Expectations for the Graduate School of Frontier Exploration in Earth and Space

The “cross-disciplinary, practice-oriented architect-type talent” envisioned by the Graduate School of Frontier Exploration in Earth and Space is indispensable not only in the space field, but in the creation of new businesses across all industries. Creating new businesses requires the ability to view things from a big picture perspective as well as the ability to procure what is lacking from external sources. There is strong demand for people who possess knowledge and technical skills in science and engineering while also being able to view things broadly from business and innovation perspectives. For many Japanese companies struggling with new business creation, the Graduate School of Frontier Exploration in Earth and Space, with its aim of developing talent who learn broadly about not just technology but also management and who possess a wide perspective, is exceptionally appealing. Furthermore, we expect that this new educational approach, which cultivates talent capable of driving new business creation in Japan through the theme of space, will generate major innovation throughout Japan’s entire business community.

In the future, we believe graduates could play central roles in business creation within our operating companies. Moreover, in extreme environments, the highest levels of quality and reliability are essential. What students learn in terms of science, exploration, and technological applications in extreme environments will be directly applicable to our divisions responsible for quality and reliability assurance—areas in which our company excels—as well as to our evaluation and analysis divisions. We believe that cross-disciplinary perspectives and practical skills will be valuable not only in specific divisions, but across every division within a company.

・A perspective that spans science, engineering, business, and law
・An engineering perspective shaped by operating in extreme environments and expertise in ensuring reliability
・Project management skills
・The ability to envision new markets
・A venture mindset

Learning and acquiring knowledge with a mindset oriented toward commercializing and turning scientific and engineering expertise into businesses will ultimately become the driving force behind creating new businesses in the future. In addition, when attempting to bring technologies to market, it is important to understand what is needed and what is lacking, as well as how effectively one can draw upon the strengths of surrounding people and organizations. For that reason, cultivating project management skills, including the ability to procure talent and technologies, is extremely important.
Even within large corporations, a venture mindset is absolutely essential. A frontier spirit and venture mindset can lead to the transformation of corporate culture as a whole and become a source of power for generating new businesses.