V I N N O VA R E P O R T
VR 2005:04
INFORMATION AND
COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY
IN JAPAN
A general overview on the current Japanese
initiatives and trends in the area of ICT
SHIGEYUKI NAITO & BOGUMIL HAUSMAN
Title: Information and Communications Technology in Japan. A general overview on the current Japanese initiatives and trends in the area of ICT
Author: Shigeyuki Naito and Bogumil Hausman - ITPS
Series: VINNOVA Report VR 2005:04
ISBN: 91-85084-28-X
ISSN: 1650-3104
Published: May 2005
Publisher: VINNOVA - Verket för Innovatonssystem / Swedish Agency for Innovation Systems
VINNOVA Case No: 2004-00761
About VINNOVA
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Information and Communications
Technology in Japan
A general overview on the current Japanese initiatives and trends in the area of ICT
by
Shigeyuki Naito
Bogumil Hausman
Swedish Institute for Growth Policy Studies
Science & Technology Office
Tokyo, Japan
January 2005
ICT IN JAPAN
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Acknowledgments
We would like to thank Kyoko Nakazato for providing the first chapter on general
introduction to Japan and Naoko Sekiguchi for her help with gathering some of the
data used in this report and converting them to graphs. Both are staff members of
the Science & Technology Office in Tokyo.
We have used some fragments from previously written ITPS reports produced at
the Tokyo Office by Sabine Ehlers and Shigeyuki Naito [ICT 2003].
We would like to thank as well our colleges from VINNOVA: Jonas Bjarne and
Torbjörn Fängström for valuable comments on a draft version of this report.
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Foreword
This report is a result of a joint project between the Swedish Institute for Growth
Policy Studies (ITPS) and VINNOVA's three growth areas in the area of information and communications technology (ICT): Micro- and nanoelectronics, Telecom
systems and Software products. The aim of the project has been to identify, analyse
and describe ICT relevant initiatives and trends in policy, research and business in
the USA, Japan and China. The goal is to provide VINNOVA with a platform for
making decisions concerning financing of needs-related research, development and
demonstration of sustainable growth in the ICT area in Sweden. It is our hope that
the report will provide constructive input for a wider audience with an interest in
international development in ICT.
Information and communications technology is defined in the report as technology
(hardware, networks, systems, software) which facilitates the exchange of information between different people and machines. The focus of the report on ICT relevant trends and initiatives, however, covers not only initiatives which can be directly related to a specific area of technology (facilitative technology). It also covers initiatives in different needs- and marketing areas which have an impact on ICT
development taken up in the report. The study covers initiatives and trends which
can be perceived today or are expected to emerge within the next 5 years.
The report is one of three review studies concerning developments in the area of
information and communications technology:
• Informations- och kommunikationsteknik i USA
Martin Ahlgren, VINNOVA Rapport VR 2005:03
• Information and Communications Technology in Japan
Shigeyuki Naito, Bogumil Hausman, VINNOVA Report VR 2005:04
• Information and Communications Technology in China
Magnus Breidne, VINNOVA Report VR 2005:05
Stockholm in April 2005,
Per Eriksson
Director General
VINNOVA
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Table of Content
Foreword............................................................................................................................. 5
Summary............................................................................................................................. 9
1
Introduction to Japan.............................................................................................. 11
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
2
Introduction to ICT .................................................................................................. 13
2.1
2.2
2.3
3
Geography...................................................................................................................11
Economy......................................................................................................................11
Trade ...........................................................................................................................12
Society.........................................................................................................................12
Current Status of Networks .........................................................................................13
Japan as an International Competitive Power.............................................................18
Chapter Summary .......................................................................................................19
Politics...................................................................................................................... 21
3.1
National policy .............................................................................................................21
3.1.1
e-Japan Strategy ....................................................................................................21
3.1.2
e-Japan Strategy II .................................................................................................24
3.1.3
e-Japan Priority Policy Program - 2004..................................................................26
3.2
Chapter Summary .......................................................................................................31
4
Research and Development ................................................................................... 33
4.1
The Council for Science and Technology Policy and the Science and Technology
Basic Plan (2001-2005) .............................................................................................................34
4.2
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)........................................................36
4.2.1
R&D Programs........................................................................................................37
4.2.2
New Industry Creation Strategy..............................................................................38
4.3
Information-technology Promotion Agency (IPA) ........................................................41
4.4
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) ...............................................43
4.5
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) ..................45
4.6
ITS related R&D ..........................................................................................................45
4.7
Chapter Summary .......................................................................................................47
5
Industry .................................................................................................................... 49
5.1
5.2
5.2.1
5.2.2
5.3
5.4
5.5
6
Overview of the ICT related industry ...........................................................................49
ICT Market...................................................................................................................52
Telecommunications Business ...............................................................................52
Broadcasting Business ...........................................................................................53
Electronics industry .....................................................................................................53
Import and Export from/to Sweden..............................................................................54
Chapter Summary .......................................................................................................56
Conclusions on future trends ................................................................................ 57
6.1
Future trends ...............................................................................................................59
6.1.1
Hardware and Terminals ........................................................................................59
6.1.2
System Software and Computing ...........................................................................60
6.1.3
Networks.................................................................................................................61
6.1.4
Content, applications and services.........................................................................61
6.1.5
Business models.....................................................................................................62
6.1.6
Usage .....................................................................................................................62
6.1.7
Security...................................................................................................................63
6.1.8
Policies ...................................................................................................................64
7
Some suggestions for future Japan-Sweden ICT actions ................................... 65
Terminology ..................................................................................................................... 67
References........................................................................................................................ 69
Appendix I......................................................................................................................... 71
ICT Companies trading between Japan and Sweden ...............................................................71
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Summary
The Japanese government (IT Strategic Headquarters) has succeeded with e-Japan
Strategy to enhance ICT infrastructure in Japan by utilizing experts from industries
and academia, by improving competition policy (especially within the broadband
access network market), by allocating resources to ICT related, prioritized areas,
and by promoting cooperation between different industries. However, the actual
ICT usage was still low. Therefore, the government launched consecutive strategy
and Priority Policy Programs to enhance the actual use of the existing infrastructure. At the same time evaluation of the policy implementation got high priority.
Japan’s total expenditure on R&D (FY2002) was 16 675 billion yen, reaching
3.35% of GDP. About 70% was spent by industries, 20% by universities, and 10%
by public institutions. 13.5% of total R&D expenditure was spent within the ICT
area. Council for Science and Technology Policy lead by the Prime Minister
launched the second-Term Science and Technology Basic Plan (2001-2005), which
placed special priority on four fields: Life Sciences, Information and Telecommunications, Environmental Sciences, and Nanotechnology and Materials. As the result of the plan and the e-Japan Strategy, Japanese ministries launched many R&D
programs and projects ranging from semiconductors and displays to grid computing, photonic networks, Intelligent Transport System and Ubiquitous Network.
Japanese ICT industry structure is unique. Japan can produce a whole range of devices and components, from LSI and printed circuit boards, to finished products,
such as PCs, mobile phones, telephone switches, and super computers. Ten largescale electronics manufacturers have played important role for the development of
the ICT market in Japan. The market which was worth 116 trillion yen in 2002.
In this report we present different technologies which are predicted to influence the
ICT development in Japan in the coming years. The technologies include:
•
Hardware and Terminals
•
System Software and Computing
•
Networks
•
Usage, content, applications and services
•
Business models
• Security issues
The report suggests some future studies and areas which should be of interest to
VINNOVA. The issues include:
•
Ubiquitous network/computing and human interface
•
Connected Home
•
Test beds and market of ultra-high speed networks and mobile networks
•
Robotics
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1
Introduction to Japan
1.1
Geography
Japan is an island nation lying off the east coast of Asia. It has the general shape of
a crescent and extends 3,000 km from tip to tip. The country is made up of four
main islands (Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu and Hokkaido), which together with a
little fewer than 7,000 smaller islands are collectively referred to as the Japanese
Archipelago. The northern region featuring a sub arctic zone climate, the middle a
temperate zone climate and the southern regions a subtropical zone climate. The
islands of Japan are bounded by the Pacific Ocean on the east and the Japan Sea on
the west.
Japan’s land area is 378,000 km2, of which about the three quarters is mountainous.
The main island has many mountains which are more than 3,000 meters high. As it
is situated along the circum-Pacific volcanic belt, Japan has several volcanic regions from the far north to the far south. Japan has almost 1/10 of the world's approximately 840 active volcanoes, even though it has only about l/400 of the
world's land area. Though volcanoes can cause great harm through large eruptions,
they also contribute an incalculable tourist resource [NIPPON 2002, JA 2004].
1.2
Economy
The Japanese economy is the second largest market economy in the world. In 2003
it recorded a gross domestic product (GDP) of 501,498.8 billion yen (nominal),
which is 0.8% increase from the previous year. Japan’s GDP per capita in 2003
was 3,929,000 yen (US$ 34,863) (1000 yen is about 70 Skr).
The Japanese economy has gone through a number of stages since the end of the
WWII. First, a recovery period during which Japan built its economy back up to
the prewar level. Next, a high growth period which was driven by the heavy
chemical industry, then after the two oil crises, a stable growth period driven by
technology intensive industries. And in the 1990s, a prolonged recession triggered
by the expansion and contraction of an economic bubble in the latter half of the
1980s. The unemployment rate, which has remained below 2% until the mid-1970s
began to creep up and the average unemployment rate in 2003 was 5.3%.
It is considered that the evidence of prolonged economic demise lies in Japan's 50year-old postwar economic system as well as in an increasing inability to respond
flexibly to internal and external changes. Upon coming into power in April 2001,
the Koizumi Cabinet has implemented policies covering regulatory reform, public
company privatization (e.g. postal service privatization) and administrative reform.
Economic revitalization is being promoted with policies to improve efficiency in
areas such as labor allocation, fund allocation and research and development. Major changes are also taking place in the corporate world as companies strive to increase competitiveness by moving away from traditional employment practices
such as lifetime employment and seniority-based wages [NIPPON 2004, JA 2004,
CabOffice a].
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1.3
Trade
The current account surplus grew to a record-high 15.7853 trillion yen, an 11.6%
increase over the previous year. Top export item is automobile, while top import
item being crude oil as they had been the year earlier. This was the second consecutive year of growth in the surplus, with a main factor being an increase in exports to China and Asia. Additionally, there was a capital account surplus for the
first time in the 34 years since 1969, with a figure recorded of 8.1320 trillion yen.
This turnaround is the result of a rapid increase in investment in Japanese stocks,
based on high expectations for the recovery of the Japanese economy. The trade
balance also expanded for the second consecutive year. Although oil prices soared
because of the war in Iraq and imports were at all-time high, exports to Asia, centering on mobile phone terminals and semi-conductors, also surged [Ministry FA].
1.4
Society
Japan’s total population stood at 127,619,000 in March 2004. Of them, approximately 19 % was 65 old or older, and by 2050 this figure is projected to be 35.7%.
At the same time, the number of children that women have in their life (fertility
rate) has been ever dropping and reached the level of 1.32 in 2002. This results in
that the number of people aged 65 years old or older exceeds the number of people
aged 14 years old or younger. The challenge that Japanese society faces is that the
society is ageing more rapidly than any other industrial country has ever experienced.
There is growing concern over the consequences that the aging society will have
for the economy. To minimize the effects of the contraction of the working population, it will be necessary both to increase labor productivity and to promote the
employment of women and people over 65. In addition, fundamental reforms will
be necessary in pension and other social welfare systems in order to avoid large
inequalities between generations with respect to the burdens born and benefits received [CabOffice b].
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2
Introduction to ICT
From the end of the 20th century to the beginning of the 21st century, we have seen
a lot of digital technologies emerge, or, in other words, we have seen a general shift
from analogue to digital technology. Since Japan is one of the leading technology
developers in the world (many new technologies have been commercialized here),
this applies in a very high extent to Japanese homes. This can be illustrated by PC
vs. TV set, Mini Disk vs. Cassette tape, MP3 player vs. vinyl LP, digital camera vs.
traditional chemical film camera, DVD player vs. VTR, and Internet vs. traditional
sources of information like radio, TV and newspapers. This conversion to better
and newer technology is a never stopping process.
Currently there is an ongoing battle over a new DVD standard capable of recording/playing high-definition broadcasts which is expected to become the leading
storage/reproduction medium for visual images over the next 20 years. One of the
competing groups consists of Toshiba Corp. and NEC Corp. while the other group
consists of 13 Japanese, U.S., European and South Korean firms, including Sony
Corp. and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. The Toshiba-NEC group is pushing
for a standard called HD DVD, while the other group pushes for a standard known
as the Blue-ray Disk. The two standards are not compatible and cannot be integrated. HD DVD is a standard that tries to utilize conventional DVD characteristics
with much better quality, whether the Blue-ray Disk aims to create a new recording
medium [NIKKEI a].
Another issue is the rapid development of the telecommunication technology. At
the end of 2003, household penetration rate for mobile phones was 93.9 percent, of
which 56.5 % were Internet compatible. The number of mobile phone subscribers
exceeded the number of fixed phone subscribers. The household penetration rate
for PC was 78.2 %, facsimile: 53.9 %, car navigation systems: 30.6 % [JTH 2004].
2.1
Current Status of Networks
Broadband digital networks are expanding rapidly in Japan (Japanese Ministry of
Internal Affairs and Communications uses "Broadband" for the access means of
DSL, cable TV, FTTH, and radio access; the actual speed can be said over 1.0
Mbps). The number of broadband subscribers approached 15 million at the end of
2003 fiscal year (Figure 2-1). Note the almost 50% increase in broadband subscribers from 2002 to 2003 (Figure 2-2). Japan has the third largest number of broadband subscribers in the world. Per capita, Japan is the ninth in the world (Figure 22, Figure 2-3) [MIC 2004], similar to Sweden.
