SLOC WORKS Research Institute to relocate headquarters to Sapporo

SLOC WORKS Research Institute has announced it will relocate its headquarters from Beppu, Oita Prefecture, to Sapporo, Hokkaido, effective October 1, 2026. Alongside this relocation, Riki Tsubota will succeed Yu Miyamoto as Representative Employee CEO.

The company describes this transition as a ‘second founding’ phase, focusing on two core pillars: SLOC model research and development, and business support services. The institute operates as a practical think tank based on the principles of Small, Local, Open, and Connected (SLOC) to study conditions for sustainable local businesses and communities, particularly in the face of population decline.

Under the new structure, the institute aims to bridge research findings with real-world business management. Its business support services include management planning, business development, and consulting, while its research initiatives include projects like ‘Voice Field’ to collect and analyze local community feedback.