The Learning Innovation Consortium (LIC), headquartered in Chuo-ku, Tokyo, with Taiji Kawaguchi as Representative Director, has announced the winners of the "Learning Innovation Grand Prix 2026 (LIGP2026)," an award recognizing innovative learning and educational research originating from higher education institutions. In this 10th anniversary event, the Grand Prize was awarded to research from the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology and Monozukuri University for their work in transmitting the "sensory knowledge" of skilled engineers across distances. The award ceremony and winner presentations will be held on July 14, 2026, at the Tokyo International Forum. ■ Background and Objectives: Bridging Academic Research to Societal Implementation The LIGP aims to create opportunities that bridge excellent research outcomes and insights from academia in the field of educational technology to the wider industry, rather than keeping them confined to research labs, thereby connecting university-originated research to societal implementation. This initiative stems from structural challenges within Japan's education industry. In areas like e-learning and learning technologies that support corporate training and human capital management, services originating from overseas currently dominate the market. To revitalize Japan's education industry and foster specialized human resources in educational technology, a framework for industry-academia collaboration, where both academia and industry bring their knowledge and challenges, is indispensable. The LIGP has functioned as a "bridge between industry and academia," expanding opportunities for encounters between higher education institutions researching innovative learning and educational environments and companies involved in education and human resource development. This 10th iteration of the event continues to serve this role as a platform connecting the challenges of young researchers and students with industry. ■ Tr