A Hotspot for Excellent Human Resources andResearch Institutions
Strong Tendency Toward Working Locally

A Hotspot for Excellent Human Resources and Research Institutions: 2 Key Points

The job market is very locally oriented, with 80% of young graduates ﬁnding workin Hokkaido.

⑴High-quality Human Resources⑵Experimental Institutions Provide Strong Support for Emerging Businesses■Employment of New Graduates(Graduating March 2018)(Unit: people, ( ) indicates the percentage)

1 High-quality Human Resources
Easily Attract the Outstanding Human Resourcesthat Hold the Key to the Development of your BusinessHokkaido has an abundance of higher education institutions, with 28 graduate
schools, 40 universities, 15 junior colleges, and 4 technical colleges. There are about
84,000 young graduates annually, including those from vocational and high schools.
This young and energetic workforce is keen to make its mark in the world.
■University student enrollment by specialization(Unit: people)(As of April 1st 2018)
Medicine and Dentistry 457
Art 555
Nursing 997

Others 635

Implementation of Business
Matching Schemes
Joint company brieﬁngs and interview meetings are now held in numerous venues
throughout Hokkaido with the aim of increasing the opportunities for job seekers tomeet with potential employers.
For details, please visit the website shown below.
http://www.pref.hokkaido.lg.jp/kz/rkr/index.htm

Graduates Job seekers

Newly
employedHigh schools

49,576

7,634

7,509

6,896 （91.8）

613 （8.2）

Vocational schools

9,689

8,539

8,199

6,922 （84.4）

1,277 （15.6）

Technical colleges

702

434

434

149 （34.3）

285 （65.7）

Junior colleges

2,399

1,996

1,919

1,800 （93.8）

119 （6.2）

Universities

18,986

14,978

14,206

8,578 （60.4）

5,628 （39.6）

Total

81,35233,581

32,267

24,345 （75.4）

7,922 （24.6）

Total at the end of March 2018

■Higher Education Institutions throughout Hokkaido(As of April 2018)

Within Hokkaido Outside Hokkaido

Hokkaido University (Sapporo)■Active Opening Rate
(All Industries/Raw Data)
(x)
2.10

*The ﬁgure for high school graduates is the number of graduates expected as of May 15, 2017.

Humanities andSocial Sciences
7,206

Science andEngineering
3,832

1.81

1.80
1.61
1.50

(Source: Private Schools Division, Legal Aﬀairs and Corporations Bureau, Department of General Aﬀairs, Hokkaido Government)

Incentives for Highly Skilled Engineers
to Relocate to Hokkaido
To encourage highly skilled engineers who were born in Hokkaido to return from major
cities such as Tokyo to their hometowns (known as the “U Turn”) and encourage people
who were born outside Hokkaido to move here (known as the “I Turn”), a consultation
framework has been established in the Hokkaido Government, and information
registration and intermediating services between recruiting companies and job seekers
are oﬀered. Furthermore, in coordination with the Hokkaido Human Resource Promotion
Council, a nation-wide PR strategy has been developed to attract skilled workers to
Hokkaido. 2,234 people have found work through the U-I Turn employment program
between May 1990, when the consultation service was established, and January 2019.
●Consultation Services“U-I Turn Support Desk” (Employment and Labor Section, Labor Policies Bureau,
Department of Economic Aﬀairs, Hokkaido Government)
TEL：011-251-3896
For details, please visit the website shown below.
http://www.pref.hokkaido.lg.jp/kz/jzi/ui-turn/index.htm