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Figure 2-1. Number of Broadband Subscribers.
Note: DSL stands for Digital Subscriber Line, FTTH – FiberToTheHome.
Source: Information and Communications in Japan, White Paper 2004, MIC.
Figure 2-2. Internet Connection Methods for Home PCs.
Source: Information and Communications in Japan, White Paper 2004, MIC.
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Figure 2-3. International Comparison of Total Broadband Subscribers and Subscribers per
100 inhabitants (2002).
Source: Information and Communications in Japan, White Paper 2004, MIC.
Japan’s broadband services are the world’s least expensive and highest speed. A
comparison of costs per 100 kbps is shown in Figure 2-4 [MIC 2004].
Figure 2-4. International Comparison of Broadband Fees (cost per 100 kbps; July 2003).
Figures for Sweden are about the same as for United States.
Source: Information and Communications in Japan, White Paper 2004, MIC.
The number of third-generation mobile phone subscribers has grown rapidly to
16.69 million (of total 80 million of all mobile phone subscribers) in less than two
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and a half years (since the start of services in October 2001) (Figure 2-5). The
number of mobile phones with digital camera subscribers is 47.86 million, exceeding 60% of all mobile phones.
Japan leads the world in mobile Internet access. Japan’s mobile Internet compatibility rate (89.5%) is the highest in the world (Figure 2-6). The mobile Internet
compatibility rate is the percentage of mobile phone subscribers that include mobile phone Internet access [MIC 2004].
Figure 2-5. Number of 3G Mobile Phone Subscribers.
Source: Information and Communications in Japan, White Paper 2004, MIC.
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Figure 2-6. Penetration Rates of Mobile Internet in Major Countries and Territories (mobile
Internet subscribers of all mobile phone subscribers) (Sept. 2003). Figures for Sweden are
about the same as for Finland.
Source: Information and Communications in Japan, White Paper 2004, MIC.
As the consequence of the general development of broadband access technologies
the number of IP telephones and Wireless Hot Spots are steadily increasing. IP telephony has been introduced by 7.3% of households and 11.1% of businesses and
the number of hot spots has more than tripled in just one year (Figure 2-7) [MIC
2004].
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Figure 2-7. Change in number of Hot Spots (end of fiscal 2003).
Source: Information and Communications in Japan, White Paper 2004, MIC.
2.2
Japan as an International Competitive Power
Japan has a rather good world market share of home appliances and audio-visual
equipment, although is not superior when it comes to PC and related equipment,
nor mobile telephone terminals. For example, in 2002 the world market share of
Liquid Crystal display TVs was 76.8 percent, Plasma display TV: 72.0%, Digital
still picture camera: 65.5%, Plain paper copier: 74.4%, and Car navigation system:
64.7%. On the other hand, market share of Note PC were 26.5 percent, Desktop
PC: 4.6%, DVD-ROM drive for PC: 49.5%, and CDMA mobile phone terminals
27.8%, other types of mobile phone terminals except CDMA: 21.2% [JH 2004,
JTH 2004].
In the near future, digital home (and car) appliances will be equipped with advanced network functions, which will enable them to exchange data and information. This vision is often called Ubiquitous Networks, where everything communicates with everything. Since Japan has the world’s leading networked environment
(see Chapter 2-1) the Japanese manufacturers have a unique advantage to develop,
design, and test such new products directly in Japan. Therefore, both the government and related industries expect that emerging technologies, products and services for the ubiquitous network society would drive Japanese economic growth,
and increase their international competitive power.
A survey dealing with ICT technological edges among United States, Europe, Japan, and other Asian countries shows that [WP 2004, JH 2004] Japan is a leader
technology developer of displays, mobile terminals, digital home appliances, sensors, and radio frequency identifications. At the same time Japan is lagging in technologies for middleware such as security and authentication, and contents/application development such as contents description language. On the other
hand technologies for networks, such as Optical network and mobile network, are
almost equivalent between Japan and United States.
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Another related issue is that Japan (as shown in Fig. 2-8) is facing a growing industrial threat from neighboring Asian countries like China, Taiwan and South Korea
[NIKKEI b]. Those countries, historically well known for much lower production
costs, have recently become advanced also when it comes to new technology development.
Figure 2-8. Global shares of major digital products between different companies (August
2004).
Note: Companies without specified countries are based in Japan.
2.3
Chapter Summary
Japan is the world leader when it comes to broadband digital networks access
(DSL, cable Internet, wireless access, and FTTH) at home thanks to the dissemination of ADSL (nearly half of the Internet connection from home uses ADSL). Japan has the third largest number of broadband subscribers, and the lowest broadband fee (0.09 dollars per 100 kbps). For wireless networks, Japan is leading in the
mobile Internet penetration (89.5 % of mobile phone users could access the Internet
from their mobile phone), and 3G penetration (17 million of total 80 million of all
mobile phone subscribers).
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3
Politics
3.1
National policy
The IT Strategic Headquarters for the Promotion of an Advanced Information and
Telecommunications Network Society was established in January 2001, in order to
promote measures for making Japan an advanced ICT society. The body is comprised of all the cabinet ministers as well as eight non-government experts such as
Nobuyuki Idei, chairman of Sony Corp, and Dr. Jun Murai, Professor of Keio University, and is lead by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi [SHH].
3.1.1 e-Japan Strategy
In order to make Japan “the world's most advanced IT nation by 2005”, the IT Strategic HQ launched the e-Japan Strategy in January 2001, which focused on the
development of infrastructure necessary for broadband and other advanced telecommunications services [e-Japan a].
Five Priority Policy Areas were decided:
•
Development of the World’s Most Advanced Information and Communication Network, aiming at the construction of ultra-high speed backbone network for all people to have constant access to the Internet at extremely low
price, and also to promote the shift to the Internet with protocol IPv6.
•
Advancement of Human Resource Development, and the Promotion of Education and Learning, aiming to improve information literacy by making
Internet access available at schools, and to foster IT instructors, technical
experts, researchers, and digital content creators.
•
Promotion of e-commerce by deregulation and legislation for the new rules
concerning electronic contracts and for the protection of consumers.
•
Promotion of the Digitization of the Administration and the Utilization of
Information and Communications Technologies in Public Areas, aiming to
realize e-government.
•
Ensuring of the Security and Reliability on Advanced Information and
Communication Network, by promoting the protection of personal information, carrying out R&D on cryptography, and establishing emergency control system in organizations (this fifth priority policy area was added in eJapan Priority Policy Program in March 2001).
Based on the e-Japan Strategy, two Priority Policy Programs were formulated to
implement the above goals, and as a consequence a number of measures were carried out by ministries and agencies. With support from the government, the Japanese industry made efforts towards constructing an environment enabling “highspeed Internet used by 30 million households and ultra-high-speed Internet used by
10 million households”. The ambition has already been realized in a sense that the
above access capability is already in place (but the actual number of subscribers is
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much lower, see Figure 2-1). The construction of systemic infrastructure related to
e-commerce and e-government has also made progress.
Some achievements towards “Development of the World’s Most Advanced Information and Communication Network” are already mentioned in the Introduction to
ICT chapter. The following figures are just some examples of the development in
the policy areas [SHH, MIC 2004].
Figure 3-1. Advancement of Human Resource Development, and the Promotion of Education and Learning.
Classrooms connected to the Internet in public schools
160 000
35%
140 000
Number
120 000
Achievement (%)
29,2%
25%
21,1%
100 000
30%
134 738
20%
80 000
60 000
15%
89 945
8,3%
10%
40 000
20 000
5%
36 834
0
0%
Mar. 2001
Mar. 2002
Mar. 2003
Source : IT Strategic Headquarters
Figure 3-2. Promotion of e-commerce. Scale of Business to Consumer Electronic Commerce Market.
Source: Information and Communications in Japan, White Paper 2004, MIC.
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Figure 3-3. Promotion of e-commerce. Scale of Business to Business Electronic Commerce Market.
Source: Information and Communications in Japan, White Paper 2004, MIC.
Figure 3-4. Promotion of the Digitization of the Administration and the Utilization of Information and Communications Technologies in Public Areas
On-line electronic application, notification and other procedures
14 000
100%
96,1%
12 000
10 000
Number
90%
80%
Achievement (%)
13 317
70%
60%
8 000
50%
44,5%
6 000
4 000
40%
30%
6 047
2 000
124 0,9%
133 1,0%
20%
612 4,5%
10%
0%
0
Mar. 2001
Oct. 2001
Sept. 2002
Jun. 2003
Mar. 2004
Source : IT Strategic Headquarters
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Figure 3-5. Ensuring of the Security and Reliability of Advanced Information and Communication Network.
Formulation of security policy at local authorities
1 200
90,0%
Number
Achievement (Prefecture) (%)
Achievement (City) (%)
1 000
800
80,9%
80,0%
985
60,0%
703
50,0%
46,8%
600
70,0%
40,0%
400
270
200
29,2%
21,0%
30,0%
20,0%
12,8%
8,1%
10,0%
0,0%
0
Apr. 2001
Apr. 2002
Apr. 2003
Source : IT Strategic Headquarters
3.1.2 e-Japan Strategy II
After the first phase of the IT strategy had been achieved at the beginning of 2003,
the IT Strategic HQ evolved the strategy into the second phase of the expansion of
ICT use and in July 2003 formulated the e-Japan Strategy II. The new strategy
takes up seven areas for leading efforts [e-Japan b] to realize an “energetic, worryfree, exciting and more convenient” society:
•
Medical Services
•
Food
•
Lifestyle
•
Small and Medium Enterprises Financing
•
Knowledge
•
Employment and Labor
•
Public Service
Progress in those seven areas should be done by effective utilization of IT. The
process to be driven by private sector supported by the government. Each area got a
detailed implementation plan: objectives, policies, possible problems/solutions, and
key evaluation points. Based on the new strategy, a new priority program was decided, and a number of measures were carried out (see Table 3-1).
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e-Japan Strategy II acceleration Package
As the next step, in February 2004, the e-Japan Strategy II acceleration Package
was adopted in order to accelerate implementation of the e-Japan Strategy II, and
to achieve the goal of turning Japan into the most advanced IT nation in the world
by 2005.
The e-Japan Strategy II acceleration Package included the following blocks of
issues [e-Japan c]:
A. (Asia - International IT Strategies in Asia)
Form the common IT base in Asia, such as an e-Passport scheme, and construct secure and low-cost network infrastructure.
B. (Block and Back-up - Security: Reinforcement of Security Measures)
An IT Security Expert Meeting was set up, and a private-sector expert was
appointed as IT Security Advisor. Other IT security measures for the central
government, local government and also private sector are to be taken.
In order to ensure public safety and security, new schemes such as ePassport or ID card will be considered.
C. (Content - Promotion of Content Measures)
Promote reuse of existing contents assets as part of broadband services. Investigate the status of the Internet as a means of content distribution. Reinforce the content production foundations. Expand the Japanese version of
the Bayh-Dole system (a system that allows ownership of intellectual property rights that are the result of research and development conducted under
commission from the national or other government to be assigned to the
party concerning the research). Establish digital archives of government
contents, and expand its general use.
D. (Deregulation - Promotion of IT Regulatory Reforms)
e-Document Initiative: a uniform law (e-Document law) is to be adopted in
order for the public to be able to store documents and records as they are
required to retain by law in electronic format. Promote the use of IT in
medical fields including electronic storage of medical information. Push for
regulatory reforms necessary to coordinate real-world systems with cyberspace systems.
E. (Evaluation)
Reflect on the evaluation results by the Expert Committee on IT Strategy
Evaluation to the e-Japan Priority Policy Program-2004. The committee
evaluated the status of measures taken by the government under the e-Japan
Strategy and e-Japan Strategy II.
The committee will establish the cycle of “Plan-Do-Check-Action” within
the e-Japan Strategy.
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The committee will continue evaluation of the status of implementation of
the e-Japan Strategy and e-Japan Strategy II, and will take necessary measures based on the evaluation results.
F. (Friendly e-Government and e-Local Government - Promotion of eGovernment and e-Local Government)
Promote telecommuting (teleworking) by national government employees.
Realize one-stop service for import/export and harbor procedures. Expand
government procurement to include more startup companies with advanced
skills in the IT field, in order to nurture such companies. Promote measures
for creating e-local government.
3.1.3 e-Japan Priority Policy Program - 2004
Based on the policy strategies the e-Japan Priority Policy Program - 2004 was
formulated in June 2004 to incorporate priority policies and structural development
to achieve its objectives for 2005 [e-Japan d]. The program covers also the direction to be taken for 2006 and thereafter. The program contains the following two
Priority Policy Programs:
•
Last Program - the name Last is used to indicate that this is the last priority
policy program to ensure the achievement of the 2005 goals.
•
Pre-program – a priority policy program to serve as initial step towards future goals in 2006 and beyond.
In more details:
•
Last Program
Promote the further acceleration of e-Japan Strategy II through the development and materialization of policies contained in the e-Japan
Strategy II Acceleration Package.
Further Promote effective IT utilization by focusing on the expansion of
the Seven Leading Area policies contained in the e-Japan Strategy II.
•
Pre-program
Sow seeds of Japan’s future IT society by introducing policies that will
help pave the way for Japan to continuing on its path as a highly technologically advanced IT nation from 2006 and onward. Middle and long
term policies, which would serve as the seeds to sow future development and growth, are to be given priority.
The following Five Priority Policy Areas are designated to be given priority as
base for future measures (see Table 3-1 and Table 3-2):
•
Development of the world’s most advanced information and communication network
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•
Advancement of human resource development, and the promotion of education and learning
•
Promotion of e-commerce
•
Promotion of the digitalization of the administration and the utilization of
information and communications technologies in public areas
•
Ensuring of the security and reliability of advanced information and communication networks
By allocating resources into policies within the above five areas, the Japanese government aims to promote new values and industrial creativity suitable for the 21st
century. At the same time, the government aims to develop an environment where
more people are connected (utilizing a whole range of devices) to worry-free and
user-friendly high-speed networks, in order to use new services and access various
types of content.
