability of social security systems.
Practical Application Examples of Data Science Methods
During the program, students engaged in analysis work using actual data. They experienced the entire data science process from current situation analysis to future prediction and policy recommendations, utilizing public datasets including demographic data, climate-related data, and economic indicators.
Educational Program Implementation Results and Learning Effects
Effects of Gradual Learning Design
The GCSC program was designed to gradually enhance learning effects over 6 days. From the first to second day, opportunities were provided to deeply understand the essence and current state of problems through lectures by experts in each challenge area. From the third to fourth day, teams concentrated on solution development, conducting hypothesis construction and verification based on data analysis results. On the final day, they presented developed solutions to investors and corporate executives, receiving evaluation from perspectives of practicality and social impact.
Actual Effects of International Collaborative Learning
As Korean and Japanese students formed mixed teams to tackle challenges, more creative and comprehensive solutions were actually created through collaboration between members with different cultural backgrounds and thinking patterns. Through the process of overcoming language and cultural differences for communication, cross-cultural understanding and cooperation skills necessary for success in global environments were simultaneously developed.
Expert Network and Mentoring System Achievements
Practical Guidance Results through Industry-Academia Collaboration
The program included numerous experts not only from academia but also from industry, providing practical mentoring to student teams. Corporate executives from the Ministry of SMEs and Startups Korea, Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance, and Shinhan Bank provided feedback on student proposals from business feasibility perspectives.
Results of Continuous Relationship Building
Even after the program ended, networks between participating students and experts, as well as among students themselves, have been maintained, continuing to support long-term learning and growth. For particularly excellent proposals, actual business support and additional research opportunities are being considered, establishing pathways to connect program learning outcomes to real-world activities.
Actual Learning Outcomes and Future Impact
Practical Skills Acquisition Results
Through 6 days of intensive activities, participating students actually acquired a comprehensive skill set necessary for social problem solving, including data science technical skills plus problem-setting ability, hypothesis thinking, teamwork, and presentation skills.
Social Contribution Awareness Development Effects
Through the experience of working on actual social challenges, participating students realized the positive impact that data science can have on society and gained opportunities to think deeply about the social significance of their own learning and research activities.
International Career Foundation Building Results
Through relationship building with Korean university students and experts, participating students were able to actually form networks that could lead to future international research cooperation and career opportunities. In an era where cooperation in the East Asian region is becoming increasingly important, relationship building from the young generation has become a valuable achievement for both individual career development and regional development.
Future Development and Continuous Initiatives
Following the success of GCSC 2025, Hitotsubashi University's School of Social Data Science is considering the continuous implementation and development of such international practical education programs. We plan to continue contributing to the cultivation of next-generation human resources who tackle social problem solving through data science by further deepening collaborative relationships with universities in East Asian countries, starting with Korea.
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Lab Support
Entrepreneurship Support in Research Lab
— Active Support for Seminar Students
The Shichijo Lab actively supports entrepreneurship for undergraduate and graduate students in the seminar. We recommend entrepreneurship as an optimal means of implementing the knowledge gained through research activities in society.
Commercialization Support for Research Results
Mentoring and resource provision to convert seminar research results into actual businesses
Networking
Providing networking opportunities to build connections with industry, investors, and other entrepreneurs
Idea Validation
Objective validation and improvement support for business ideas using data science methods
Continuous Follow-up
Supporting sustainable growth through continuous consultation and guidance even after starting a business
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Future Plans
Future Enhancement Plans
In addition to current initiatives, we plan to further enhance startup support mechanisms in the future.
Entrepreneurship Education Program
Development and implementation of systematic entrepreneurship education curriculum
Incubation Facilities
Providing dedicated workspace and resources for on-campus entrepreneurs
Investor Networks
Strengthening collaboration with venture capital and angel investors
International Program Expansion
Expanding entrepreneurship education partnerships beyond Korea to other countries
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Join
Start a Business with Social Data Science
We welcome applications from students interested in entrepreneurship utilizing Social Data Science.
We support your challenge as an entrepreneur who changes society through the power of data.