Anahy Antonieta Vieira Couto

ESPM, in partnership with the Gorom Association (https://gorom.org/en/), is promoting an academic collaboration aimed at developing social entrepreneurship, leadership and intercultural communication skills, which will enable a deeper understanding of global business development for four students selected to take part in the program, which began in July and will culminate in a presentation of results in December 2023.

This year's program is concerned with revitalizing the local economy in Japan, a country that has been facing an ageing society and a low birth rate and which, along with other economic factors, has posed many challenges for business development. In this year's edition, participants will be divided into four research groups, involving the sake, wine, jewelry and textile sectors, to develop concrete business proposal solutions.

To this end, over the course of the five-month program, participants will be trained through classes, debates, research and guidance to develop their proposals. These activities will be carried out online, but at the end of the program there will be a Study Tour to Japan, which will provide an opportunity for the students to take the skills and knowledge they have acquired and apply them in a practical way.

It will take around 12 days for the students to finalize their consultations and field research, talk to experts, local producers and community leaders before presenting their findings in a "Final Pitch" to entrepreneurs and other key stakeholders in the city of Yamanashi in December 2023.