In addition to the above mentioned five priority policy areas, some more general
cross-cutting issues were defined:
•
promotion of R&D (Table 3-3)
•
development of new IT-centered international relationships
•
bridging of the digital divide
•
addressing issues caused by changes in the socioeconomic system
A common ground for all the measures is the notion that the “the private sector has
a leading role to play with government support”. This requires reviewing of governmental regulations to promote free and fair competition. While maintaining
safety and reliability, the government must ceaselessly re-examine future competition policies to create an appropriate market environment. In addition, it must be
assured that the private sector can benefit from the future economic gains.
The government needs to actively implement actions concerning the objectives
which would not be necessarily realized by private sector-initiatives alone [eJapan
d]:
•
the realization of e-government
•
the improvement of a safe and secure IT utilization environment (assuring
information security)
•
the bridging of the digital divide
•
the promotion of R&D for basic technologies
•
the promotion of international cooperation
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ICT IN JAPAN
Table 3-1. Number of measures in different priority areas.
Source: e-Japan Priority Policy Program – 2004 by IT Strategic Headquarters.
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Table 3-2. Budget for forming an advanced information and telecommunications network
society (in million yen).
FY 2002
228 932
FY 2003
221 966
96 462
112 514
Promotion of e-Commerce
Promotion of e-Government
8 699
953 978
6 704
575 571
Promotion of the digitalization of the Administration and the
Utilization of Information and Communications Technologies
in Public Areas
Reinforcement of Security Measures
International Cooperation and Contribution
Promotion of R&D
Others
Total
424 995
328 615
22 275
2 981
123 552
92 576
1 954 448
26 389
2 927
198 991
61 774
1 535 452
Development of the World's Most Advanced Information and
Communication Network
Advancement of Human Resource Development, and the
Promotion of Education and Learning
Source: IT Strategic Headquarters
Table 3-3 Measures listed under promotion of R&D in the Priority Policy Program 2004.
1. Strengthen Japan's world leading technology fields and advanced basic technologies
Ministry
Target
1) 4G: R&D for realizing fourth generation mobile communication system
MIC
by 2010
2) R&D for ultra-high speed wireless LAN
MIC
in 2010
3) Development of technologies to enable the effective
utilization of frequencies in terms of time and space
MIC
in 2011
4-1) Development of optic recording technology with 1
Tbit/square inch-level high density
METI
in FY 2006
4-2) R&D on the technology for photonic networks
MIC
in 2010
5-1) Development concerning device technology for
wireless appliances
MEXT/METI
in FY 2006
5-2) R&D on the key device technology for photonic
networks
MEXT/METI
in FY 2006
5-3) Development of device technology utilizing new
principals and new technologies
MEXT/METI
in FY 2006
5-4) Development of next generation semiconductor
device technology
METI/MEXT
in 2007
6-1) Integrated R&D concerning the usage of IPv6 into
information appliances
MIC
by FY 2005
6-2) Implementation of demonstration experiments for
the dissemination of information appliances
METI
by 2005
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ICT IN JAPAN
7) R&D for IT technologies to realize network robots
MIC
in 2008
8-1) R&D for IT technologies to realize network robots
MIC
in 2008
8-2) R&D for technologies which accelerate transmission speeds and provide more functions for largescaled networks
MIC
in 2008
2. Technologies that would be more important, in order to realize “an energetic,
worry free, exciting and more convenient society
Ministry
Target
1-1) Development of grid middleware for the provision
of higher reliability and quality
METI
in FY 2005
1-2) Development of the basic software which will contribute to the formation of an ultra-high speed computer
network (Grid computer)
MEXT
in 2007
1-3) Development of embedded software developing
methods which will be necessary for next generation
information appliances
METI
in 2005
1-4) Drastic strengthening of software development
capabilities in cooperation with industry and academia
METI
in 2006
1-5) Enhancing next generation software development
capabilities
METI
in FY 2006
1-6) Development of open source software
METI
in FY 2006
1-7) Development of basic software to create highly
reliable software
MEXT
in FY 2007
1-8) R&D on the software technology utilized for higher
solution 3D images
MEXT
in FY 2008
3-1) R&D on human interface technologies
MIC
in FY 2005
3-2) Development of next generation displays (largesize flat panel displays, such as, LCD, Plasma display,
foldable organic electroluminescence display)
METI
in FY 2006
2) R&D on Information security
3. Application technologies that provide environment to enjoy new services and
values at anytime
Ministry
Target
1) R&D on electronic tags (RF-ID)
MIC/METI
in FY 2007
2) Formulation of guidelines for the safe utilization of
electronic tags
MIC/METI
in FY 2004
3) Promotion of R&D concerning the digitalization of
broadcasting
MIC
by FY 2005
4) R&D to realize the practical utilization of the ubiquitous network
MIC
in 2007
Source: Priority Policy Program 2004
Note: MIC - Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications; METI - Ministry of Economy, Trade and
Industry; MEXT - Ministry of Education, Sports, Culture, Science and Technology
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ICT IN JAPAN
3.2
Chapter Summary
e-Japan strategy was defined in 2001, aiming to make Japan the world’s most advanced IT nation by 2005. Goals considering information and communication infrastructure have been achieved resulting in steady growth of number of broadband
subscribers, number of Internet connected classrooms, growth of e-commerce market, and e-government readiness. However, the actual ICT usage was still low.
Therefore, the government launched consecutive strategy and Priority Policy Programs to enhance the actual use of the existing infrastructure. Some key issues
were development of application areas like medical services and food along with a
general promotion of R&D. The ambition was to develop the world’s most advanced information and communication network. At the same time evaluation of
the policy implementation got high priority.
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32
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4
Research and Development
Japan’s total expenditure on Research and Development (R&D) during fiscal year
(FY) 2002 was 16 675 billion yen, an increase of 0.9 percent from the previous
year and has been increasing for three consecutive years.
The ratio of R&D spending to GDP was 3.35%, an increase of 0.05 point over the
previous year, and its rate is the higher than the past years.
The breakdown by institutions shows that industries spent most in Japan (69.4% in
FY2002), universities in the second place (19.7%), and then NPO/public institutions (10.9%) [MIC 2003].
Figure 4-1. R&D expenditure by institutions (in billion yen).
R&D expenditure by Institutions (unit: billion yen)
11 577
FY2002
FY2001
3 282
69,4%
19,7%
10,9%
11 451
3 233
1 843
69,3%
19,6%
11,2%
10 862
FY2000
3 028
66,7%
0%
1 816
20%
19,7%
40%
60%
80%
2 220
13,6%
100%
Industries
Universities
NPO/Public institutions
Source : Report on the Survey of Research and Development 2003, MIC
The breakdown by research areas (Figure 4-2) shows that the R&D expenditure
(total for industries, universities, and public institutions) was spent mostly in the
ICT area in FY2002 (13,5%) with life sciences as a close second area (12,4%)
[MIC 2003]. Note also the rising expenditure in material/nanotechnology starting
from almost nothing in 2000 to 2,4% in 2002. During this time the expenditure on
energy R&D has decreased by 1,3%.
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ICT IN JAPAN
Figure 4-2. R&D expenditure by areas (in billion SEK).
R&D expenditure by areas (unit: billion SEK)
Material 23(1.9%)
FY2002
Life science 148 (12.4%)
ICT 161 (13.5%)
Ocean development 7(0.6%)
Energy 57
(4.8%)
Environment,
49(4.1%)
Other (60.6%)
Nanotechnology 6 (0.5%) Space development 19
(1.6%)
Material 20(1.7%) Ocean development 7(0.6%)
Life science 141(11.9%)
FY2001
ICT 161(13.6%)
Environment 49
(4.1%)
Energy 55
(4.6%)
Other (61.5%)
Nanotechnology 5( 0.5%) Space development 18(1.5%)
Ocean development 9(0.7%)
FY2000
Life science 127(10.9%)
ICT 125(10.8%)
Environment
Energy 70 (6.1%)
38(3.3%)
Other (66.4%)
Space development 21(1.8%)
0%
10%
20%
30%
100%
Source : Report on the Survey of Research and Development 2003, MIC
In Japan there are many public and private bodies supporting Research and Development within the ICT area. The following subchapters are going to summarize the
most important actors.
4.1
The Council for Science and Technology Policy and the Science and Technology Basic Plan (2001-2005)
The Council for Science and Technology Policy (CSTP) was established as part of
the government administrative reform in January 2001, to support the prime minister and the cabinet with the S&T expertise. It aims to plan basic and comprehensive
science and technology policies, and to carry out comprehensive coordination
among ministries and agencies, assuming a more general, global Japanese perspective. The council is lead by the prime minister, and its members are scientists, industry leaders and ministers of related ministries. The council has a secretariat consisting of about 100 people from the government, industry and academia.
The mission of the council has been described in the third chapter of the SecondTerm Science and Technology Basic Plan (2001-2005) (approved by the cabinet in
March 2001) [ST 2005]. It aims at eliminating the administrative sectionalism to
implement policies described in the basic plan. The council is to cooperate with the
Council on Economy and Fiscal Policy and the Strategic Headquarters for the
Promotion of an Advanced Information and Telecommunications Network Society
(IT Strategic Headquarters). Also, the council is to formulate promotion strategies
for prioritized areas, principles for resource allocation and guidelines for project
evaluation. At the same time the council should promote high quality science and
technology activities to contribute to the development of the world as a whole.
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ICT IN JAPAN
The Second-Term Science and Technology Basic Plan (2001-2005) placed special
priority on the following four fields of science and technology [ST 2005]:
•
Life Sciences
•
Information and Telecommunications
•
Environmental Sciences
•
Nanotechnology and Materials
The goal is to achieve sustainable economic development in Japan and to guarantee
safe and peaceful life for the Japanese people. To achieve this it is necessary to
make active and strategic investments in selective areas of science and technology
and to maintain and develop competitiveness of the Japanese industry.
When it comes to the ICT area, the Science and Technology Basic Plan (20012005) claimed that R&D was important for formation and expansion of knowledgebased industries like ICT and high-tech industries, as well as for enhancing innovations in existing industries such as improvement of manufacturing technologies.
While pushing for electronic commerce, electronic governance, home affairs, remote medical treatments, and distance-education/learning programs, such development also has a great impact on socio-economic activities in Japan at all levels,
from everyday life to industrial production. Advances in the ICT area have become
an important factor to promote safe and comfortable life of the Japanese people.
It is important to promote R&D which introduces technologies necessary to realize
an advanced ICT network society: a society, where people can use their capabilities
to the maximum in a creative way through freely sending, receiving, and sharing
information. The focus will be especially put on the following:
•
advanced network technology that enables all network activities to be performed safely, at any time, at any place, and without stress
•
high performance computing technology that enables rapid analysis, process, storage, and search of a tremendous amounts of distributed information
•
human interface technology that allows everyone to enjoy the benefits of an
ICT society, not only individuals mastering complicated technical equipment
•
device technology and software technology to support the foregoing topics
In order to promote the ICT related R&D, Japan will put emphasis on fundamental
and leading R&D fields that are strategically important and market related, and will
promote variety of those fields to speed the process of technological innovation. To
achieve this, the emphasis will be put on innovative individual researchers trained
by experts from private sector.
35
ICT IN JAPAN
Other means are:
•
to promote institutional improvements
•
to ensure privacy and security of network activities
•
to provide test beds for developing technology
•
to work for international standardization
•
to foster education/learning for ICT literacy
•
to have readiness for handling disasters related to computer errors/service
interruptions and social worries caused by illegal use of network
•
to bridge the digital divide
Due to some market-related and policy reasons, through the recent years different
S&T areas got different priorities. To glimpse at the transition of the S&T-related
expenditure over time see Figure 4-3 [CSTP 2003]. Note the difference between
Figure 4-3 and Figure 4-2 indicating different R&D priorities done by industry
compared to universities.
Figure 4-3. Transition of the S&T-Related Expenditure of 8 Areas (the government R&D
budget excluding universities). The horizontal scale is in billion yen.
Nanotechnology
2003
2002
Life science
IT 175.3
406.8 (20.1%)
(8.7%)
M anufacturing technology
and materials
Environm ent
108.8 90.4 Energy 666.3
(5.4%) (4.5%)
(33.0%)
Energy 705.0
Life science
IT175.8
100.6 85.6
393.4 (19.4%)
(8.7%)
(5.0%)(4.2%)
(34.8%)
Social
328.1 (16.2%)
Frontier
infrastructure
Atomic-energy
301.9 (14.9%)
250.3 (12.4%)
20.0(1.0%)
Social
Atomic-energy
infrastructure
255.4 (12.6%)
338.3(16.7%)
Frontier
295.3 (14.6%)
16.4(0.8%)
Life science
2001
390.7 (19.5%)
IT166.3 84.7
80.4
(8.3%) (4.2%)(4.0%)
Energy 685.6
(34.2%)
Social
Atomic-energy
370.9(18.5%)
infrastructure
266.0 (13.3%)
Frontier
306.2 (15.3%)
23.2(1.2%)
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
2000
(billion yen)
Source: CSTP “State of S&T policies based on the 2nd S&T Basic Plan in FY2002”, May 27, 2003.