Helping Companies Find Personnel
Job Cafe Hokkaido, Hokkaido Government’s support service for young job seekers andYoung Hello Work Sapporo, a branch of a national service, are oﬀered jointly at the
Hokkaido Young Persons' Employment Support Center (nicknamed Miraippo) to provide
an all-in-one employment support system. In addition to providing job seekers withcareer advice, Job Cafe Hokkaido helps companies to ﬁnd and retain personnel byholding industry seminars, workplace tours and job fairs with multiple companies todeepen job seekers' understanding of industries and workplaces. In addition to Sapporo,
Job Cafe Hokkaido has bases in Hakodate,
Asahikawa, Kushiro, Obihiro and Kitami. A
total of 39,504 people have used the service
as of FY 2017, with 6,399 people ﬁnding work.
●Inquiries
Job Cafe Hokkaido
TEL：011-209-4510

1.13

1.20

◎Health Sciences University of Hokkaido (Private)
Wakkanai

0.60◎Otaru University of Commerce (National)
Hokkaido Polytechnic College◎Sapporo Gakuin University (Private)◎Rakuno Gakuen University (Private)◎Hokkaido Information University (Private)◎Hokusho University (Private)
Hokusho University Junior College (Private)

Wakkanai Hokusei Gakuen University (Private)

1.09

0.82

0.68

0.74

0.56

0.30
0.00

0.41

0.86

1.04

0.96

0.57

0.46

1.11

Hokkaido
Tokyo
Nationwide

2013
2010
2011
2012
2014
2015
2016
2017
（H22） （H23） （H24） （H25） （H26） （H27） （H28） （H29）(Source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)

Takushoku University Hokkaido Junior College (Private)■Average Graduate Starting Salary (2018)
Nayoro City University (Public)◎Hokkaido University (National)◎Hokkaido University of Education (National)◎Sapporo Medical University (Public)◎Hokkai Gakuen University (Private)◎Sapporo University (Private)◎Fuji Women's University (Private)
Fukagawa◎Hokusei Gakuen University (Private)◎Hokkaido University of Science (Private)
Tobetsu Takikawa
Tokai University Sapporo Campus (Private)◎Sapporo International University (Private)
Ishikari◎Tenshi College (Private)
Iwamizawa
Otaru
Ebetsu◎Sapporo City University (Public)
Sapporo◎Hokkaido School of Commerce (Private)
Kitahiroshima
Eniwa
Sapporo Otani University (Private)
Chitose◎Health Sciences University of Hokkaido School of Psychological Science (Private)
Sapporo University of Health Sciences (Private)
Tomakomai
Oshamambe
Japan Health Care College (Private)
Muroran
Hokusei Gakuen University Junior College (Private)
Junior College of Sapporo Otani University (Private)
Hokkaido University of Science Junior College (Private)
Hokkaido Musashi Women's Junior College (Private)
Koen Gakuen Women's Junior College (Private)
Hakodate
Sapporo International University Junior College (Private)
Sapporo University Junior College (Private)
Tomakomai Komazawa University (Private)
National Institute of Technology, Tomakomai College (National)
Tokyo University of Science Faculty ofIndustrial Science and Technology（Private）◎Hokkaido Bunkyo University (Private)
Japan Health Care College Department of Rehabilitation (Private)◎Muroran Institute of Technology (National)◎Chitose Institute of Science and Technology (Private)*Public as of April 2019
◎Hokkaido University of Education Hakodate Campus (National)
Hokkaido Chitose College of Rehabilitation (Private)◎Hokkaido University Graduate School of Fisheries Sciences (National)◎Future University Hakodate (Public)
Hakodate University (Private)
Hakodate Junior College (Private)
Hakodate Otani College (Private)
National Institute of Technology, Hakodate College (National)

1.36

0.93

0.88

0.90
0.69

Note: ◎ indicates universities with a graduate school.

