4th Annual JETRO Global Talents Workshop Connects Students with Central Japan Startups

NUCB Business School hosted this year’s JETRO Nagoya Startup Workshop on campus in December, welcoming 36 students and representatives from five Central Japan–based startups for an afternoon of discussion, idea generation, and exchange. Organized in collaboration with JETRO Nagoya, the workshop continued an ongoing effort to connect globally minded students with regional startups addressing real-world challenges.

The session opened with remarks from Mr. Hirano, Director of JETRO Nagoya, followed by a panel discussion and short pitches from participating startups. Representatives from companies including DouDouDoujin, Epsilon Bioanalytics, SAZO, Three-labs, and TOWING introduced their business models and current challenges, setting the stage for student engagement.

After an introduction to design thinking by Professor Hoe Chin Goi, students worked in mixed groups to develop ideas and perspectives in response to the startups’ themes. Group discussions and presentations encouraged participants to apply diverse academic and cultural viewpoints, followed by feedback and reflection sessions involving both students and startup representatives.

Participants included students from NUCB Business School and NUCB undergraduate programs, as well as Nagoya University, Nagoya Institute of Technology, and Nagoya University of Foreign Studies, creating an interdisciplinary and inter-university learning environment.

The workshop concluded with a networking session, providing opportunities for further conversation and connection beyond the structured program. Through initiatives such as this, NUCB Business School continues to support practical learning opportunities that link students with industry and regional innovation initiatives.