4.2
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) has been conducting R&D
programs in cooperation with the New Energy and Industrial Technology Devel-
36
2200
ICT IN JAPAN
opment Organization (NEDO) and Information-technology Promotion Agency
(IPA), in fields where private companies cannot develop the required technology
due to the following reasons:
•
the technology is so premature that no one yet can recognize how to turn it
into business
•
a new system is needed to enable researchers to cooperate beyond existing
organizations as the technology is interdisciplinary, taking account of technological potentiality in Japan like mobile, optical communication and device technologies
As mentioned, METI enforces its ICT R&D budget both directly and through semigovernmental organizations, such as NEDO and IPA. ICT R&D projects especially
for social infrastructure, such as new router development, information security and
authentication technologies are carried out directly by METI officials (from planning a project, through public offering for the project implementation to postproject evaluation). There are some exceptions: hardware R&D is carried out
through NEDO while Software R&D through IPA.
Table 4-1 shows that METI’s budget spent on software technology increased more
than 100% from 2002 to 2003/4. Notice as well large increase in hardware related
R&D.
Table 4-1. METI ICT R&D budget (in billion yen).
FY2002
FY2003
FY2004
Hardware
16.31
21.13
21.01
Software
2.30
5.70
5.06
Source: Information Policy Division of METI.
4.2.1 R&D Programs
The following R&D programs are currently financed by METI:
Program for Development of Information and Communications Fundamental
Technologies
•
Development of high-speed, high-function and high-reliability broadband
network systems
Develop fundamental technologies which would be necessary for next generation broadband networks that realize a high level of speed, functionality
and reliability.
•
Development of high-speed and high-function wireless network systems
Develop fundamental technologies which would be necessary for using new
frequency bands for telecommunication equipment. Improve the processing
speed of portable information appliances in order to cope with the expected
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ICT IN JAPAN
considerable increase in data being exchanged on wireless networks in the
future.
•
Development of information and communication technologies using new
technologies
Develop information and communication technologies using new principles
and technologies as an advance investment in novel technologies that can
bring about next-generation breakthroughs.
Program for Next-generation Semiconductor Fundamental Technology Development
Develop fundamental process technologies for advanced semiconductor devices
to realize next-generation large-scale integrated circuits (LSIs) that satisfy the
requirements for more functions and lower power consumption in information
and communication devices.
Program for Development of Software Platforms
•
Developing software with a high level of reliability and safety, and software
that can easily connect various digital home appliances to enable various
services and functions.
•
Building infrastructure for the creation of information systems with open
software with a high level of reliability and safety.
•
Developing revolutionary new software solutions, along with necessary
human resource development.
Program for Development of Next-generation Display Technology
Along with the proliferation of broadband networks where images and video
can be easily exchanged, the demand for next-generation display devices for
home use is expected to grow rapidly. In order to allow more people to enjoy
the benefits of broadband connections, fundamental technologies for highperformance flat-panel and high-resolution display devices are to be developed
under this program.
4.2.2 New Industry Creation Strategy
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry announced its new industry creation
strategy in May 2004. The vision is that recovery of the Japanese economy and its
sustainable growth needs a dynamic reform of Japan’s industrial structure, by reviving its strong manufacturing base and developing service industries. The report
stresses importance of policies encouraging not only capital investment but also
investment in human resources and intellectual property. Part of the strategy is to
coordinate cutting-edge technologies, such as nanotechnology, ICT, and biotechnology, with traditional Japanese technologies, techniques, and craftsmanship.
38
ICT IN JAPAN
The strategy chose the following seven promising industry areas (the first four have
cutting-edge character; the other three are to meet expanding market needs):
•
Fuel Cells
o Expected large markets for use in automobiles and in homes
o Base for friendly environmental policy
o Challenges in durability and cost for commercialization
•
Digital Consumer Electronics
o Integration of industry where Japan is already one of the world’s
leaders
o Creation of advanced technologies and increase of market shares
o Challenges in vertical coordination, technical development, human
resources and intellectual property protection
•
Robots
o Application area is to assist or replace people working within nursing care, disaster relief, security and other operations with hard environmental conditions
o Japan is already one of the world’s leaders when it comes to robotics
o Challenges in market creation, technical development and regulations
•
Digital Content
o Expected significant growth based on rapid development of digital
consumer electronics
o Expansion of Japan’s contents industry has positive influence on the
future global culture
o Challenges in distribution, human resources and fund procurement
•
Health and Welfare Devices and Services
o Establishment of a healthy long-lived society
o Social participation of the elderly
o Welfare with minimal financial burden
o International expansion of health industry
o Challenges in regulatory reforms, ICT and bio-technology
•
Environment and Energy Devices and Services
o Recovery of clean water, air and soil
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ICT IN JAPAN
o Development of devices and services with advanced environmental
and energy technology
o Challenges in regulations, technical development and information
disclosure
•
Business Support Services
o Separation and outsourcing of non-core operations due to business
globalization
o Expansion of new services utilizing ICT
o Creation of new employment
o Challenges in human resource development, quality and productivity
To choose the above seven areas, the following criteria were used:
•
Have significant importance that supports the Japan’s economic growth in
the future
•
Have strong domestic need that will contribute to the demand-led growth of
the economy
•
Have a broad base, from law materials to final products, from medium-and
small-sized enterprises to large corporations, and from large urban cities to
regions
•
Areas where the market mechanism alone cannot endure the development, a
comprehensive policy package is necessary with joint efforts by public and
private sectors
Table 4-2 shows the estimated growth of the market size in each area according to
a survey by METI [Nakagawa 2004].
.
Table 4-2. Market size by METI’s estimation (in billion yen).
Current
2010
Fuel Cells
n/a
1
Digital Consumer Electronics
54
96
Robots
0.5
1.8
Contents
11
15
Health and Welfare
56
75
Environment and Energy
52
78
Business support
76
107
Source: METI.
40
ICT IN JAPAN
4.3
Information-technology Promotion Agency (IPA)
As mentioned in the previous chapter, IPA is financed by METI, and the objective
of IPA is to promote the development of information technology by:
•
supporting development and greater use of innovative software
•
ensuring IT security and reliability
•
assisting the business development of information service providers
•
developing IT skills and knowledge
•
conducting Information Technology Engineers Examination
IPA set down “Creativity”, “Competitiveness”, and “Security” as the three main
pillars of its Mid-Term Plan that is being implemented until March 2008. IPA will
assist the development of software which promotes the popular use of information
technology. IPA, as a full supporter of small-scale businesses (the foundation of
Japan’s industry), will encourage software development by small and medium
sized IT start-ups, and will extend financial, technical and managerial support for
IT investment in small-scale businesses.
The followings are some of the IPA software development activities:
Software development to promote the utilization of IT
The project is targeted at developing advanced software to promote the utilization of IT in the leading fields described in the e-Japan Strategy II, such as:
medical services, food, living amenity, financing of small and medium enterprises, knowledge, employment and labor, public service and e-commerce support/network security & reliability. This project aims at assisting marketoriented software development projects that are innovative and have high
value-added character. The scheme provides support for commercialization and
market development.
Infrastructure for Open-Source Software (OSS)
IPA is to build an infrastructure for the secure utilization of open-source software by helping upgrade the utilization and the development environments.
Open-source software is expected to be highly effective in improving the quality of technology, re-utilizing the results, and ensuring reliability and security
because the code is extensively checked by many highly skilled software experts. On the other hand, the infrastructure for using open-source software has
not been fully established. For example, open-source software has weaknesses
in support, development environment and user interfaces, and does not have
many corresponding applications or middleware products.
The establishment of the Japan OSS Promotion Forum was announced at the
Japan-China-Korea Open-Source Business Conference held on November 14,
2003. The forum is held regularly, once or twice a year. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry announced its support for usage of OSS by private
companies and other institutions. IPA will serve as the secretariat for the forum.
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ICT IN JAPAN
Next-generation software development
The project aims at developing innovative software intended for practical use
within three to five years. IPA will invite project proposals, within the priority
area guidelines, for next-generation software development which may be too
risky to be undertaken by private funds alone. IPA’s designated project manager (PM) will select outstanding proposals through a screening process and the
selected projects will be provided guidance, advice, project management and
funding. Upon delivery of the developed software, the PM will test and evaluate the software and if required, will provide advice to make it ready for practical use. In principle, the intellectual property rights to the developed software
will belong to the developers.
IT SME Venture Support Project
In the current severe economic environment many small and medium-sized IT
enterprises (SMEs), despite having excellent technologies, are having difficulty
commercializing them because of lack of funds and experience. The aim of this
project is to assist such SMEs in developing and commercializing software that
meets market trends and demands.
IPA will assign project managers (PMs) who will provide relevant SMEs with
advice, guidance and project management for processes ranging from development to commercialization. IPA will also provide part of the resources required
to develop and commercialize the software. Again, in principle, the intellectual
property rights to the functionally enhanced software products will belong to
the developers.
Matching Fund Type Software development and promotion
This project aims at vitalizing the Japanese economy by developing and marketing software that is beneficial to businesses and individuals. Within the
framework of the specific development areas set by IPA, the software will be
jointly developed and marketed by the developers and IPA.
For each project, IPA assigns a project manager with full expertise and experience in the related technology, marketing, and project management. Using the
matching fund method where development and promotion expenses are shared,
the developer and IPA share software development and marketing costs (on a
50-50 basis). Furthermore, revenues resulting from the developed software will
be distributed between the developer and IPA.
Business GRID Computing Development Project
Grid computing is a form of distributed computing that involves coordinating
and sharing computing, application, data, storage, or network resources across
dynamic and geographically dispersed organizations.
This is a project to be carried out jointly by IPA and METI. It aims at making
GRID computing a reality in business fields that require a high degree of secu-
42
ICT IN JAPAN
rity and reliability. The project goes on during a three-year period that began in
2003. IPA will make efforts to carry out research and development of the required software (including middleware) and to establish system development
interfaces as international standards.
4.4
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC)
The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) has recently changed
name from Ministry of Public Management, Home Affairs, Posts and Telecommunications (MPHPT).
The following are some of the MIC-supported R&D activities:
R&D on basic technologies for ubiquitous networks
Ubiquitous networks allow all users to access and exchange information of any
kind freely at any time, from anywhere, and from any appliance through the use
of broadband and mobile access as well as intelligent home appliances and
RFID tags that can access networks.
The ubiquitous network society is expected to be realized through the combination of Japan’s technologies related to optical communications, mobile and intelligent home appliances which are highly reputed around the world. In order
to realize this ubiquitous network society, MIC is promoting efforts towards the
construction of R&D networks that might be used as test beds. The following
R&D areas are prioritized:
•
Photonic network technology
•
Control and management technology
•
Ultra-high-function network technology utilizing nanotechnology
•
Quantum information and communications technology to realize cryptographic communications
•
Diverse network connection technology
•
Ultra-small chip networking technology
•
Ultra-high-speed certification technology
The R&D test-bed networks promote the upgrading of network technology and
the development and demonstration of new service applications. They will also
play an important role in realizing the practical shift to the Ubiquitous Network
society.
An example is the Japan Gigabit Network (JGN), which was operated from fiscal year 1999 to fiscal year 2003. It was used by a total of 650 organizations
and more than 2,000 researchers and provided tremendous results. The JGN II,
a new R&D test-bed network (20 Gbps max., the follow up to JGN) began operation in April 2004.
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Technology for the realization of a ubiquitous network society
RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tags have features that do not exist in
bar codes. For example, by using radio waves, it is possible to read information
contained in RFID tags from distant places and to read information from multiple RFID tags all at once. In addition, it is expected that RFID tags will become
a basic tool connecting people and goods with networks in the ubiquitous network society. The RFID tags, being light, small and cheap, are perfect to be
embedded in all kinds of physical objects. Since fiscal year 2004, MIC has been
supporting projects working on the technologies for exchanging the attributive
information in RFID tags between different platforms to link RFID tags with
networks and to control access rights to the RFID tag based information.
The vision is that by connecting ubiquitous networks with the personal robots
and industrial robots that are expected to be used in homes and offices in the
near future (network robots), some social problems related to aging and medical treatment and care can be solved. In a five-year plan starting from fiscal
year 2004, MIC has been supporting R&D on such issues as “people-friendly
communication technology” and “network robot linkage technology.”
In fiscal year 2003, MIC began supporting comprehensive R&D on networkhuman interfaces including issues as practical multilingual voice translation
systems for network-connected mobile terminals and technologies for preventing the harmful physical effects of optical stimulus from rapidly changing visual content.
In March 2004 MIC convened a research group on ubiquitous sensor network
technology. The technologies to perceive the conditions of people, things and
the surrounding environment, and to transmit this dynamic information for further processing, are to be studied.
Advances in space communications
Space communications have many favorable features, for example the capacity
to provide wide-area and simultaneous communications of a disaster-proof
character. The technology is used in a wide range of fields including communications, broadcasting and positioning technology. To support its growth MIC is
promoting the development of demonstration satellites and satellite experiments, including R&D on the quasizenithal satellite system, the ultra-highspeed Internet satellite, the Engineering Test Satellite VIII, and the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) initiative [MIC 2004].
As shown in Table 4-3, MIC gave priority to R&D on technologies to realize a
ubiquitous network society. Also, following the e-Japan Strategy and the consecutive priority policy programs, security and international issue were given high priorities.
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Table 4-3. Financial means provided by MIC for different R&D activities (in million yen).
FY2003
FY2004
7 171
11 499
23 618
25 167
Promotion of network contents distribution
2 318
2 505
Promotion of information security
3 047
4 096
Development of wireless broadband environment
2 119
2 516
Promotion of international ICT strategies
5 581
6 909
12 968
14 056
Realization of a ubiquitous network society
Promotion of digital broadcasting
Promotion of ICT in administration and public services
Source: Information and Communications in Japan, White Paper 2004, MIC
4.5
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT)
NAREGI (National Research Grid Initiative) is one of the collaboration projects
among industry, academia and government, initiated by the Ministry of Education,
Sports, Culture, Science and Technology (MEXT). The five-year project, started in
April 2003, aims at the creation of an environment for next-generation computing
systems. The background aim is to strengthen Japan’s international competitiveness in the ICT field. A major objective of the project is the research and development on application software for use in the nanotechnology and biotechnology
fields. The NAREGI project had a huge impact even on other scientific areas that
are closely related to industrial applications, such as new communications principles, electronic devices, optical devices, molecules, and the development of new
drugs. MEXT allocated 3,200 million yen for this project in FY2004 [NAREGI
Web, STT 2004].