10 BUSINESS LOCATION GUIDEBOOK HOKKAIDO

1.40
1.23

◎Hokkaido University of Education Iwamizawa Campus (National)◎Fuji Women's University Department of Human Life Studies (Private)

2.08

2.01

(Source: Hokkaido Labor Bureau)

1.50

Pharmaceuticaland Health
Total:
Education 18,887 people
1,700
1,735

Agriculture andFisheries
1,770

Category

NayoroHokkaido

210.1

Nationwide

202.6

200.3

200
176.4

Asahikawa

192.6

182.9

180.4
159.2

Abashiri
Kitami

169.5

166.6

157.7 162.3

150

100

50

OtofukeObihiroKushiro0

Universities

Technical/
High schools
Junior colleges

Men◎Kitami Institute of Technology (National)◎Japanese Red Cross Hokkaido College of Nursing (Private)

Universities

Technical/
High schools
Junior colleges

Women(Source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)■General Workers' Basic Salary (2018)◎Hokkaido University of Education Kushiro Campus (National)
Kushiro Public University (Public)
Kushiro Junior College (Public)
National Institute of Technology, Kushiro College (National)◎Asahikawa Medical University (National)◎Hokkaido University of Education Asahikawa Campus (National)◎Asahikawa University (Private)
Asahikawa University Junior College (Private)
National Institute of Technology, Asahikawa College (National)

Dohto University (Private)(¥1000/month)
400.0

380.4

350.0
322.4

300.0

270.3

282.2

Hokkaido

Miyagi

329.1
286.7

250.0
200.0
150.0
100.0
50.0

Obihiro Otani Junior College (Private)◎Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine (National)(¥1000/month)
250◎Tokyo University of Agriculture Department of Bioproduction (Private)

0.0

Kokugakuin University Hokkaido Junior College (Private)

Tokyo

Aichi

Osaka

Fukuoka(Source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare)(Source: Private Schools Division, Legal Aﬀairs and Corporations
Corporation Bureau, Department of General Aﬀairs, Hokkaido Government)
BUSINESS LOCATION GUIDEBOOK HOKKAIDO

11

Institutions Provide Strong Support for
2 Experimental
Emerging Businesses
The Hokkaido Research Organization Supports Many Companies throughResearch and Technical Guidance
The Hokkaido Research Organization is an integrated research institute formed in 2010 by merging 22 Hokkaido testing and research institutes. Involved in a wide range ofindustrial ﬁelds, the institute uses its collective strength to carry out multidisciplinary research and technical support in order to meet your various needs.
Agricultural Research
Department
Agricultural Experiment Station
Dairy Farming Research Center
Animal Research Center
Ornamental Plants andVegetables Research Center
Eight agricultural and livestock
research facilities are actively pursuing
new research into stockbreeding, crop
cultivation technologies, livestock
welfare, feeding technologies, andfood safety and biotechnology.

Fisheries Research
Department
Fisheries Research InstituteSeven ﬁsheries research facilities are
pursuing research into the promotion ofmanaging energy and natural resourcesin the ﬁshing industry, and the supply
and advanced use of safe marine
products. The facilities also undertake
research and development for theconservation of the ecology andbiodiversity in Hokkaido, and disseminate
the results of this research throughvarious means including direct guidance.

Forestry Research InstituteOrnamental Plants andVegetables Research Center
Food Processing
Research Center

Kamikawa Agricultural
Experiment Station

Environmental Science
Research Center

Kitami Agricultural
Experiment Station

Geological Surveyof Hokkaido
Industrial ResearchInstitute
Central Fisheries
Research InstituteHokkaido Research
Organization,
Head Oﬃce

134

Muroran

Joint research with companies (Research fields: Materials, environment, energy, construction, social infrastructure, information, sensitivity,
production systems, device engineering, measurement, control, aeronautics, electricity, electronics, communication, biotechnology, etc.)

Center for Regional Community, Kitami Institute of Technology

Kitami

Joint research with companies (Research fields: Measurement, agricultural machinery, biotechnology, civil engineering, information andcommunications, electricity, electronics, materials, etc.)

Center for Industry-University Collaboration, Obihiro University ofAgriculture and Veterinary Medicine

ObihiroJoint research with companies (Research fields: Livestock farming, crop farming, food, veterinary fields, biotechnology, agricultural
machinery, agricultural civil engineering, agricultural economics, environment, etc.)

