Privacy Policy

Effective Date: 9 December, 2025

The Future of Capitalism Project (“we,” “our,” or “us”) is a joint initiative co-led by IESE Business School and Shizenkan University, in collaboration with a global network of partner institutions. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal data when you access or contact us through our website, forms or via email.

We are committed to ensuring your privacy and complying with applicable data protection laws.

  1. Who We Are

The Future of Capitalism Project is jointly organized by IESE Business School and Shizenkan University, supported by approximately 20 academic institutions globally. For the purpose of data protection law, the data controller responsible for processing your data is:

Shizenkan University

Nihonbashi Takashimaya Mitsui Bldg 17F,

5-1, Nihonbashi 2-Chome, Chuo-ku,

Tokyo 103 – 6117

Email: info@futureofcapitalism.net

Phone: +813-6281-9012

2. What Personal Data We Collect

When you apply to our program or interact with our website, we may collect the following personal data:

  • Name, email address, phone number, nationality, and country of residence
  • Educational background and professional profile (e.g., CV/resume, motivation statement)
  • Institutional affiliation or recommendation details
  • IP address, browser type, and device information (via cookies or analytics tools)

We may also collect personal data — such as your name, email address, and country — from individuals who sign up to receive updates, newsletters, or event information, even if they do not submit a program application.

  1. Legal Basis for Processing

We process your personal data based on the following legal grounds:

  • Consent – When you voluntarily submit an application or opt in to receive communications, such as email updates, newsletters, or event invitations.
  • Contractual necessity – To assess your application and communicate with you about the program.
  • Legitimate interests – To operate, evaluate, and improve the website and application process.
  • Compliance with legal obligations – Where required by applicable law.
  1. How We Use Your Information

We use your personal data for the following purposes:

  • To process and evaluate your application to the Future of Capitalism program
  • To communicate with you about your application status and program updates
  • To manage program logistics and participant engagement
  • To send you updates about the Future of Capitalism Project, including future events, forums, and related content — but only if you have opted in to receive such communications
  • To generate non-identifiable, aggregate statistics for internal reporting and program improvement
  • To comply with applicable laws and regulatory requirements

We do not sell or rent your personal data to third parties.

  1. Who We Share Your Data With

Your data will be primarily stored and managed by Shizenkan University. We may share limited application-related data with:

  • Partner institutions involved in the selection or delivery of the program
  • Cloud service providers for secure storage and processing (e.g. website host, form processing service)
  • Governmental or regulatory authorities if required by law

All such third parties are required to maintain the confidentiality and security of your data and comply with relevant data protection laws.

5A. Use of Google Forms and Access by Authorized Reviewers

We collect application data through Google Forms, which is part of Google Workspace. When you submit an application, your data is stored securely within our Google Workspace environment under the administrative control of Shizenkan University.

Access to application data is strictly limited to authorized individuals who support the internal screening and selection process, including staff and designated program reviewers. All authorized reviewers:

  • Access the data only through Google Workspace accounts managed by our organization (e.g., specialized accounts issued for screening purposes)
  • Operate under our direct instructions and are bound by confidentiality obligations (e.g., non-disclosure agreements)
  • Have access permissions that are revocable at any time
  • Access data through view-only permissions, with downloading, copying, and printing disabled whenever technically feasible

No application data is transferred outside Google Workspace unless required for essential program operations and performed under secure, controlled conditions.
We do not grant access to external contractors, partner institutions, or third parties for screening unless explicitly stated elsewhere in this Privacy Policy.

  1. International Data Transfers

As this is a global initiative coordinated by institutions in multiple countries, your personal data may be transferred to and processed in jurisdictions outside your country of residence, including Japan, where our primary operations are based.

We take appropriate steps to ensure that such international data transfers are conducted in compliance with applicable data protection laws. Where required, we implement safeguards such as data transfer agreements or other legally recognized mechanisms to protect your personal data.

For individuals located in the European Economic Area (EEA), data transfers outside the EEA may be made based on:

  • Adequacy decisions by the European Commission (e.g., for Japan), or
  • Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) or other appropriate safeguards under Article 46 of the GDPR when transferring to countries without an adequacy decision.

Regardless of where your data is processed, we aim to ensure that it receives a level of protection that is consistent with internationally recognized privacy principles

  1. How Long We Keep Your Data

The conservation period of your personal data is set according to the duration of your relationship with the Future of Capitalism Project and the periods established by law.

Specifically, we will keep your personal data until it is no longer necessary for the indicated purpose, until you revoke the corresponding consent or until the end of the period required to comply with legal obligations. 

When your relationship with the Future of Capitalism Project ends, we will proceed to delete your personal data as soon as we have taken all the necessary steps to complete any obligation derived from that relationship.

Notwithstanding the above, your personal data will be kept and correctly protected, while responsibilities may derive from the execution of our contractual or pre-contractual relationship, as well as for the compliance with other legal obligations in charge of the Future of Capitalism Project. Thus, we will adopt technical and organizational measures to prevent the processing of your personal data (including its visualization) except if it is necessary to disclose it to judges and courts, the Public Prosecutor’s Office or the competent Public Administration. In particular, in the case of data protection authorities, in the event of any responsibilities derived from the processing of such personal data, and only for the limitation period of such responsibilities.

