"KONAMI eSports Gakuin" and "TDBC" Announce Industry-Academia Collaboration! Bridging Esports and the Construction Industry

On Friday, April 18, 2025, KONAMI Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd. announced that "KONAMI eSports Gakuin," which it operates, had signed an agreement for an industry-academia collaboration focused on mutual cooperation with The Digital Business Council of Transport.
In addition, Open School events are being held at KONAMI eSports Gakuin for junior high and high school students and their guardians, offering trial lessons taught by professional esports players.

Industry-Academia Collaboration Formed Between "KONAMI eSports Gakuin" and "TDBC": Strengthening Cooperation Between Esports and the Construction Industry

eスポーツ選手がショベルカーを遠隔操作!?　ゲームのテクニックが建設現場を変える

「KONAMI eスポーツ学院」は、「一般社団法人運輸デジタルビジネス協議会(TDBC)」との産学連携による相互協力の協定を締結しました。

トピックスを更新しました#e建機　 #遠隔操作　 #eスポーツ　 #高校… pic.twitter.com/mPxe8QYinC

— KONAMI eスポーツ学院公式 (@eg_school_573) April 18, 2025

KONAMI Digital Entertainment Co., Ltd. has announced that "KONAMI eSports Gakuin," which it operates, has signed an agreement for an industry-academia collaboration focused on mutual cooperation with Transportation Digital Business Conference.

The Digital Business Council of Transport is focused on developing new talent for the construction industry and is planning events such as the e-Construction Machinery Challenge (e建機®チャレンジ大会), where participants compete in the speed and accuracy of remotely operating construction machinery.
The goal is to leverage skills developed in esports for drone operation and remote control of construction machinery.

KONAMI eSports Gakuin will offer a 3-year program starting in the 2025 fiscal year, providing education aimed at aspiring professional gamers while also supporting other career paths including high school graduation, further education, and employment.
The contents of the industry-academia collaboration project include...

Special lectures to understand the significance and challenges of automation in the construction industry
Experience the remote control system for construction machinery and participate/observe the "e-Construction Machinery Challenge (e建機®チャレンジ大会)"
Cooperating in research and development of remote control methods by providing feedback from an esports player's perspective

...and more are planned.

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Comment from Naruki Umemura, Principal of KONAMI eSports Gakuin

KONAMI eSports Gakuin not only helps students earn high school graduation qualifications but also provides a system for those seriously aspiring to become professional esports players. However, the only career path after studying esports isn't limited to becoming a "pro gamer."
The digital skills learned while enrolled, such as video editing, streaming technology, and social media management, are applicable not only in the game industry but also in society in general. Furthermore, the application of esports know-how to the remote control of construction machinery falls outside conventional esports career paths, making this a groundbreaking initiative for the esports industry. When implemented in the field, this will lead to a wider range of career options for students who have studied esports.
I am very happy to have discovered new potential for esports.

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Comment from Kaoru Kojima, Representative Director of Transportation Digital Business Conference (TDBC)

Centered around its member companies, TDBC has been working on the real-world implementation of remote control for construction machinery with the aim of resolving the industry's biggest challenges, aging workforce and labor shortages, to achieve safety, security, and well-being at construction sites.
Addressing these challenges requires collaboration with new and unconventional industries and talent.
A world where active professional esports players and young people aspiring to become esports players can demonstrate their skills is on the horizon.
We anticipate the sustained development of a society that heavily utilizes digital technology, driven by the digital skills of teenagers.
We are very pleased and have high expectations that this partnership with KONAMI eSports Gakuin will advance the transformation of social infrastructure that TDBC aims for.

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KONAMI eSports Gakuin Open School Events Underway!

Open School events are being held for junior high and high school students and their guardians at the KONAMI Head Office building, featuring information sessions on their educational program and trial lessons taught by professional esports players.
Instructors for the trial lessons include players like Lettuce (@Lettuce_14) from DetonatioN FocusMe, poem (@mkpoem) from IGZIST, and Loid (@Loidfv), a 2022 graduate who extended his contract with TEQWING e-Sports.