Student DemoDay at Tohoku University Showcases Groundbreaking Projects

From Classrooms to Real-World Impact: Highlights from Tohoku University's Student DemoDay

On December 14, Tohoku University held its first Student DemoDay at Aobayama Commons, organized by the Startup Incubation Centre, Alumni and Outreach Office, and Green Goals Initiative. The event showcased socially impactful student projects and included two key events: the Tomo Pro! Next Challenge and the 2024 Tohoku University Business Idea Contest, provide students with a platform to present their ideas to companies and the public.

In the Tomo Pro! Next Challenge, eight groups that had participated in a crowdfunding programme from 2021 to 2023 presented project updates on topics from healthcare to space exploration. The ARES Project won the Grand Prize of 100,000 yen, with Danishi Ai sharing the team’s experience in the University Rover Challenge. Rintaro Miyashita received the Excellence Award of 50,000 yen for his Kyoyu Project, which aimed to bring warmth to medical settings through music.

For the eighth year, the Business Idea Contest featured 10 finalists who pitched their ideas. Team TsuCre won the Grand Prize of 500,000 yen for their user-assembled gaming controller, impressing judges with its business potential. Team RERAX secured the runner-up position and 300,000 yen for their proposal to commercialize aromatherapy blends for cancer patients. Additional sponsor awards and an Audience Choice Award were also given. Professor Ryoichi Nagatomi, head of the judging panel, emphasized the event’s educational value and social impact, noting it connects classroom learning to real-life applications and fosters creativity to address global challenges. Workshops were also held for younger participants, offering hands-on experiences in building electrical circuits and telescopes with everyday materials.

Student DemoDay represents a key milestone in Tohoku University’s ongoing efforts to promote student innovation and entrepreneurship. Through various integrated support programmes, the university strives to build a comprehensive ecosystem that nurtures creative ideas and helps enterprising students turn their concepts into real-world solutions. Tohoku University's first Student DemoDay highlighted the university's commitment to fostering student innovation and entrepreneurship. The event successfully showcased students' creativity and potential to develop impactful, real-world solutions.

Editor's Note:

Tohoku University's first Student DemoDay was a remarkable event that celebrated student innovation and entrepreneurship. By providing a platform for students to showcase their socially impactful projects and business ideas, the university is developing a culture of creativity and problem-solving. This event underscores the importance of turning classroom knowledge into practical solutions that address real-world challenges.

Skoobuzz believes that Tohoku University will continue to nurture and support enterprising students and paving the way for the next generation of leaders and innovators.