AY2025 TAC-MI industry-academia exchange event
The Graduate Major in Materials and Information Sciences and the Academy for Convergence of Materials and Informatics (TAC-MI) held the TAC-MI Industry-Academia Exchange Event at the Ookayama Campus on September 26, 2025. In the morning session of Part 1, we held a lecture introducing corporate initiatives in digital transformation (DX). The afternoon session of Part 2 featured company introductions and career guidance, during which 28 TAC-MI member companies presented themselves to TAC-MI students, including those enrolled in the TAC-MI program, students pursuing the Graduate Major in Materials and Information Sciences, and those who had passed the course eligibility screening.
Part 1: Special Lecture by Member Companies
Part 1 featured a series of special lectures, during which four TAC-MI member companies gave presentations on their digital transformation (DX) initiatives in industry. Four member companies were invited to present their efforts in this area. The event took place at Lecture Theater 1 in the West Lecture Building on the Ookayama Campus, drawing approximately 140 participants from both inside and outside the university, including TAC-MI program staff members, faculty members, students, and industrial collaborators. The session was held in a hybrid format, combining in-person attendance with online streaming, allowing many to join.
The lecture featured presentations from four companies—TDK Corporation, JFE Steel Corporation, Panasonic Industry Co., Ltd., and AGC Inc.—each showcasing their advanced initiatives through concrete examples. Topics included the use of Materials Informatics (MI) and AI, the development of internal platforms, the promotion of digital transformation (DX) in manufacturing environments, and strategies for human resource development.
Following the lectures, a lively panel discussion was held featuring representatives from the four presenting companies. The exchange of ideas provided a valuable learning opportunity for both students and corporate participants.
Feedback from the post-event survey included comments such as:
- It was helpful to hear candid insights based on the actual circumstances within each company.
- As a student, I rarely have the chance to learn about the latest trends in corporate research activities, so this was very interesting.
- It was a great opportunity to understand the significance of studying DX. I’m also interested in other companies’ initiatives and look forward to next year’s event.
Overall, the session was very well received.
This lecture session was launched as a new initiative to replace the TAC-MI master’s students present research findings, which had been held in previous years. It attracted strong interest from participants as a unique forum for exchanging information that cannot be found elsewhere. Moving forward, it is planned to be held annually as a regular feature of the program.
Part 2: Company introductions and career guidance for TAC-MI students
The second part of the day featured company introductions and career guidance, during which 28 TAC-MI member companies set up booths to introduce themselves and provide career information to TAC-MI students. This event has been well received each year as a valuable opportunity for students to directly learn about the business activities and technological fields of participating companies.
Held in classrooms on the third floor of Building West 9 at the Ookayama Campus, the session was organized into individual company booths. Approximately 130 participants, including students and company representatives, engaged in lively face-to-face interactions throughout the event.
The students commented on the interviews as follows:
- I was able to learn about how companies are utilizing Materials Informatics (MI) and their approaches to human resource development.
- It was a very meaningful opportunity to casually speak with companies before starting job hunting.
Participating companies (28 in total)
AGC Inc. / AKEBONO BRAKE INDUSTRY CO., LTD. / ASAHI KASEI CORPORATION /
Dai Nippon Printing Co., Ltd / Idemitsu Kosan Co., Ltd. / JEOL Ltd. /
JFE Steel Corporation / Kurita Water Industries Ltd. / KYOCERA Corporation /
MITSUBISHI GAS CHEMICAL COMPANY, INC. / Mitsui Kinzoku Company, Limited /
NGK INSULATORS, LTD. / NIPPON KAYAKU CO., LTD. / Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. /
Niterra Co., Ltd. / Panasonic Industry Co., Ltd. / Resonac Corporation /
SCREEN Holdings Co., Ltd. / Seiko Epson Corporation / SUMITOMO CHEMICAL Co., Ltd. /
Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd. / TAIYO YUDEN CO., LTD. / TDK Corporation /
Toray Industries, Inc. / Toshiba Corporation / TOSOH CORPORATION /
Toyo Seikan Group Holdings, Ltd. / Tsukishima Kikai Co., Ltd
At the exchange event, in addition to learning about the business activities of the participating companies, the students also gained valuable knowledge about the human resources required by these firms, and about the fields where doctoral graduates can play active roles.
Through regular exchange events such as this with companies, TAC-MI aims to cultivate multi-talented individuals required by industry who apply a broad, global perspective to understanding new social services and creating new ideas.
