The "Roppongi Vege & Fruit Corporation" project　selected for the Kanto Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry Director General's Prize

The "Roppongi Vege & Fruit Corporation" project to use empty schools in Tokyo that came out of the ALPS program was selected for the Kanto Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry Director General's Prize in the 6th Campus Venture Grand Prix (sponsored by The Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun).

The members of "Roppongi Vege & Fruit Corporation," a project to make use of former school buildings in Tokyo that emerged out of Team-A2 in ALPS2009, competed in the 6th Campus Venture Grand Prix (sponsored by The Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun, Ltd.). Out of a field of 106 contenders, it was selected for the Kanto Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry Director General's Prize in the Tokyo finals. The team had 12 members: Hiroyuki Yagita, Madoka Nakajima, Hisaya Kato (JAXA), Song Jue, Naoko Daigo, Masaki Hokari, Ryuta Ohashi, Tomoya Kase, Kouichi Takahashi, Shinya Nomura, Naoyuki Higo and Yasuhiro Matsuo. The team was also selected to go to the Nationals to be held on March 3 (Wednesday).

In addition, the team entered the 8th Student Entrepreneur Grand Prix (sponsored by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government) and was selected as one of the top 10 entries from a field of 230. They will be going on to the finals. Final presentations are scheduled for February 7 (Sunday) at Tomin Hall in the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.

<Project member comments>
Hiroyuki Yagita (Leader: 1st year masters course (admitted April 2009), ALPS-A2)
I am very grateful to the members of ALPS-A2 and those who joined the team after the conclusion of ALPS. This prize is a great honor, and it was only possible because we were able to bring together a wide range of people who are willing to work enthusiastically, seriously and enjoyably. I want to continue to serve as an enhancer, encouraging cytodifferentiation in the team! (Quoting from my own presentation on system life theory)

Madoka Nakajima (1st year doctoral course (admitted April 2009), ALPS-A2)
The impetus to join the two competitions was an e-mail from Professor Sun Kim titled "Competition Opportunity for ALPS projects." During the latter half of ALPS, the project really began to be fleshed out and we decided we could polish it up even further and submit it. At first, we undertook it rather lightheartedly, but having come this far, we are going to do everything we can to be victorious.

Naoko Daigo (2nd year masters course (admitted September 2008) , ALPS-A2)
There is an incredible diversity in the people at SDM, and ALPS was a valuable experience in confronting challenges and learning from them. I look forward to working with my great friends here to carve out a new tomorrow.

Masaki Hokari (1st year masters course (admitted April 2009), ALPS-A2)
Under our very capable and reliable leader, we forewent our summer vacations last year in favor of repeated meetings, and it is very gratifying that our work has been given such high marks not only within the school but also in the entrepreneur championships. I am not sure I contributed much to the team, but I am honored to be a member and want to thank my teammates for including me.

Hisaya Kato (Researcher (JAXA), ALPS-A2)
We have a great team and were able to experience the entire process of moving a simple idea up to the point of being a feasible project. I am grateful for this useful and valuable experience.

Song Jue (1st year masters course (admitted April 2009), ALPS-A2)
We share happiness and woe during the project, and I realize "Many hands make light work" immediately.

Ryuta Ohashi (2nd year masters course (admitted April 2008)
Diverse team members. The dispersion and concentration techniques we learned together. Working hard as a team on the project. I tried to break down the elements in the prize. I am very glad to have had the experience of integration with all of you and for our work to be recognized in this award.

Tomoya Kase (1st year masters course (admitted April 2009)
We had a wonderful group of professors teaching us ALPS techniques, and it was very gratifying to see the combination of these techniques and enthusiastic team members produce results. This has been an extremely valuable and enlightening experience for me. I look forward to doing even more in the future.

Shinya Nomura (1st year masters course (admitted April 2009)
We moved from the classroom ALPS (Active Learning Project Sequence) to the practical ALPS (A Lot of Practical Solutions). And now we are just one step away from the project seeds budding as an enterprise. I will keep supporting the team to safely cross the Alps.

Naoyuki Higo (1st year masters course (admitted April 2009)
I joined the project midway through, but it was still a valuable experience to see how people from the wide range of backgrounds we have at SDM cooperate together and, through a series of trial and error, apply what we have learned to the creation of a new project. I hope to use this experience to contribute to society.

Yasuhiro Matsuo (2nd year masters course (admitted April 2008)
It was eye-opening for me to participate in an outside event and I was able to come to understand more perspectives. I also feel like I am getting closer, one step at a time, to my dream of being an entrepreneur.

CVG Tokyo awards ceremony

● 6th Campus Venture Grand Prix sponsored by The Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun
2nd Best Prize (Kanto Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry Director General's Prize)
CVG Tokyo Awards Ceremony

● 8th Student Entrepreneur Grand Prix sponsored by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government
Through to the finals
Tokyo Metropolitan Government (article by sponsor)
Tokyo Metropolitan Small Business Center (article by sponsor)

Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun article (January 22) is here