4.6
ITS related R&D
Another important separate area for R&D activities is ITS (Intelligent Transport
System). ITS is very ICT intense using both communication networks and IT devices. The area is very important for Japan and is supported by a number of different ministries and agencies (see Table 4-4).
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ICT IN JAPAN
Table 4-4. Financial means provided for ITS related R&D activities (in million yen).
Area of
Development
Budget Item
Operating
Expenses
FY2002
Operating
Expenses
FY2003
Ministry
Advances in
Navigation
Systems
Advances in Road Traffic Information
Part of 16852
Million yen
Part of 15256
Million yen
MLIT
ETC (Electronic
Toll Collection
system)
R&D for Realization of Various Services Using
DSRC (Dedicated Short Range Communications) used in ETC
0
Part of 15256
MLIT
Assistance for
Safe Driving
Promotion of Comprehensive R&D of Driving
Support Realized by Road-to-Vehicle Cooperation (repeated)
Part of 16852
(repeated)
Part of 15256
(repeated)
MLIT
Technology Assessment Task, Safe Driving
Assist System for Advanced Safety Vehicle
(ASV) (repeated)
95
(repeated)
99
(repeated)
MLIT
Technology Assessment Task, Safe Driving
Assist System for New Generation Intelligent
Vehicle (NGIV)
186
185
MLIT
Survey and research on the optimization of
traffic management
121
105
NPA
Model Project of Environment Friendly Traffic
Control
1213
74
NPA
Verification Model Tests for Controlling Signals
Based on the Real-time Information
419
27
NPA
Comprehensive promotion of R&D on the
computerization of road traffic managementrelated application and grant procedures and
on the information of road management (repeated)
Part of 16852
(repeated)
Part of 15256
(repeated)
MLIT
R&D on Efficiency in Establishing Road Evaluation Systems
0
Part of 15256
MLIT
The project making road transportation business highly efficient by utilizing Information
Technology (Informing the best route to the
destination by utilizing real-time bus location
data)
0
103
MLIT
Assistance for bus use promotion and other
comprehensive schemes (repeated)
Part of 1740
(repeated)
Part of 1740
(repeated)
MLIT
The project making road transportation business highly efficient by utilizing Information
Technology (Real-time Safety Management
System)
55
0
MLIT
Assistance for bus use promotion and other
comprehensive schemes (repeated)
Part of 1740
(repeated)
Part of 1740
(repeated)
MLIT
Support for
Pedestrians
Comprehensive promotion of R&D on pedestrian support, etc. (repeated)
Part of 16852
(repeated)
Part of 15256
(repeated)
MLIT
Standardization
and others
Technical Cooperation regarding Traffic Safety
7
5
NPA
R&D of regional ITS info-communication system
100
97
MIC
Global promotion of ITS info-communication
systems
16
16
MIC
R&D on information and communications technologies for ITS implementations
Part of 1350
819
MIC
Project to standardize ITS
420
390
METI
Developing Traffic Information infrastructure
(Internet ITS)
100
Part of 3000
METI
Optimization of
Traffic Management
Increasing
Efficiency in
Road Management
Support for
Public Transport
Increasing
Efficiency in
commercial
vehicles
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ICT IN JAPAN
Standardization of an Information Service
System based on New-Generation Internet
Technology
Part of 900
Part of 1000
METI
Promoting Car Sharing of Clean Energy Vehicles with ITS Technologies
Part of 17000
0
METI
Research and study of emergency information
provision utilizing ITS technologies in a time of
disaster
14
29
MLIT
Survey on the benefit in terms of safety of road
transport by making transport business highlyintelligent
16
10
MLIT
Advanced vehicle identification utilization projects
171
200
MLIT
NPA: National Police Agency
MLIT: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport
MIC: Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications
METI: Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry
Source: ITS Annual Report 2003, ITS Japan
4.7
Chapter Summary
Japan’s total expenditure on R&D (FY2002) was 16 675 billion yen, reaching
3.35% of GDP. About 70% was spent by industries, 20% by universities, and 10%
by public institutions. 13.5% of total R&D expenditure was spent within the ICT
area. Council for Science and Technology Policy lead by the Prime Minister
launched the second-Term Science and Technology Basic Plan (2001-2005), which
placed special priority on four fields: Life Sciences, Information and Telecommunications, Environmental Sciences, and Nanotechnology and Materials. As the result of the plan and the e-Japan Strategy, Japanese ministries launched many R&D
programs and projects ranging from semiconductors and displays to grid computing, photonic networks, Intelligent Transport System and Ubiquitous Network.
47
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48
ICT IN JAPAN
5
Industry
5.1
Overview of the ICT related industry
Japanese large-scale companies have played major roles in the introduction of a
wide variety of ICT products, both for development and production. These companies are Hitachi, Sony, Matsushita (Panasonic), Toshiba, NEC, Fujitsu, Mitsubishi
Electric, Sanyo, Sharp and Oki. They have worked together with national research
institutes such as AIST (National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and
Technology) and NICT (National Institute of Information and Communications
Technology) and the public owned telecom carrier NTT.
Most of these large-scale companies have manufactured a wide variety of ICT
products.
•
electric and electronic components
•
semiconductors and integrated circuits
•
PC and work stations
•
mini/main frame computers
•
operating systems
•
computer languages and compilers
•
application programs
•
wired/wireless telephones
•
facsimiles
•
transmission systems
•
telephone switches (private branch exchanges)
•
routers
•
set-top boxes
•
home appliances (white goods, audio and visual products)
•
car navigation systems
•
car components and units
•
traffic (train) control systems
•
industrial control systems (industrial robots)
•
submarine cables and repeaters
•
communication satellites
•
defense systems
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ICT IN JAPAN
Those companies used to compete with each other as shown in Table 5-1. On the
other hand, sometime they join forces to gain better impact with their products:
•
Hitachi and Mitsubishi Electric have a joint venture of System LSI
•
Hitachi and NEC have a joint venture of DRAM (Dynamic Random Access
Memory)
•
Toshiba and Matsushita have a joint venture of TFT LCD
•
Fujitsu and Hitachi have a joint venture of Plasma display panels
•
NEC and Toshiba have a joint venture of space systems
Table 5-1. World/Domestic market share of some ICT products in 2002 (1 means the largest market share holder).
Articles
Hitachi Sony Matsushita Toshiba To-Ma* NEC Fujitsu Mitsubishi Sanyo Sharp
World market share
DVD player
Video camera
TFT LCD
Solar battery
Digital Camera
1
1
2
3
4
5
5
3
1
1
Domestic market share
Personal Computer
PC server
Unix server
Facsimile
Cell phone unit
PDA
Internet provider
Logic IC
Car navigation
CRT TV & LCD TV
LCD
Plasma TV
VCR
DVD recorder
Video camera
Refrigerator
Air conditioner
Microwave
Vacuum cleaner
Lithium-ion battery
3
5
3
2
1
4
2
1
2
3
3
5
1
4
5
2
1
2
4
2
3
1
1
1
4
1
5
3
5
2
4
4
5
1
4
5
4
3
2
3
1
1
2
1
1
2
2
3
4
3
2
5
5
3
1
3
4
5
5
5
3
2
2
3
3
1
4
2
5
5
5
1
4
1
Note: *To-Ma: Toshiba-Matsushita.
Source: “Shijou Senyuritsu” (Market share) by Nihon Keizai Shimbun.
The nine major Japanese large-scale electronics manufacturers (listed in Table 5-1,
except Oki) sales in 2002 fiscal year totaled 46 trillion yen, which is a 0.3 percent
increase over the previous year. The investment to facilities and equipment was 2.4
trillion yen (an 11.6 percent increase over the previous year), and the R&D expen-
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ICT IN JAPAN
diture was 2.8 trillion yen (a slight increase over the previous year) [Shijou]. The
sales break down of the companies ratio is shown in the Table 5-2 [EIA 2004].
The companies’ profiles could be described in the following way. Hitachi, Toshiba,
Mitsubishi Electric are comprehensive manufacturers of electrical machinery. Although ICT equipment including semiconductors and consumer electronics are
their mainstream products, heavy electric equipment such as power generators,
industrial equipment, and defense systems are part of their product portfolio. NEC
and Fujitsu have strong focus on ICT including semiconductors. Matsushita is
similar to NEC and Fujitsu, but also produces consumer electronics. Sony, Sharp
and Sanyo are focused on consumer electronics, although, Sony owns contents
business and Sanyo produces commercial use electric systems and batteries.
Table 5-2. Sales break down of large scale electronics companies.
Sales (trilliion yen)
R&D expentiture (%)
Sales break down (%)
Info. com systems
Electronics devices
Consumer electonics
Industrial systems
Financial services
Contents
Game
Battery/Dry cell
Others
Hitachi Sony
8.3
7.4
4.8
6.2
19
15
12
22
6
26
61
Matsushita
7.5
7.8
59
30
16
4
Toshiba NEC Fujitsu
5.7
4.8
4.8
6.4
6.7
5.3
14
20
36
23
78
20
7
19
13
85
15
Mitsubishi Sanyo Sharp
3.3
2.5
2.2
4.3
5.4
7.3
17
12
20
38
20
53
9
14
13
4
19
30
49
3
2
7
15
8
10
Source: Denshi Kogyo Nenkan (Electronics Industry Almanac 2004) by Dempa Shimbunsha (Japanese).
Historically, in many cases Japanese companies had the ambition to develop their
own versions of products developed by other foreign companies. Using reverse
engineering, the Japanese companies gained the required knowledge, contacted
original manufacturers and bought know-how and licenses for their own production. Finally, they developed Japanese original version of such products by themselves, or together with other Japanese makers and/or national institutes.
Another possible reason for making Japanese versions of foreign products was to
overcome the language problem. End-users wanted, and still want, to handle more
than 10,000 different Kanji and two other different character sets, especially for
information handling systems (computers and computer controlled systems).
Therefore, software modifications were required which was a barrier for foreign
companies to enter the Japanese market.
Through the years the large-scale companies joined different national ICT R&D
projects and got access to both government budget for R&D and very skilled researchers with ICT competence. This was not so easy for medium and small scale
companies. For example, NTT developed the original Japanese telephone switches
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ICT IN JAPAN
in the 1960s, together with Oki, Fujitsu, NEC and Hitachi. In parallel the Japanese
government launched the “VLSI Project” in the 70s, the “Super Computer Project”
and the “Fifth Generation Computer Project” in the 80s, “Sigma Project” aiming
for software reuse for UNIX platforms in the late 80s, the “Friend 21 Project” for
next generation human interfaces and the “Real World Computing Program” in the
90s.
5.2
ICT Market
The market value of Japan’s ICT industry in 2002 was 116 trillion yen, which was
a 2.7 percent decrease from the previous year. This was the first decrease since
1995. One of the reasons was a reduction in investment in computers and peripherals as well as wired and wireless telecommunication equipment. In addition, the
share of the ICT industry as a proportion of the total industrial market value stood
at 12 percent, which was a 0.2 percent decrease from the previous year [MIC
2004].
Figure 5-1. Transitions in the market Size and Proportion of the Information and Communications Industry to Overall Industries.
Source: Information and Communications in Japan 2004, White Paper 2004, MIC
5.2.1 Telecommunications Business
There were 12 518 telecommunications carriers in Japan at the end of 2003. New
entrants during 2003 numbered 1 567 companies. Operators providing Internet services totaled 8 860.
Fiscal year 2002 sales for the telecommunications business totaled 18.7 trillion yen,
which was a 0.2 percent decrease from the previous fiscal year [MIC 2004].
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ICT IN JAPAN
5.2.2 Broadcasting Business
There were 1 072 broadcasters (an increase of 46 over the previous fiscal year) at
the end of 2003. Commercial broadcasters totaled 1 070 companies, of which 362
were terrestrial broadcasters, 134 satellite broadcasters, and 571 cable television
broadcasters.
Fiscal 2002 sales for broadcasters totaled 3.7 trillion yen, which was a 0.6 percent
decrease from the previous fiscal year [MIC 2004].
5.3
Electronics industry
The electronic industry production in 2003 was about 19.3 trillion yen, according
to METI (Ministry of Economic, Trade and Industry). This was a 6.6 percent increase over the previous year, but almost equal to 1987.
The break down of the electronics industry was the following (see Table 5-3):
•
The production of consumer electronics equipment was about 2.3 trillion
yen, a 14.2 percent increase over the previous year. The increase was
mainly due to the high end digital equipment, such as Flat Panel TVs (Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) and Plasma Display Panel), DVD recorders,
digital cameras, and car navigation systems. Conventional audio equipment,
such as CD/MD players decreased by 13 percent from the previous year
mainly due to shifting of the production overseas.
•
The production of industrial electronic equipment, which includes mobile
phones, was 7.8 trillion yen in 2003, a 3.6 percent increase over the previous year. Mobile phone sales dropped in 2002, but jumped up in 2003 due
to the popularity of digital camera embedded mobile phones and also the
steady shift from 2G to 3G (the third generation mobile phone system).
•
Electronic parts and devices production was 9.2 trillion yen, a 7.4 percent
increase over the previous year. This was due to the strong markets for mobile phones, digital audio and visual equipment and car navigation systems.
