Expanding research possibilities: A new option for science graduates' job hunting

This series explores the hidden problems in science students' job hunting and the initiatives tackling them. This installment covers "LabMeets," an internship program applying science students' research to solve corporate management challenges.

"LabMeets" is a project jointly launched by POL (*), a startup connecting researchers with society, and Dentsu Inc. Wakamon (Dentsu Inc. Youth Research Division).

We spoke with POL's representative, Michiaki Kamo, and Dentsu Inc. Wakamon's Mihoko Nishii and Masaya Yomaru about the challenges science students face in job hunting and their vision for "LabMeets."

※POL: A startup revolutionizing the research-related market through technology. It operates a career platform for science and technology professionals and a technology exploration platform, running Japan's largest science student recruitment service, "LabBase."

We want to make science students' "work" more positive

Nishii: Mr. Kamo, what led you to launch POL?

Kamo: I was a science student myself. The trigger was seeing a senior in my second year of university, who was so busy with research he couldn't job hunt, half-heartedly deciding on a company through the university's recommendation system. He was an outstanding senior, so I thought he deserved a place where he could truly shine. That's when I decided, "I want science students to be able to find jobs where they can thrive at companies they genuinely want to work for."

Fundamentally, hiring for science and engineering students mostly occurs within frameworks like general corporate positions or technical roles. But from the student's perspective, this often means joining a company without a clear vision of the future: "What will I actually do once I'm there?" "How will my skills be utilized?" That's not "employment"—it's just "joining a company." That's why I wanted to promote job-based hiring that evaluates specialized skills.

Looking more broadly at the R&D market, I also saw challenges like research funding and industry-academia collaboration. Now, at POL, we aim to "solve all challenges in the research field and contribute to the advancement of science and society."

Nishii: I also believed that the lack of a proper job-hunting environment for science students was a problem for Japan as a whole. As Dentsu Inc. Wakamon, which is redesigning corporate recruitment activities and taking action to increase options for students' job searches, I want to solve this problem.

Many companies seek science and engineering students. But are they reaching the right talent?

Yomaru:As mentioned in the first installment, science students' research often leans heavily toward being "for the lab," sometimes creating a disconnect between their own intentions and the actual content. Furthermore, their specialization is often so deep that students themselves frequently lose the ability to view their research from a broader perspective.

Additionally, their options are often narrowed by factors like "feeling reluctant to join companies other than those recommended by professors" or "only considering companies where seniors have already joined." Essentially, we see the lack of democratization in career formation as a key challenge for science students. Conversely, what challenges do companies face?

Kamo: We often hear companies express frustration about "struggling to find the talent they need." We get particularly many inquiries from B2B companies whose technical capabilities are excellent but whose brand recognition among students is low.

As for B2C companies, they also face challenges. A well-known appliance manufacturer shared this concern: "Even though we're investing heavily in software and AI, we only attract mechanical or electrical engineering students. We get zero applications from information systems majors." Essentially, students' perceptions are overly influenced by corporate brand image, preventing effective communication with the talent they truly need.

Nishii: I agree. We get similar inquiries. It's the opposite of what Kamo-san mentioned. For example, companies dealing with AI technology fundamentally need both specialists focused on the technology itself and generalists who can translate that technology into business applications. These two types think differently. But in reality, companies often hire science students as a single category and fail to utilize them effectively. This kind of mismatch is happening at many companies right now, isn't it?

Yōmaru: I also feel the difference between "communicating" and "being understood" is quite significant. In reality, I think most companies today are seeking some kind of STEM talent. For instance, a company might actually need biometric authentication experts, or specialists in AI. They require people with specific expertise, but the reality is that this need isn't effectively communicated to those talents.

Nishii: To solve these challenges faced by both companies and STEM students, POL and Dentsu Inc. jointly launched "LabMeets."

Experience applying your research to solve corporate challenges through "LabMeets"

Yonomaru: LabMeets is an internship program that applies science students' research to solve corporate challenges. While it's not a recruitment platform, our concept is "From research for research's sake to research for society." We aim to provide science students with opportunities to connect with society through real-world settings, people, and challenges, and to discover how their research can contribute to unexpected fields.

Nishii: For the first cohort, Aeon Fantasy, which operates amusement facilities for children and their families, participated as the challenge-providing company. The theme was AI application in the edutainment (education × entertainment) field. We challenged third-year undergraduates or first-year master's students researching this field to tackle actual management challenges faced by Aeon Fantasy.

Kamo: LabMeets is considering establishing a system where companies seeking to connect with specific science and engineering talent can participate as mentors. By allowing companies to highlight their desire to engage specialized students, we believe this can also help solve challenges in corporate recruitment activities.

We want science and engineering students to know that "their career options are infinitely expanding."

Yomaru: The strength of science and engineering students lies in their research expertise. As job-based employment replaces membership-based systems, having more options to leverage this expertise is advantageous. That's why we want them to realize there are real-world problems their research can solve, and that there are career paths beyond companies recommended by seniors or professors where they can apply their research. We envision LabMeets as a catalyst for discovering these possibilities.

Kamo: I believe all science students share the desire to use their skills and research for society. We'd be thrilled if they saw LabMeets as a place to challenge themselves in finding where that desire can be realized.

Nishii: One more thing. LabMeets also offers content that helps you develop skills like the ability to see the world from a bird's-eye view and communication skills that can move people. Science students are good at "solving problems when they arise." By experiencing LabMeets, I believe you can also acquire different ways of solving problems while maintaining a business perspective.

Creating New Connections Between Academia and Industry Through "LabMeets"

Nishii: While our first cohort focused on AI, the world holds an almost infinite array of technical fields and societal challenges. LabMeets aims to continue providing opportunities for students and companies to collaborate in tackling diverse social issues.

Kamo: I also want to increase these kinds of projects. I want many companies to experience solving management challenges with fresh ideas unique to students – ideas that wouldn't have emerged internally. So, I hope companies even slightly interested in LabMeets will actively participate.

For students, LabMeets isn't a one-time event that solves all their problems. However, achieving even one success could change their passion for research or what they want to pursue. That's precisely why I want them to participate actively and experience the joy and excitement of contributing to society, rather than just doing "research for the lab."

Yomaru: When launching LabMeets, I came up with the slogan, "Solve business challenges with your research." Aeon Fantasy, who joined us, has the commitment to properly utilize the perspectives and ideas emerging from LabMeets over the medium to long term. The students' research will undoubtedly be useful for solving business challenges.

Moving forward, as we continue into Phase 2 and Phase 3, if companies and students can engage meaningfully and build new, sustainable relationships between industry and academia over the medium to long term, I believe students' research and challenges will naturally lead to employment opportunities.

Nishii: Our role is to support them beyond just the internship, helping connect the ideas generated there to solving corporate challenges. Next time, we'll share details about LabMeets Phase 1, so please stay tuned.