"Fostering Entrepreneurial Talent from the Region" Local Company Supports GU through GIFUSHIN SDGs Private Placement Bond (Regional Revitalization Type)

On Tuesday, September 1, 2026, a donation presentation ceremony was held at the OKB Gifu University Plaza on campus.

Gifu University has been promoting entrepreneurship education to nurture individuals with an entrepreneurial mindset and support the development of future entrepreneurs. In April 2020, the university launched entrepreneurship-related courses and established its officially recognized Startup Club, the first university-approved organization of its kind in the Chubu region, thereby encouraging students to take on new challenges.

In addition, Tongali, an entrepreneurship development project organized by a consortium of universities in the Tokai region, in which Gifu University serves as the coordinating institution, has been selected for support by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) and the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST). Through the project, a wide range of initiatives have been implemented, including entrepreneurship education for students, startup support for researchers, and the development of an environment conducive to innovation and entrepreneurship.

This donation was made by Marusugi Corporation, which supports the University's initiatives through the GIFUSHIN SDGs Private Placement Bond (Regional Revitalization Type) offered by The Gifu Shinkin Bank.

The ceremony was hosted by Mr. HORII Sho, a second-year student in the School of Social Systems Management and leader of the Startup Club. During the ceremony, Mr. SHIGYO Yoshinori, Senior Managing Director and Executive Officer of The Gifu Shinkin Bank, delivered opening remarks, stating: "We are truly delighted to have this opportunity to contribute to the development of the young and energetic next generation of talent at Gifu University." Following the remarks, representatives of The Gifu Shinkin Bank and Marusugi Corporation presented a donation certificate to the University.

Subsequently, Mr. NAKASHIMA Masahiro, Executive Officer of Marusugi Corporation, introduced the company's initiatives to foster the next generation of talent, including its business competition programs, and spoke about its collaboration with Gifu University and the Startup Club.

Finally, Professor UEHARA Masayuki, who oversees entrepreneurship education and entrepreneur development at Gifu University and serves as advisor to the Startup Club, expressed his appreciation for the donation and shared his aspirations for the future: "We are deeply grateful for this generous contribution. We will continue to promote the cultivation of an entrepreneurial mindset, enhance and expand our startup support environment, and further strengthen collaboration with local communities."

It is expected that this donation will further advance a "regional circulation" model in which local companies support the development of next-generation talent at universities, and the resulting achievements are returned to the community to drive regional growth. Gifu University will continue to strengthen cooperation with local businesses, financial institutions, and other stakeholders while enhancing entrepreneurship education and fostering individuals who can contribute to the sustainable development of society and the region.