May 27, 2016 Decision on Granting Subsidies to R&D Project Themes in Technology for Bridging Digital Divide for FY2016

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) has decided on granting subsidies to research and development (R&D) project themes in technology to bridge the digital divide (subsidized by the government to promote the utilization of information and telecommunications) for fiscal 2016.
MIC has been implementing this project since fiscal 1997 (see note) to enhance communications and broadcasting services for elderly people and disabled people by partially subsidizing R&D funds of private enterprises and organizations conducting R&D relating to the upgrading of communication and broadcasting services or implementation of new, unconventional communications and broadcasting services for those people.

(Note) From fiscal 1997 to fiscal 2011, the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology implemented the project as a subsidized R&D project for the enhancement of communication and broadcasting services for the elderly and the challenged.