•
The increase of LCD (22 percent from the previous year) was due to the
boom of LCD TV and new models of mobile phones. At the same time Japan lost its leadership in production of large size LCD panels for TV and
PCs to the Korean companies (see Figure 2-8). However, Sharp is still
dominant on the Japanese domestic market when it comes to large size
LCD panels and small and medium size LCD panels used for production of
PDAs and mobile phones. Most of the mobile phones in Japan use larger
color LCD panels with higher resolution than the ones in US and Europe.
The development caused by digital cameras being embedded in mobile
phones.
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ICT IN JAPAN
Table 5-3. Electronic industry production in 2003.
（million yen） year on year （％）
2,313,147
114.2
Consumer electronic equipment
Video equipment
1,983,215
122.0
Audio equipment
329,932
82.4
Industrial electronic equipment
7,800,587
103.6
Communications equipment
3,413,075
115.0
686,083
86.8
Radio communication systems
2,726,992
125.3
Computers and related equipment
2,699,390
90.7
Electronic application equipment
807,841
111.7
Electric measuring instrumentation
502,581
115.3
Electronic business machines
377,700
88.8
9,182,322
107.4
2,927,431
100.2
Passive components
860,104
100.1
Connecting components
794,417
102.4
Electronic boards
789,936
101.8
94,851
80.6
388,123
98.5
6,254,891
111.1
Electronic tubes
319,678
104.3
Discrete semiconductors
961,825
108.6
Integrated circuits (ICs)
3,463,804
108.1
Liquid crystal device (LCDs)
1,536,584
122.0
19,296,056
106.6
Telecommunications systems
Electronic components and device
Electronic components
Transducers
Others
Electronic devices
Total
Source: Denshi Kogyo Nenkan (Electronics Industry Almanac 2004) by Dempa Shimbunsha (Japanese).
5.4
Import and Export from/to Sweden
In 2003 Japan imported 38 billion yen worth ICT equipment from Sweden, and
exported for 50 billion yen to Sweden, i.e. a roughly 25% trading advantage to Japan. For a detailed list of Swedish companies active in Japan and Japanese companies active in Sweden see Appendix I.
54
ICT IN JAPAN
Table 5-4. Japan import from Sweden (value unit: 1000 yen).
Article group
Value
2001
Telephony, Telegraphy
40 600 600
Audio and Visual Apparatus
15 407 525
Electrical Measuring
4 700 689
Electrical Power Machinery
2 674 384
Domestic Electrical Equip.
1 445 945
2002
Telephony, Telegraphy
26 822 874
Audio and Visual Apparatus
18 510 969
Electrical Measuring
5 465 906
Electrical Power Machinery
2 140 437
Domestic Electrical Equip.
1 297 927
2003
Telephony, Telegraphy
17 736 480
Electrical Measuring
5 142 939
Audio and Visual Apparatus
4 296 836
Electrical Power Machinery
1 573 389
Electrical Apparatus
1 309 321
Source: Trade Statistics, Ministry of Finance.
Major products in the article groups from the value point of view (see Table 5-4)
[MF 2004] were:
•
Telephone switches and radio transceivers in the “Telephony, Telegraphy”
group
•
Parts for radio communication equipment in the “Audio & Visual apparatus” group
•
Console panels for electronic control systems, and numerical control systems in the “Electrical apparatus” group
•
Refrigerator, vacuum cleaner, and their parts, and electric heating resistor in
the “Domestic electric equipment” group
The drastic decrease of export value from Sweden to Japan (especially for Telephony, and Audio and Visual Apparatus) is strongly related to postponed investments
in facilities and equipment to be done by telecommunication carriers (see Table 55).
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ICT IN JAPAN
Table 5-5 Investments in facilities and equipment done by telecommunication carriers (unit:
billion yen). FY stands for fiscal year.
FY
1999
2000
2001
2002
Fixed
1,889
1,702
1,277
1,134
Mobile
1,564
1,811
1,699
1,313
Source: Denshi Kogyo Nenkan (Electronics Industry Almanac 2004) by Dempa Shimbunsha (Japanese)
Table 5-5 shows that the investments done by fixed operators have steadily decreased over the years. As the result the investments done by mobile operators became higher than fixed in FY 2000. However, even mobile operators’ investments
have decreased after FY 2000.
The problem is that telecommunication carriers, both fixed and mobile, have reduced their investments as a measure against continuous decreasing of ARPU (Average Revenue Per User). At the same time a peak of investments in the 3G infrastructure seemed to have passed and the process of replacing metal wires by optic
fibers is about to be completed.
5.5
Chapter Summary
Japan can produce a whole range of devices and components, from LSI and printed
circuit boards, to high-end products, such as PCs, mobile phones, telephone
switches, and super computers. Ten large-scale electronics manufacturers have
played important role for the development of the ICT market in Japan. The market
which was worth 116 trillion yen in 2002.
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ICT IN JAPAN
6
Conclusions on future trends
The Japanese national ICT policy has been mainly driven by the e-Japan Strategy I
& II, and e-Japan Priority Policy Program 2004. The Japanese government, with
its IT Strategic Headquarters, has succeeded in enhancing ICT infrastructure, but
actual ICT usage is still below the expectations. For example, according to figures
from February 2004 published by MPHPT the actual use of DSL was 28.7%,
CATV - 11.1% and FTTH - 5.8%. Percentages refer to the share of actual users
compared with the number of potential users. When it comes to E-government
readiness index (based on website assessment, telecommunication infrastructure
and human resource endowment) (Table 6-1) Japan is on the 18th position (Sweden
on second). Measured by usage component index (based on individual, business
and government usage) (Table 6-2) Japan is on the 11th position (Sweden on 5th).
The set goal “To become the world’s most advanced IT nation by 2005” is still to
be reached. As a result the government has shifted its focus from ICT infrastructure
to ICT usage, and is consulting experts from both industry and academia to define
appropriate measures.
Table 6-1. E-government readiness index (based on website assessment, telecommunication infrastructure and human resource endowment).
57
ICT IN JAPAN
Table 6-2. Usage component index (based on individual, business and government usage
of the ICT technology).
Source: Global Information Technology Report 2003-2004, WEF
The Japanese domestic market is still very strong with many leading players in the
ICT field (for example more than four PC manufacturers and four IC makers). Japan is leading in the field of mobile communications, small mobile terminals, ultrahigh speed network technologies, ITS, robotics, and aims to realize the ubiquitous
network society by 2010.
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ICT IN JAPAN
Japan tends to be very technology focused in its ICT development, thus Sweden,
with its more human-centered perspective, can be a very good source of inspiration. Also, Sweden could be a very good coach to enhance ICT usage in Japan.
6.1
Future trends
Here we present different technologies which are predicted to influence the ICT
development in Japan in the coming years. We used some material from previous
reports produced at the ITPS Tokyo Office by Sabine Ehlers and Shigeyuki Naito
[ICT 2003].
6.1.1 Hardware and Terminals
Hardware development sets the hard limits for possible ICT evolution. Ubiquitous
computing demands cheap and durable displays, small and powerful batteries and
virtually free and unlimited memory and processing power.
PC, PDA or mobile: with regards to personal terminals, we are converging towards
a one-type general purpose personal terminal for ubiquitous use, or diverging towards specialized terminals depending on context.
Relevance of Japan
With regards to network components, the Japanese government has invested substantial funds in R&D on backbone and access-line photonic network technology,
as well as Internet node full fiber optic technology, aiming at a nationwide Terabit
ultra-high-speed photonic network (Table 3-3). A gigabit-per-second class network, JGN (Japan Gigabit Network) has been in operation as a test bed connecting
national research institutes and shared use research facilities, and JGN II with the
performance of 20 Gbps at the maximum on major part of its network is also in
operation.
When it comes to electronic components, Japan, utilizing its accumulated semiconductor competence, very early began researching nano-technology. The area is now
one of the focus areas in the R&D strategy of the Japanese government (Figure 43).
Due to increased competition from Korean companies, most Japanese LSI makers
have abandoned memory devices and instead focus their R&D on system-on-chip,
a crucial technology for designing small terminals or networked home appliances.
The government also pushes hard for R&D on fundamental process technologies
for advanced semiconductor devices to realize next-generation large-scale integrated circuits (LSI) with the budget of 11.4 billion yen for fiscal 2004.
In a similar way, the Japanese companies who previously worked on LCDs are
now giving this area up to their Korean competitors, and instead focus their resources on new types of displays, such as Plasma Display Panels (PDP) and electronic paper. The government has also allocated considerable funds for this in their
R&D budget: 840 million yen for FY2004 (Figure 2-8, Table 3-3 and Table 5-3).
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ICT IN JAPAN
NEC and Sony seem to deliver soon next-generation DVDs for PC with different
standards. This might lead to another battle of the VHS and Beta for home video
standards.
When all devices become wireless, the portable energy source, or the battery, becomes a limiting factor with regards to weight, size and time before recharge. Fuel
cell development may be the technology to solve these problems, and much research is focusing on this (Chapter 4.2.1).
Japan has for decades produced and delivered robots to manufacturing plants all
over the world. Recently other types of robots have come into the spotlight, for
example entertainment robots such as AIBO and PINO, humanoid robots such as
ASIMO, therapeutic robots such as Paro as well as some emergency rescue robots
(Chapter 4.2.1).
The Japanese world-leading hardware industry has helped create a vital, fastmoving consumer electronics market where all options are available, giving an
early indication of user preferences and behavioral patterns.
6.1.2 System Software and Computing
In order to realize the ubiquitous network society, things around us need to be intelligent. Embedded systems have in many applications already replaced traditional
mechanical controls. In order to connect them and make them able to communicate
with each other, control software and communication protocols will be crucial.
User interfaces for input and output will become increasingly important as the terminals become smaller and ubiquitous, and that are more packed with functions.
The ability of the industry to design appliances that are easy to use and understand
is also crucial in order to make the technology accessible for all consumer groups.
Relevance of Japan
The open software architecture TRON is used in more than 50 percent of the appliances using embedded real-time operating systems produced in Japan. The TRON
industry group has formed a new framework and a new development platform,
which enables designers to reuse middleware [TRON].
The Japanese government recognizes that while the required IT infrastructure now
largely is in place, IT usage is still not at top global level. Emphasis is therefore put
not only on training the users, but also on developing user interfaces that make the
technology accessible for all.
Grid computing enables the sharing of power and resources of many computers,
distributed and connected by networks. This has been suggested as a solution for
high performance computing, and the government assigned four billion yen for grid
computing research for fiscal year 2004. Also, it should be mentioned that Japan
still has three major super computer makers: NEC, Fujitsu and Hitachi.
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ICT IN JAPAN
6.1.3 Networks
Networks are the crucial part of the basic enabling technology. There are many
different technical issues related to networks: How can the high-speed backbone
network be realized? What access network will become dominant and in what context? How do we make access available and affordable for everyone? The issues
are further complicated due to different type of networks are expected to transparently work together.
Relevance of Japan
The Japanese government has formulated very ambitious goals for their high-speed
backbone network, and are investing considerable research funding and prestige to
realize it. Regarding the access network, the broadband connection fees in Japan on
the fixed side are now the lowest in the world due to price competition.
In connection with an early introduction of 3G telecom segments, this has made
Japan one of the few markets in the world where consumers already have access to
most network types, including major types of 3G networks, several hot-spot networks, as well as commercial VoIP.
With 3G already in commercial service by the three national mobile carriers, the
many world-leading Japanese ICT companies are focusing their mobile telecom
research on 4G.
Japan, with its challenging traffic situation, has also focused much attention and
resources on developing a nationwide intelligent transport system (ITS). The owners of the approximately nine million VICS (Vehicle Information and Communication System) [VICS] on-vehicle units can, in addition to receiving near-real time
traffic information, also receive a variety of on-demand information. Research is
also made in the areas of safety, traffic management and emergency vehicle support.
Because of the imminent crisis due to the lack of IP addresses allocated for Asia,
Japan is a driver of the transition to IPv6. This new standard will in addition to a
virtually limitless supply of addresses, necessary for the emergence of ubiquitous
network, also offer higher security, better quality and the ability to transmit in realtime.
6.1.4
Content, applications and services
In a world where ICT is ubiquitous, how can it be used to improve and enrich our
lives? What will we be able to do, where, when, using what and to what price? The
current issues include questions like: What services will be offered for leisure and
business users respectively? What information and news-based services will be
offered? What form will communication and social services take? What services
should be commercial and for which public (for example information, education,
health related services…)?
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Relevance of Japan
Japan has succeeded with what no other market has, namely to offer attractive, affordable, abundant mobile content for the consumers and to create a vital and profitable industry segment. “DoCoMo i-mode” has been a famous business model by
its revenue sharing between the carrier and content providers, and also its adoption
of the Internet standard, such as HTML and GIF format. It will be interesting to see
if this will help the 3G market to take off, and if the experiences will be relevant to
the business segment of the future ubiquitous ICT-society.
6.1.5 Business models
During the first century of telecom, the business model was simple: a national governmental telecom operator sold voice communication and the subscribers paid for
time and distance. With time the national carrier was privatized, which introduced
competition to the telecommunication business. With further emergence of e-mail,
the Web, mobile Internet, digital content, e-commerce etc, the business landscape
changed completely. Content became digital, distance lost its relevance, the role of
the incumbent organizations changed and new players appeared: payment providers, information brokers, content providers, web hotels, ISPs…
The challenge, not yet overcome in Europe, is how to create business models which
make the new industry viable for all necessary players while making the pricing
models and commercial relationships comprehensible and worthwhile to the consumers.
Relevance of Japan
By focusing on evolution instead of revolution, ensuring that both content providers and users where with them every step of the way, the Japanese operators introduced the most successful business model for mobile internet and content so far:
the i-mode model. The same industry is now trying to repeat the success with WLAN and 3G.