Industry-Academia-Government Collaboration Department, Center for
Glocal Strategy, Otaru University of Commerce

Otaru

Joint research base for industry-academic-government cooperation (construction of "knowledge cycle structure" through industrial
promotion projects, active business support, open research seminars, etc.)

Center for Advanced Research and Education, Asahikawa Medical
University

Asahikawa

Collaboration Center for Community and Industry, Sapporo Medical
University

SapporoJoint research between industry, academia and government (joint research using academic resources, transfer of intellectual property, etc.)

Collaborative Research Center, Sapporo City University

SapporoCooperation and joint research with companies and the local community

Northern Hokkaido Regional Research Institute, Nayoro City University

NayoroJoint research between industry, academia and government (joint research using academic resources, transfer of intellectual property, etc.)

Center for University-Society Relations and Collaboration, Future
University Hakodate

Hakodate

Joint research, technology transfer and promotion of intellectual property activities between industry, academia and government

Research and technical consultation on civil engineering technologies for cold regions

SapporoJoint research between industry, academia and government (Research fields: Biotechnology, energy, etc.)

National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO)
Hokkaido Agricultural Research Center

SapporoOn-site instruction for joint research and dissemination of technology with farmers, companies, etc.

Animal Research Center

Hokkaido Research Center, Forestry and Forest Products ResearchInstitute, Forest Research and Management Organization

SapporoJoint research and social contributions through research results with foresters, companies, etc.

Tokachi Agricultural Experiment Station

Hokkaido National Fisheries Research Institute, Japan Fisheries
Research and Education Agency

SapporoJoint research and commercialization of institutes' intellectual property with fisheries, companies, etc.

Hokkaido Industrial Technology Center

Hakodate

Testing, research, and technological training into seafood processing, biotechnology, industrial materials, and mechatronics

Forest Products Research InstituteCentral Agricultural
Experiment Station
Salmon andFreshwater Fisheries
Research Institute

Donan Agricultural
Experiment Station

Mariculture Fisheries
Research Institute

Hakodate Fisheries
Research Institute

Building Research
Department
Northern Regional Building
Research InstituteEnvironmental and GeologicalResearch Department
Environmental Science Research Center
Geological Survey of Hokkaido

The Northern Regional Building Research Instituteundertakes research and development into creating
a comfortable living environment that has theminimum impact on the environment, and provides
testing and research into sustainable construction
and town planning, as well as technical support tohouse-building and construction related industries.

The Geological Survey of Hokkaido undertakes
research and development into regional
environmental conservation and global
environmental issues, biodiversity conservation,
the prevention of natural disasters such as
earthquakes and volcanoes, and thedevelopment of underground mineral resources.

Emimaru

Hoshimaru

5

4

Business card case, wooden card case<private joint ownership>

Product technology ﬁeld

6

Lactobacillus plantarum HOKKAIDO
Reafru processed fruit products

300

Wheat: Kitahonami
Taisetsu Hana no Mai 1 Go Hen of
the Woods Mushrooms

Municipal

Processed ﬁeld

Hokkaido Okhotsk Area Regional Food Processing Technology Center

Kitami

Hokkaido Tokachi Area Regional Food Processing Technology Center

ObihiroTesting, research and technical training for food processing that corresponds to local needs

Hokkaido Institute of Public Health

SapporoSafety evaluation of drinking water, food, etc., measurement of radioactive substances, analysis of bacteria, viruses, etc., collection andanalysis of information on infections for anti-infection measures

Asahikawa Industrial Technology Center

AsahikawaResearch, development, and technical training for machinery and metals

Kitami

Kitami Industrial Technology Center

OthersTesting, research and technical training for food processing that corresponds to local needs

Technical training and product development training for machinery and metals, furniture, joinery, and woodcrafts

Tomakomai Industrial Technology Center

Tomakomai

Kushiro Industrial Technology Center

KushiroTechnical training and Research and Development support for materials, processing and mechatronics
Technical support for machinery, metals, woodcrafts, environmental energy, chemicals, electronics, information and communications, etc.

