FY2026 Entrepreneurship Cultivation Program for Keio Students: Tsuruoka Town Campus of Keio (TTCK) Joint Retreat Held
From August 20 to 22, 2026, the "Tsuruoka Town Campus of Keio (TTCK) Joint Retreat," an entrepreneurship cultivation program for Keio students (supported by the J-PEAKS project), was held at the Tsuruoka Town Campus of Keio (TTCK) (Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture).
[Background and Purpose: Interdisciplinary Integration and Entrepreneurship]
At the Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University (IAB), experts from a wide range of fields gather to promote interdisciplinary research, which has led to the creation of multiple ventures. On the other hand, while excellent drug discovery seeds are being nurtured at the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, interaction with other campuses has been limited. Therefore, since FY2019, a biennial joint retreat has been held where students from the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences visit the Tsuruoka Town Campus of Keio (TTCK) to interact with students from the Graduate School of Media and Governance belonging to the Institute for Advanced Biosciences and managers of startup companies, achieving tangible results such as students pursuing doctoral degrees or finding employment at ventures. For the fifth retreat in FY2026, with support from J-PEAKS, the scope was significantly expanded to include the Faculty of Science and Technology, the Graduate School of Science and Technology, and the School of Medicine, broadening the framework of fields. From the Faculty of Pharmacy and the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 17 students and 5 faculty and staff members participated, allowing for interaction among a diverse group of members.
Through this program, we aim to stimulate mutual intellectual curiosity, nurture the seeds of integrated research that transcend the boundaries of existing academic disciplines, and encourage the formation of a foundation for creating serendipity. Furthermore, by cultivating entrepreneurship, we aim to develop human resources who will lead the future.
[Day 1: August 20] Pitch Talks and Poster Session
Participants from outside the Institute for Advanced Biosciences arrived at the Tsuruoka Town Campus of Keio (TTCK) in the early afternoon via Shonai Airport. Since almost everyone was meeting for the first time, the event began with "3-minute pitch talks" that served as self-introductions, followed by a "poster session." Students gave presentations ranging from their research themes to their unique life histories with humor, and by the time the sessions ended, they appeared to have quickly warmed up to one another.
In the evening, a special lecture titled "Regional Revitalization through Intellectual Industries" was given by Professor Kazuharu Arakawa, Director of the IAB. He spoke about the attitude of "nurturing the roots rather than the flowers," which focuses on rooting an intellectual ecosystem in the region rather than just achieving short-term results, and the participants listened intently. Afterward, the group assignments for the "Virtual Venture Presentation" to be held on the final day were announced.
[Day 2: August 21] The Front Lines of Entrepreneurship and Individual Lab Visits
In the morning, invited lectures were given by four speakers, including managers of ventures originating in Tsuruoka and faculty members. In the afternoon, a panel discussion titled "Thinking About Diverse Career Paths" was held with the speakers, where candid discussions took place not only about work but also about life planning and career development.
After the discussion, participants took part in research institute tours and individual lab visits to observe the state-of-the-art facilities. Group work continued from the evening, and at night, all participants gathered for a lively social gathering where discussions continued until late.
[Day 3: August 22] Virtual Venture Presentations
On the final day, a report session was held for the highlight of the retreat, "Virtual Venture Presentation: Aim to be the 10th Venture of Tsuruoka Town Campus of Keio (TTCK)!" Eight groups, integrating diverse knowledge from medical sciences, pharmaceutical sciences, science and technology, and media and governance, generously presented business plans aimed at solving social issues. The venture managers and faculty members serving as judges provided high praise and sharp yet warm feedback on the presentations.
In the survey conducted after the retreat, all students responded that it was "very fulfilling," indicating a high level of satisfaction with the retreat. Furthermore, for participants from other campuses, it was a valuable opportunity to experience the Tsuruoka region and the social implementation cluster formed there. These experiences are thought to have promoted interdisciplinary exchange and led to the cultivation of awareness regarding the social implementation of research results and entrepreneurship.
This program, where the wisdom of different specialized fields blends together, is planned to be held continuously in the future while undergoing ongoing improvements to sprout interdisciplinary research and foster entrepreneurship.