6.1.6 Usage
ICT has the potential to influence all aspects of our lives. Tele-working could potentially affect our professional identities, the balance between our work and family
life, how we live as well as the demands put on the public infrastructure. Communication services such as SMS, chat and online communities are already affecting
the way especially young people socialize. E-commerce is influencing how we
shop as well as the demands put on merchants. The Internet is also affecting the
very nervous system of our society: the way citizens can influence and participate
in the political process.
The current issues include questions like: How and for what is it desirable that the
society, the industry and the citizens use ICT? How do we get there? How to build
competence, and educate the users? How to build trust and acceptance? How to
bridge the digital divide?
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ICT IN JAPAN
Relevance of Japan
Japan is lagging behind Sweden in general ICT use, both in the private and industrial sector. One of the reasons has been slow PC penetration to the Japanese homes
due to the different Japanese character set. Even in 1995 when Microsoft released
Windows 95, the PC penetration was less than 20 percent. At the same time the
word-processor penetration was about 40 percent, which was twice as much as for
PC. For comparison in 2003 the PC penetration was 78.2 percent while wordprocessor 26.7 percent. The problem is that Japanese use three different character
sets in a mixed way: Chinese characters (ideogram, more than 10,000 characters),
Hiragana characters (phonogram, 50 characters), and Katakana characters (phonogram, 50 characters). Furthermore Japanese write horizontally from left to right,
but also vertically from top to bottom. When writing vertically, next line should
start to the left of the previous line. These difficulties made the Japanese dedicated
word-processing equipment popular for a very long time. The situation changed
rapidly when computer application programs started handling Japanese.
It is expected that the general ICT use should improve radically in the near future
due to the fact that the mobile and fixed infrastructure is now in place, and private
consumers have access to a complete range of choices when it comes to services,
networks and terminals.
Japan is facing similar problems as Sweden when it comes to overcoming a geographic and demographic digital divide due to an ageing society and disproportionately under-populated areas. The area of education and trust is also a shared concern.
6.1.7 Security
Payment, authentication, integrity and privacy are all issues that have to be solved
to create the consumer trust necessary to enable e-commerce, e-government, ehealth and all the other e-babies to take off for real.
Companies on their side need to control access and protect their innovations and
intellectual assets, which are to an increasing degree in a digital format and therefore can be copied and transferred to any corner of the world in a matter of seconds. IPR issues along with questions how to regulate and control misuse and
criminal use of the Internet have to be addressed on a national as well as international level.
Relevance of Japan
When it comes to computer security, Japan has traditionally focused on the “hard”
issues. Introduction of PKI (Public Key Infrastructure) and other technologies on a
nationwide scale has been discussed as a tool to improve e-security, especially in
the area of e-government.
However when it comes to authentication, integrity and privacy, Japan can be considered as lagging behind Sweden.
Conversely, due to their leading position in the mobile internet area, Japan has been
confronted with some of its dark sides before any other country, including prostitu-
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ICT IN JAPAN
tion and other crimes linked to mobile dating services, and rampaging mobile
scams and spasm. The legislative bodies and the operators have taken a number of
measures to combat these issues.
6.1.8 Policies
When it comes to policies, the general question is what the government can and
should do to support and enable use of ICT in a beneficial way, for the growth of
the economy and the improvement of quality of life for all citizens.
Chapter 3 mentioned many good examples of government policies to make Japan
“the world's most advanced IT nation by 2005”. The other issues are: What part of
the spectrum should be regulated and how? Should the policy be based on commons instead of ownerships, and the spectrum regulated with technology instead of
laws? Should Broadband connection (FTTH - Fiber To The Home) be provided as
a facility with only the provision of services being market driven? Maybe the network should be “stupid” with intelligence only at the edges. Should the government
support 3G and the established industry or should it let the unregulated W-LAN
technology have a part of the market? Should VoIP be supported and regulated as a
commercial service, competing with traditional telephone services? How to solve
issues around roaming, antenna sites, etc?
Relevance of Japan
Japan is the second largest economy in the world, with large funds invested into
research and development. As already discussed in previous chapters, since several
years the Japanese government has identified ICT as a means to create growth in
the economy. In 2001 the e-Japan strategy was established with the explicit goal to
make Japan the world’s leading ICT nation by year 2005.
Japan has succeeded in constructing a world-leading ICT infrastructure thanks to
the efforts done by both the industry and the government. For example, a very low
price of ADSL Internet connection is a result of the government encouraging open
competition between ADSL carriers. However, the actual usage of the ICT infrastructure is rather limited and as discussed in previous chapters the government (IT
Strategic HQ) launched consecutive strategy and priority policy programs in order
to improve the situation. Some of the policies were based on methods widely used
in companies to achieve a given goal, such as the PDCA (Plan, Do, Check and Action) cycle. Such methods seem to be working fine so far.
64
ICT IN JAPAN
7
Some suggestions for future Japan-Sweden ICT
actions
Ubiquitous network/computing and human interfaces
All Japanese industries, universities, and government are tackling to realize the
ubiquitous network society and ubiquitous computing. The work is done in different ways and at different levels, examples include RF-IDs, home networks,
human interfaces, network agents, mobile communications, mobile terminals,
media conversion, networked robots and services/applications. The Ministry of
Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) announced u-Japan Plan, which
aims to realize ubiquitous network society by 2010.
Historically Japanese ICT development has been very technology driven and
hardware oriented. For example, despite previous declarations that humanmachine interfaces are going to be very important in the near future and large
budgets has been assigned by the government for Human Interface R&D in the
last 15 years, we have not yet seen a common universal interface with the same
interaction pattern independently from the considered technical device.
In Sweden, there are some research projects being part of the EU Disappearing
Computing Program, which are focused on users’ behavior and users’ needs.
Some other projects consider the fusion of Art and Technology as an elegant
human interface. These different approaches may be a very good source of inspiration for Japanese researchers.
Connected Home
Last year, by an initiative of the Swedish Institute for Future Studies and the
ITPS Tokyo office, bi-lateral communications and visits started in the field of
Connected Homes (Smart houses, networked home appliances and future living). Two delegations from Sweden, one delegation from Japan and some individual researchers (both Japanese and Swedish) visited the respective countries.
Both countries show a high interest in connected homes and are ready to establish further collaboration. Although this field is part of ubiquitous networks, it
should be exposed separately to attract the required attention.
Test-beds and markets of ultra-high speed and mobile networks
Two ultra-high speed network test-beds, JGN and JGN II, are in operation in
Japan. The possibility of making them available for tests and development by
researchers, research institutes and companies in Sweden might be investigated.
Japan is the world leader when it comes to commercial mobile networks based
on 2.5G and 3G (W-CDMA and CDMA-2000) technologies, mobile terminals,
in-car terminals (car navigation system) and services. The Japanese market is
the best choice to test new mobile services and applications, provided for example by Swedish companies.
65
ICT IN JAPAN
Robotics
As mentioned in Chapter 6, Japan is one of the leading countries in the robotics
research field. Robots require good sensors, actuators, control algorithms, light
batteries, and system technologies. Some of the Japanese robots can be used as
research platforms to test control algorithms and new commercial applications.
For example, the latest AIBO (Sony’s pet robot) can function as a watch dog.
When the AIBO is set to the watch dog mode and senses a moving object, it
will automatically turn its head towards the object, and record both still picture
and sound of the object, then send the information to the owner via e-mail. The
owner also can send commands to AIBO at home via e-mail. Swedish researchers could utilize such hardware as platforms, and conduct novel research on
control algorithms for autonomous systems.
Delegations
In order to learn about advances in everyday usage of ICT gadgets, and to see
the latest advances done by Japanese researchers within the ICT area, Sweden
should , on a yearly basis, send a delegation to Japan (consisting of researchers,
policy makers, and representatives from industry). At the same time, following
Japanese interest, the delegation could give seminars to present up-to-date information on the ICT advances in Sweden (ICT policy, latest research results,
and market trends, etc.).
Reports
More detailed studies covering specific area of the Japanese ICT industry (in
the similar manner as this report) could be done in order to find ICT-areas of
great interest for future Japan-Sweden ICT-actions.
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ICT IN JAPAN
Terminology
B-to-B
Business to Business
B-to-C
Business to Consumer
CDMA-2000
third generation mobile telecom technology
CRT
Cathode Ray Tube as used by non-flat TV sets and computermonitors
Cryptography
Scrambling plain text to cipher text in order to prevent third party
eavesdropping, and to protect private information.
DSL
Digital Subscriber Line
DSRC
Dedicated Short Range Communications, so far in Japan it is used
for ETC (Electronic Toll Collection) system, which consists of incar unit and road-side unit, and collects automatically toll road fee
without stopping at a toll gate of highway.
DVD
Digital Versatile Disk or Digital Video Disk
ETC
Electronic Toll Collection
FTTH
Fiber To The Home
FWA
Fixed Wireless Access
GIF
Graphic Interchange Format
Hot Spots
wireless LAN nodes, which provide Internet connection.
HTML
HyperText Markup Language
IC
Integrated Circuits
ICT
Information and Communications Technology
IP telephone
Internet Protocol telephone, uses the Internet protocol packetswitched connections to exchange voice and other information.
IPv6
Internet Protocol version 6, the latest level of the Internet Protocol.
ISDN
Integrated Services Digital Network, an agreed standard for sending voice, video, and data over digital or normal telephone lines.
ISDN connections consist of two 64Kbps lines, both lines can be
used simultaneously to offer speeds of 128Kbps.
PC
Personal Computer
PDA
Personal Digital Assistant
PDCA
Plan, Do, Check, Action
RF-ID
Radio Frequency Identification
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ICT IN JAPAN
Tele-commute Tele-commuting, tele-working: use of ICT to work outside of the
traditional workplace
TFT LCD
Thin Film Transistor Liquid Crystal Display
TRON
The Real-time Operating system Nucleus
VCR
Video Cassette Recorder
VICS
Vehicle Information and Communication System
VTR
Video Tape Recorder
W-CDMA
Wideband Code Division Multiple Access, a third generation mobile telecom technology
68
ICT IN JAPAN
References
[CabOffice a] The Cabinet Office, Quarterly Estimates of GDP,
http://www.esri.cao.go.jp/jp/
[CabOffice b] The Cabinet Office, Countermeasures for declining of birthrate and
ageing society, http://www8.cao.go.jp/kourei/
[CSTP 2003] Council for Science and Technology Policy (CSTP) “State of S&T
policies based on the 2nd S&T Basic Plan in FY2002”, May 27, 2003.
[EIA 2004] Denshi Kogyo Nenkan (Electronics Industry Almanac 2004) by Dempa
Shimbunsha (in Japanese)
[e-Japan a] e-Japan Strategy
(http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/it/network/0122full_e.html)
[e-Japan b] e-Japan Strategy II
(http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/policy/it/0702senryaku_e.pdf)
[e-Japan c] e-Japan Strategy II Acceleration Package
(http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/policy/it/040318senryaku_e.pdf)
[e-Japan d] e-Japan Priority Policy Program 2004
(http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/policy/it/040615summary/040615gaiyo_e.pdf)
[Fujitsu] Fujitsu company history
[Hongo 2004] Interview with Mr. Hongo, Information Policy Division of METI,
2004.
[ICT 2003] “Issues affecting the future of ICT” by Sabine Ehlers and Shigeyuki
Naito, ITPS Tokyo, January 2003
[IPA Web] Information-technology Promotion Agency, Japan (IPA),
(http://www.ipa.go.jp/)
[ITS 2003] ITS Annual Report 2003, ITS Japan
[JA 2004] Japan Almanac by Asahi Shimbun (2004)
[JEITA] JEITA (Japan Electronics & Information Technology Industries Association) Statistics
[JH 2004] Jouhouka Hakusho (Informatization White Paper) 2004 Japanese edition, JIPDEC
[JTH 2004] Jouhou Tsushin Hakusho (Information and Communications White
Paper) 2004 Japanese edition, MIC
[MF 2004] Trade statistics, Ministry of Finance
(http://www.customs.go.jp/toukei/info/topmenu_e.htm)
[MIC 2003] Report on the Survey of Research and Development 2003, MIC
69
ICT IN JAPAN
[MIC 2004] Information and Communications in Japan, White Paper 2004, MIC
(http://www.johotsusintokei.soumu.go.jp/whitepaper/eng/WP2004/2004index.html)
[MIC Web] Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC)
(http://www.soumu.go.jp/)
[Ministry FA] Ministry of Foreign Affairs, http://web-japan.org/index.html
[Nakagawa 2004] Nakagawa Report (“N Report”) – Toward a Sustainable and
Competitive Industrial Structure-, (New Industry Creation Strategy), May, 2004,
Ministry of Economy, Trade & Industry (METI)
(http://www.rieti.go.jp/en/events/bbl/04070101.pdf)
[NAREGI Web] NAREGI Website (http://www.naregi.org/index_e.html)
[NIKKEI a] NIKKEI Weekly
[NIKKEI b] The Nikkei Business Daily
[NIPPON 2002] NIPPON the Land and Its People by Nittetsu Human Development (2002)
[NIPPON 2004] Business Facts and Figures, NIPPON 2004 by JETRO (2004)
[Oki] Oki Electric company history
[SHH] IT Strategic Headquarters Homepage
(http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/policy/it/index_e.html)
[Shijou] Shijou Senyuritsu (Market share) by Nihon Keizai Shimbun
[ST 2005] Science and Technology Basic Plan 2001-2005
(http://www8.cao.go.jp/cstp/english/basicplan01-05.pdf)
[STT 2004] Science & Technology Trends (Quarterly Review), April 2004 by National Institute of Science and Technology Policy, MEXT.
[TRON] T-Engine Forum (http://www.t-engine.org/index.html)
TRON Association (http://www.assoc.tron.org/)
[VICS] VICS Home page (http://www.vics.or.jp/english/index.html)
[VP 2002] Effective innovation systems and problem-oriented research for sustainable growth, VINNOVAs Strategic plan 2003-2007, VINNOVA Policy VP 2002:4
[WP 2004] Information and Communications in Japan, White Paper 2004, Ministry
of Internal Affairs and Communications.