  1. Your Rights Regarding Personal Data

Your rights concerning your personal data may vary depending on the data protection laws applicable in your country of residence. We are committed to respecting and facilitating these rights to the extent required by law.

If you are a resident of the European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA), you have the following rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):

Right of access

You can request confirmation from us to determine if we are processing your personal data and, in that case, you have the right to access your personal data and certain legally stipulated information it contains.

Right to rectification

You have the right to request the rectification of your personal data if it is incorrect or incomplete.

Right to erasure

You may request the erasure of your personal data when, among other reasons, it is no longer necessary for the purposes for which it was collected.

Right to restriction of processing

In certain circumstances, you may request a restriction of processing of your personal data. In these cases, we will process the data, with the exception of its conservation, only with your consent or for the establishment, exercise or defense of legal claims, for the protection of the rights of another natural or legal person or for reasons of important public interest at a national or European level.

Right to data portability

Under certain circumstances, you have the right to receive personal data concerning you that you have provided to us and to transmit it directly to a new controller.

Right to object

You may object to the processing of your personal data. In this case, we will stop processing the data unless we can prove legitimate and imperative reasons for its processing that prevail over your own interests, rights and freedoms, or for the formulation, exercise or defense of possible claims.

Other rights recognized by current legislation

You can exercise your rights by writing to the Shizenkan University Data Protection Officer with proof of your identity. Send e-mail claims to info@futureofcapitalism.net or in writing, to the following postal address: Future of Capitalism Project, c/o Shizenkan University, Nihonbashi Takashimaya Mitsui Bldg 17F, 5-1, Nihonbashi 2-Chome, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103 – 6117.

All GDPR queries from EU Data Subjects or Data Protection authorities should be submitted to eurep.ie via their dedicated form. BizLegal Ltd trading as EU Rep have their registered office at 27 Cork Road, Midleton Co. Cork, Ireland. Company number 635921.

You may also revoke consent that you have previously given us at any time. To do so, please contact us at the email or postal address indicated above. The revocation of these consents does not, in any case, condition the lawfulness of processing based on prior consent to their revocation.

Finally, you will also have the right to submit a complaint to the supervisory authority if we do not respond to your request within one month of its submission, as well as to obtain further information on your rights concerning the protection of personal data. To do so, you can contact The Data Protection Commission (DPC) (https://www.dataprotection.ie/en).

For individuals in other jurisdictions, similar rights may apply depending on local regulations. We will make reasonable efforts to respond to such requests in accordance with applicable laws.

If you request the deletion of your data, we will respond within 30 days and, where legally permissible, remove your personal information from our systems.

To exercise your rights or submit inquiries about your personal data, please contact us at: info@futureofcapitalism.net

  1. Email Communications and Updates

If you have subscribed to receive updates, newsletters, or event information, we will use your contact information only for that purpose. You can opt out at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in our emails or by contacting us directly at info@futureofcapitalism.net

We do not share your contact information with third parties for marketing purposes.

  1. Cookies and Analytics

Our website may use cookies and third-party analytics tools (e.g. Google Analytics) to understand website traffic and improve user experience. You can control cookie preferences through your browser settings.

Embedded YouTube Videos

Our website may include embedded videos hosted on YouTube, a service provided by Google LLC. When you view a page that contains an embedded YouTube video, your browser may automatically connect to YouTube’s servers. This may result in YouTube collecting certain technical information, such as:

  • Your IP address

  • Device and browser information

  • Pages viewed and interaction data

This data may be collected regardless of whether you have a YouTube account or are logged into one. YouTube may also place cookies or use similar tracking technologies to collect usage statistics and improve its services.

Where applicable, embedded videos are loaded only after you have given consent through our cookie banner or cookie settings.

For more information on how YouTube processes personal data, please refer to Google’s Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy

You can withdraw your consent at any time by adjusting your cookie settings in your browser or through our cookie management banner, where available.

  1. Security Measures

We apply appropriate policies and technical and organizational measures to safeguard and protect your personal data against undesirable actions, such as illegal or unauthorized access, accidental loss or destruction, damage, and illegal or non-authorized use and disclosure.

In addition, we take all reasonable precautions to guarantee that our employees who have access to your personal data have received the necessary training to process them with the appropriate caution.

  1. Other Clarifications

Language Notice

This Privacy Policy is provided in English only.

Use of Automated Processing or AI

As part of the admissions process, we may use automated systems, including AI-based tools, to assist in organizing or analyzing application materials. These tools are used solely to support human-led evaluation and do not make final decisions. All application decisions are reviewed and confirmed by program staff and faculty.

  1. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated revision date. If the changes are significant, we will notify you where appropriate.

  1. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact:

Data Protection Officer

Future of Capitalism Project

c/o Shizenkan University

email: info@futureofcapitalism.net

 

European Representative under Article 27 of GDPR

We have appointed EU Rep as our Representative under Article 27 of the EU General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”). All GDPR queries from EU Data Subjects or Data Protection authorities should be submitted to eurep.ie via their dedicated form. BizLegal Ltd trading as EU Rep have their registered office at 27 Cork Road, Midleton Co. Cork, Ireland. Company number 635921.

Privacy Policy