October 23, 2020 Appeal for Proposals on Digital Utilization in the Post-corona Era

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) has been holding a roundtable conference on digital utilization in the post-corona era (chaired by MURAI Jun, Professor, Keio University) since October 23, 2020. This conference aims to study digital utilization in the post-corona era from the viewpoint of establishing new daily life structures and realizing economic revitalization and regional revitalization, with a medium- to long-term perspective kept in mind.
To contribute to the discussions at this roundtable conference, MIC will make an appeal for proposals from Friday, October 23 through Friday, November 13, 2020, regarding issues related to digital utilization and their causes.

1. Purpose

For preventing the spread of novel coronavirus infection, people are expected to practice new lifestyles in various situations. While expectations are rising for the use of digital services that enable non-face-to-face and non-contact lifestyles, the use of such services is spreading rapidly. Furthermore, digital services are expected to continue even after novel coronavirus infection has subsided. However, on the other hand, it is said that there are various issues in its utilization.
Under these circumstances, MIC held the roundtable conference on digital utilization in the post-corona era. The conference started discussions on the ideal way of digital utilization and issues for the post-corona era, from the viewpoint of establishing new daily lifestyles and realizing economic and regional revitalization, with a medium- to long-term perspective in mind.
In this appeal for opinions, to contribute to the discussions at the roundtable conference, MIC has decided to make an appeal for a wide variety of proposals regarding digital utilization for the post-corona era.

2. Conditions of appeal

1. Appeal outline and submission style

Appeal outline
MIC will make this appeal for the following proposals regarding issues, possible causes, improvement measures, etc. related to the use of digital services in daily life or business situations.

1. Issues and causes related to the use of digital services in daily life

It is expected to utilize digital services to take social distancing and avoid denseness in various daily life scenes. On the other hand, it is said that there are various issues. Describe the details of the problems specifically and possible causes of using such digital services and make a proposal.

Examples of specific scenes
  • A user wanted a digital procedure for a service, but it was not offered.
  • A user felt lack or dissatisfaction with know-how and environment-related conditions for utilizing a certain digital service.
  • The user felt uneasy and inconvenient about using a certain digital service.
  • *
    The above scenes are just examples. MIC does not limit proposals on these and will accept a wide range of proposals, including those on everyday items such as goods and services that are expected to be digitized in various situations. At that time, it is desirable to give a concrete explanation about the proponent’s attributes, the situation in which the proponent is placed, and the situation regarding the equipment and terminals that the proponent uses.

2. Issues and causes related to the utilization of digital services in the business scene

There is a growing movement in business scenes to utilize digital services to avoid contact, with telework implementation and the utilization of web conferencing, for example. Describe the details of the problems specifically and possible causes of using such digital services and make a proposal.

Examples of specific scenes
  • A worker tried to telework, but the user had to go to the company for some reason.
  • Workers tried to hold a web conference, but they could not for some reason.
  • *
    The above scenes are just examples. MIC does not limit proposals on these and will accept a wide range of specific proposals regarding various business situations, such as system problems in digital utilization and situations where workers feel inconvenience due to regulations and systems.

3. Improvement measures for the issues and causes exemplified in 1 or 2

Regarding the issues and causes, describe the specific details of the improvement measures that can be taken to promote digital services and make a proposal. At that time, if there is a specific approach required from MIC, describe which of the following categories (1 to 5) applies to and make a further proposal.

Category
  • 1.
    User (interface)
  • 2.
    Data linkage
  • 3.
    Information and communications infrastructure
  • 4.
    Research and development
  • 5.
    Overseas cooperation

2. Submission deadline

No later than 5:00 PM on Friday, November 13, 2020 (Submission of opinions by mail must also arrive no later than the deadline date.)

Contact

For further information about this press release, please fill in the inquiry form and submit it to MIC on the website
https://www.soumu.go.jp/common/english_opinions.html

International Policy Division, Global Strategy Bureau, MIC

TEL: +81 3 5253 5920

FAX: +81 3 5253 5924