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ICT IN JAPAN
Appendix I
ICT Companies trading between Japan and Sweden
Swedish ICT Companies active in Japan
Swedish ICT Companies in Japan
ABB K.K.
Anoto Nippon K.K.
Axis Communications K.K.
Decuma AB, Japan Office
Eklow Scandinavia Ltd.
Electrolux (Japan) Ltd.
Elekta K.K.
Emhart Far East Corporation, Japan Branch
Enea OSE Systems K.K.
Facit K.K.
Gammadata Scienta K.K.
GSE Systems, Japan
Habia Cable Asia Ltd.
HMS Industrial Networks
IAR Systems K.K.
IFS Japan, Inc.
Intentia Japan K.K.
Micronic Japan K.K.
Mydata Automation K.K.
Nihon Teleca
Nippon Ericsson K.K.
Opticore
ORC Software K.K.
Radi Medical Systems K.K.
Telelogic Japan Ltd.
71
www.abb.co.jp
www.anoto.co.jp
www.axiscom.co.jp
www.decuma.com/index.html
www.eklow.co.jp
www.electrolux.co.jp
www.elekta.com
www.emhartglass.com/
www.enea.com
www.facit.co.jp
www.gammadata.se
www.gses.com/
www.habia.se/
www.hms.se
www.iarsys.co.jp
www.ifsjapan.co.jp
www.intentia.co.jp
www.micronic.se
www.mydata.com
www.teleca.com
www.ericsson.co.jp
www.opticore.com/
www.orcsoftware.com
www.radi.se
www.telelogic.co.jp
ICT IN JAPAN
Japanese ICT companies active in Sweden
Japanese Companies in Sweden (Area of ICT; 37companies)
ALPS ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
ANRITSU CORP.
CANNON INC.
Clarion Co., Ltd.
DENSO CORP.
EIZO NANAO CORPORATION
FUJITSU LTD.
FURUNO ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K
Hitachi Home & Life Solutions, Inc.
Hitachi Maxell, Ltd.
IIYAMA CORPORATION
JEOL Ltd. (Nihon Densi)
KAGA ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
Konica Minolta Photo Imaging , Inc.
KYOCERA MITA JAPAN Corp.
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd
Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
NEC Corp.
NIKON CORP.
NITTO DENKO CORP.
Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
OLYMPUS CORP.
OMRON CORP
PENTAX CORP.
Pioneer Corp.
Sharp Corp.
SONY CORP.
TAMURA CORP.
TDK CORP.
TERASAKI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
TOSHIBA CORP.
Victor Co. of Japan, Ltd.
Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.
YAMAHA CORP.
YASUKAWA Electric Corp.
www.alps.co.jp/index_e.htm
www.anritsu.co.jp/E/
www.canon.com/index.html
www.clarion.co.jp/english/index.cfm
www.denso.co.jp/ja/
www.eizo-nanao.com/company/index.html
www.fujitsu.com/
www.furuno.co.jp/
www.hpk.co.jp/eng/main.htm
www.hitachi-hl.com/english/index.html
www.maxell.co.jp/e/index.html
www.iiyama.co.jp/index.html
www.jeol.co.jp/english/index.html
www.taxan.co.jp/english/index.html
konicaminolta.com/index.html
www.kyoceramita.com/
panasonic.co.jp/global/
www.mew.co.jp/e/corp/index.html
www.nec.com/
www.nikon.co.jp/main/index_e.htm
www.nitto.com/
www.oki.com/
www.olympus-global.com/en/global/
www.omron.com/index2.html
www.pentax.co.jp/japan/globalsites/
www.pioneer.co.jp/index-e.html
sharp-world.com/index.html
www.sony.net/
www.tamuragroup.com/
www.tdk.co.jp/tetop01/index.htm
www.terasaki.co.jp/tj/web/top.nsf
www.toshiba.co.jp/index.htm
www.jvc-victor.co.jp/
www.yamaha-motor.co.jp/global/index.html
www.global.yamaha.com/
www.yaskawa.co.jp/en/
YOKOGAWA ELECTRIC CORP.
www.yokogawa.com/
72
VINNOVAs publications
May 2005
See www.VINNOVA.se for more information
VINNOVA Analysis
VA 2005:
01 Wood Manufacture - the innovation
system that beats the system. Only
available as PDF. For Swedish version
see VA 2004:02
development
04 Svensk sjöfartsnärings
innovationssystem - igår, idag och
imorgon
02 Stimulating International
Technological Collaboration in Small
and Medium-Sized Enterprises.
02 Nationella och regionala klusterprofiler
A Study of VINNOVA’s SMINT
- Företag inom bioteknik, läkemedel
Programme.
och medicinsk teknik i Sverige 2004
03 Regional ekonomisk tillväxt i
03 Innovation policies in South Korea
Sverige 1986–2001. En studie av
and Taiwan. Only available as PDF
tillväxtens utveckling i Sveriges lokala
04 Effektanalys av nackskadeforskningen
arbetsmarknader.
vid Chalmers - Sammanfattning. Brief
version of VA 2004:07, for brief version
in English see VA 2005:05
05 Impacts of neck injuries research at
Chalmers University of Technology Summary. Brief version of VA 2004:07,
for brief version in Swedish see VA
2005:04
06 Forskningsverksamhet inom
produktframtagning
VA 2004:
01 The Swedish National Innovation
System 1970-2003 - a quantitative
international benchmarking analysis
02 Trämanufaktur - det systembrytande
innovationssystemet. For English
version see VA 2005:01
03 Impacts of the Swedish Competence
Centres Programme 1995-2003. For
brief versions in English and Swedisxh
see VA 2004:05 and VA 2004:06
04 Telecom Dynamics - History and
State of the Swedish Telecom Sectors
and its Innovation System 1970-2003.
Final Report. Only available as PDF
05 Impacts of the Swedish Competence
Centres Programme 1995-2003
- Summary Report. Brief version of VA
2004:03. For brief version in Swedish
see VA 2004:06
06 Effekter av det svenska kompetenscentrumprogrammet 1995-2003
- Sammanfattande rapport. Brief version in Swedish of VA 2004:03, for brief
version in English see VA 2004:05
VINNOVA Forum
VFI 2004:
01 Informationssamhället - åter till
framtiden (Innovation policy in Focus)
02 Svensk innovationskraft - visionen
måste vara starkare än motståndet
(Innovation policy in Focus)
VFI 2003:
01 Commercialization of Academic
Research Results (Innovation policy in
Focus)
VFI 2002:
01 Betydelsen av innovationssystem:
utmaningar för samhället och för
politiken (Innovation policy in Focus)
02 Innovationspolitik för Sverige: mål,
skäl, problem och åtgärder (Innovation
policy in Focus)
03 Teknikparkens roll i det svenska
innovationssystemet - historien
om kommersialisering av
forskningsresultat (Innovation policy in
Focus)
VINNOVA Information
VI 2005:
01 VINNOVA in brief. For Swedish
version see VI 2004:02
02 Årsredovisning 2004
VI 2004:
07 Effektanalys av nackskadeforskningen 01 Årsredovisning 2003
vid Chalmers. For breif versions in
02 VINNOVA i korthet. For English
Swedish and English see VA 2005:04 and
version see VI 2005:01
VA 2005:05
03 VINNOVAs activities within
Biotechnology.
VA 2003:
01 Innovationssystemanalys inom
04. VINN EXCELLENCE CENTER.
flygindustri och luftfart. Förstudie
For English version see VI 2004:05
02 Swedish Biotecknology - scientific
05 VINN EXCELLENCE CENTRES.
publications, patenting and industrial
For Swedish version se VI 2004:04
07 Kompetenscentrum i siffror
08 The Swedish Competence Centres
Programme. Third International
Evaluation - Group 2-6 (19 Centres)
and Overall Impressions and
Programme-wide Issues.
VI 2003:
01 Verksamhet inom Transporter
02 Årsredovisning 2002
04 The Competence Centres Programme.
Third International Evaluation. Group
1 (8 Centres)
05 The Concept of Innovation Journalism
and a Programme for Developing it.
Only available as PDF
06 EUREKA
VINNOVA Policy
VP 2005:
01 Kunskap för säkerhets skull.
Förslag till en nationell strategi för
säkerhetsforskning
VP 2004:
01 Nationell strategi för
transportrelaterad FUD
VP 2003:
01 VINNFORSK - VINNOVAs förslag
till förbättrad kommersialisering
och ökad avkastning i tillväxt på
forskningsinvesteringar vid högskolor.
HUVUDTEXT. For appendixes see VP
2003:01.1
01.1 VINNFORSK - VINNOVAs förslag
till förbättrad kommersialisering
och ökad avkastning i tillväxt på
forskningsinvesteringar vid högskolor.
BILAGOR. Main text see VP 2003:01
02 Behovsmotiverad forskning och
effektiva innovationssystem för
hållbar tillväxt. VINNOVAs
verksamhetsplanering 2003-2007. For
English version see VP 2002:04, for full
Swedish version see VP 2002:03
03 VINNOVAs forskningsstrategi.
Strategi för hållbar tillväxt
04 Nationell Innovations- och
forskningsstrategi för området
Miljödriven teknikutveckling.
Only available as PDF
VP 2002:
02 Nationellt inkubatorprogram
03 Behovsmotiverad forskning och
effektiva innovationssystem för hållbar
tillväxt. En fördjupad version av
VINNOVAs verksamhetsplanering
2003-2007. For short Swedish version
see VP 2003:02, for short English version
see VP 2002:04
av aktörsnätverk kring Intelligenta
TransportSystem. Only available as
PDF
07 Svensk forskning - rik på upplevelser.
04 Effective innovation systems and
Only available as PDF
problem-oriented research for
08 Fånga Vinden! - en klokbok för
sustainable growth. VINNOVA’s
tillväxt
strategic plan 2003 - 2007. For Swedish
09 Utvärdering av det Nationella
veersion see VP 2002:03 and VP
Flygtekniska Forskningsprogrammet
2003:02
10 Forskning och Innovation i
05 Nationell strategi för FoU
Småföretag. SBIR - Small Business
inom området tillämpning av
Innovation Research. Ett amerikanskt
informationsteknik.
program för behovsmotiverad
forskning utförd av mindre företag
VINNOVA Report
VR 2005:
01 Effektivt arbete i processindustrin.
Hur man gör. Från strategi till
genomförande
02 Teori och metod för val av indikatorer
för inkubatorer. Only available as PDF
03 Informations- och
kommunikationsteknik i USA. En
översiktsstudie om satsningar och
trender inom politik, forskning och
näringsliv. Only available as PDF
04 Information and Communications
Technology in Japan. A general
overview on the current Japanese
initiatives and trends in the area of
ICT. Only available as PDF
05 Information and Communications
Technology in China. A general
overview of the current Chinese
initiatives and trends in the area of
ICT. Only available as PDF
06 Under production
07 Samhandling för innovationsledd
tillväxt
VR 2004:
01 Nya material och produkter från
förnyelsebara råvaror. En framtidsbild
och vägen dit. For short version see VR
2004:02
02 Nya material och produkter från
förnyelsebara råvaror. Short version of
VR 2004:01.
03 Evaluation of the NUTEKVINNOVA programme in Complex
Technical Systems 1997-2001.
Utvärdering av ett FoU-program i
Komplexa Tekniska System 19972001
04 Förnuft och känsla - en narrativ studie
om äldre kvinnors bilkörning. Only
available as PDF
05 Equipment for Rational Securing
of Cargo on Railway Wagons.
Utrustning för rationell säkring av last
på järnvägsvagnar (jvgRASLA). Only
available as PDF
06 Innovationspolitik för ITS. En studie
11 Arbetsgivarringar i Sverige förekomst, funktion och nytta
12 Evaluation of the Öresund contracts
for cross-border R&D cooperation
between Denmark and Sweden
13 Det öppna svenska innovationssystemet - en tillgång för Sverige
VR 2003:
01 Fysisk planering i det digitala
samhället. Telematik 2004
02 Kina störst på mobiltelefoni konsekvenser för omvärlden. Telematik
2006
03 Framtidens fordon - mötet mellan två
mobila världar. Telematik 2006
04 Efter 11 september 2001: - Kan
storebror hejdas? Telematik 2006
06 Kunskapskultur och innovation.
Innovationssystem kring
energirelaterad vägtransportteknologi.
Förstudie. Only available as PDF
07 Förändrad finansiering av
tranportforskningen. Only available as
PDF
08 Inledande laboratorieförsök - Projekt
AIS 32. Delrapport 1. Only available as
PDF
09 Inledande fältförsök - Projekt AIS 32.
Delrapport 2. Only available as PDF
10 Hur går det till i verkligheten?
Innovationsprocessen utifrån 18 fall
11 Returlogistik - Utveckling av
logistiksystem för returgodsflöden.
Only available as PDF
12 Genusperspektiv på innovationssystem
- exemplet svensk musikindustri
Production: VINNOVA´s Communication Division
Printed by: AJ Ekonomi-Print AB, www.ekonomiprint.se
May 2005
Sold by: Fritzes Offentliga Publikationer, www.fritzes.se
VINNOVA´s mission is to promote sustainable growth
by developing effective innovation systems
and funding problem-oriented research
V E R K E T F Ö R I N N O V AT I O N S S Y S T E M
VINNOVA, SE-101 58 Stockholm
–
S W E D I S H A G E N C Y F O R I N N O V AT I O N S Y S T E M S
Besök/Office: Mäster Samuelsgatan 56 Tel: +46 (0)8 473 3000
VINNOVA @ VINNOVA .se www. VINNOVA.se
Fax: +46 (0)8 473 3005