Muroran Advancement Center of Industrial Technology andManagement

MuroranTechnical development and training for machinery and metals, electronic control, and software

TOKACHI REGIONAL INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT CENTER

ObihiroTechnical support for machinery, metals and woodcrafts

Hokkaido Branch, Organization for Small & Medium Enterprises andRegional Innovation, Japan

SapporoSupport for expansion of sales routes of small and medium enterprises, overseas expansion, business continuity, human resource
development, business expansion, development of new products, business revitalization, strengthening of management foundations, etc.

Hokkaido Small and Medium Enterprise Promotion Fund Support Center

SapporoSupport for expansion of sales routes of small and medium enterprises, overseas expansion, business continuity, human resource
development, business expansion, development of new products, business revitalization, strengthening of management foundations, etc.

Northern Advanced Center for Science and Technology

SapporoSupport through coordination of commercialization activities by companies

Wet-Field Rice for Cultivation by Direct Seeding

Asahikawa Industry Research Center

Asahikawa

Various forms of support for companies involved in development of new products or technologies or expansion into new fields in northern
Hokkaido (Kamikawa, Rumoi and Soya areas)

Direct seeding of rice is now possible across a wider
area of Hokkaido thanks to the development of a new
species called Emimaru. In addition to withstanding
seeding in lower temperatures than Hoshimaru,
Emimaru is resistant to rice blast disease and grows
high-quality unpolished rice.

Asahikawa Food Industry Support Center

Asahikawa

Support for development of new products, testing and analysis for companies in Asahikawa and surrounding area

Hokkaido Intelligent Network Terminal

SapporoConsultation for product development, technology development and research and development by companies■ Industry-academia Cooperations, etc. with Nationaland Public Universities (by Prefecture) (FY2017)
Number of patents(number)

Joint studies(number)

Consigned studies(number)Development of technology for automatic
removal of eyes from potatoes

No. 1

Tokyo

4,655 Tokyo

To combat worker shortages in food processing, image
pro cessing and rob otic s te chnolo g y has b e endeveloped to arrange and position potatoes and detect
and remove unusable areas such as eyes and bruises.

No. 2

Kyoto

1,382 Osaka

1,895 Osaka

1,383

No. 3

Osaka

850 Kyoto

1,423 Kyoto

1,239

No. 4

Aichi

775 Miyagi

1,209 Fukuoka

1,018

No. 5

Hokkaido

703 Aichi

1,140 Aichi

1,005

No. 6

Fukuoka

691 Fukuoka

1,129 Hokkaido

928

No. 7

Miyagi566 Hokkaido

1,043 Miyagi

756

National average

276 National average

Development of Technology to Reduce Odor in
Ichiya-boshi (ﬁsh salted and dried overnight)
New technology has been developed to produce
ichiya-boshi, ﬁsh that is salted and dried overnight, withless odor. The production process uses soybean whey
and adzuki bean soup. The odor of ﬁsh is one reason why
consumers are eating less of it, so companies areworking on producing processed seafood products to
expand their consumer base.

12 BUSINESS LOCATION GUIDEBOOK HOKKAIDO

Hokkaido
prefectural

Crop development ﬁeld Development of Emimaru, a New Species of

Designs

The number of rights includes those pending.
The number of licensing agreements includes cases in which a right is licensed
to multiple companies.

National
ResearchandDevelopment
AgencyMain Results

Main items
Lactobacillus plantarum HOKKAIDO(new lactobacillus) <sole ownership>
Air ﬁltered house (Sumi no Ie)<private joint ownership>
Scallop shell chalk <private joint ownership>

Provision of information on academic intellectual property to companies, support for industry-academic-government cooperation, etc.

National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST)
Hokkaido Center

Emimaru has more transparent grains than
Hoshimaru, with less white clouding(indicating excellent quality in unpolished rice)*1*2

Center for Cooperative Research and Development, Muroran Institute ofTechnology

KushiroAutomatic pumpkin chopper<private joint ownership>

132

Joint research with companies and promotion of use of intellectual property in academia (Research fields: Life sciences, information andcommunications, environment, nanotechnology, materials, etc.)

Sapporo2

Species

Main Support for Private Companies

SapporoResearch Center for Regional Economics, Kushiro Public University

3

2

Location

Civil Engineering Research Institute for Cold Regions

Utility models

Trademarks

NameInstitute for the Promotion of Business-Regional Collaboration, Hokkaido
University

Center for joint research between industry, academia and government (enlivenment plans, etc. to resolve local issues and promote future
improvements to communities)

Northern Regional Building Research Institute

Number oflicensingagreements*2

72

Category
National andPublicUniversities

Kushiro Fisheries Research Institute(as of March 31, 2018)

Patents■ Main National and Public Universities, Public Testing and Research Institutes and Industrial Support Institutes *Excluding Hokkaido Research Organization

Dairy Farming Research Center

Number of Patents, etc.
Number ofrights*1

The Food Processing ResearchCenter works to reinforce cooperation
with universities and national research
institutes and undertakes research anddevelopment into industrial technology
and food production. The center also
provides practical support for thecommercialization and implementationof such technologies to companies
within Hokkaido through technicalconsultations and dispatchingspecialized staﬀ to assist on-site.

A system to support collaboration between businesses and Hokkaido’ s main universities has resulted in an increase in joint research projects in recent years. In addition, public
testing and research institutions are continuing research and development in a broad range of areas. Hokkaido is well-equipped for industry-academia cooperation, with a proventrack record. Collaborations between companies and national and public universities here have produced Japan's ﬁfth-highest number of rights such as patents resulting fromindustry-academia cooperation. Hokkaido also has the seventh highest number of joint studies and the sixth highest number of consigned studies.

Abashiri Fisheries Research Institute

Forest Research
Department
Forestry Research Institute
Forest Products Research InstituteResearch and development are undertakenwith the aim of encouraging forestation thatis adapted to the natural characteristics of
Hokkaido, enhancement of forestry andgreen environments, promotion of recyclingof forest resources, and support for wood
related industries. The results of thisresearch and technical support are provided
to government institutions, forest owners,
and private enterprises.

Industrial Technology
Research Department
Industrial Research Institute
Food Processing Research Center

Wakkanai Fisheries Research InstitutePublic Testing and Research Institutes and Industrial Support Institutes
Provide Strong Support for Emerging Businesses

3,973 Tokyo

474 National average

2,973

373

*Number of patents, etc.: Number of licensed or transferred patents
Source: Industry-academic Cooperations, etc. by Universities, etc. in 2017, Ministry of
Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)

Northern Manufacturing Network:
One-Stop Support for Technical Concerns Faced by Manufacturers
The Hokkaido Government established the Northern Manufacturing Network to provide a
one-stop support service with eﬀective solutions for technical issues and consultations on
new product development from manufacturers. The service is provided throughcooperations with industrial support institutes and manufacturing-related industrialorganizations throughout Hokkaido.
<<Feel free to contact the organizations below for the following concerns and issues>>
・Consultations to solve technical issues ⇒ Contact your nearest industrial support
institute・Consultations about joint development through inter-industry cooperations ⇒Contact an industrial organization in this network*See the website below for details such as the contact details of the industrial support institutes.

北のものづくりネット

検索

http://www.pref.hokkaido.lg.jp/kz/ssg/monodukuri/kitanomonodukuriNW.htm

BUSINESS LOCATION GUIDEBOOK HOKKAIDO

13