April 17, 2020 Appeal for Proposals on Project to Promote Data Utilization and Application based Smart Cities under FY2020 Budget

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) aims to solve various problems in communities for regional revitalization through the creation of ICT-utilized smart cities. Such smart cities are expected to have efficient and advanced urban and regional functions and services with improvements in living convenience and comfortability to ensure people’s safe and secure lives. In this connection, MIC has today decided to make an appeal for proposals until May 29, 2020, for its project to promote data utilization and application based smart cities.
MIC will promote this project in coordination with other projects, including the Smart City Model Project of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

1. Project overview

MIC will make this public appeal for project proposals to develop a platform for collecting and analyzing data from multiple fields and establishing a system for the participation of various entities, such as venture companies. MIC expects that the platform will increase the efficiency and sophistication of urban and regional functions and services, improve people’s convenience and comfort in their daily lives, and create towns where people can live in safety and security. The purpose of this project is based on the Basic Act for Promotion of Public-Private Data Utilization (promulgated and enforced on December 14, 2016), the Primary Report of the Smart City Study Working Group (WG) under the Commission on ICT Town Development (established in January 2017) (Reference 1), the Second-phase Town, People, Job Creation Comprehensive Strategy (the Cabinet decision of December 20, 2019)", and the Common Policy for Government’s Smart City-related Projects of FY2020 (Smart City Task Force Agreement of March 24, 2020).
In implementing this project, the following amount is subject to special allocation tax: The cost required for the introduction of advanced information and communications technology, e.g., 5G, IoT, and AI, to provide services necessary for maintaining and improving the lives of residents in disadvantaged areas, multiplied by 0.5 and a multiplication factor according to the financial strength index of the areas

2. Method of submitting proposals

1. Period of submission

No later than 5 pm on Friday, May 29, 2020.

2. Method of application

Make a suggestion using either i. or ii. below.

1. Submission by email

Make a proposal according to the implementation guideline (Attachment 1) and the proposal forms (Attachment 2, Form 5 and Form 6), submit the proposal to the competent Regional Bureau of Telecommunications (the Okinawa Office of Telecommunications in the case of Okinawa) by email with the subject line "Project to Promote Data Utilization and Application based Smart Cities under FY2020 Budget", and inform MIC by telephone that you have submitted the email (no postal mail or submission by hand is required).

2. Application by system for filing requests for subsidies (jGrants)

In this project, it is possible to apply through a system for filing requests for subsidies (jGrants), which can complete the process from the public appeal to post-project procedures online. Be aware that a gBizID prime (a gBiz ID) is required for application with this system.

For details, please check the URL below.

https://www.meti.go.jp/english/press/2019/1224_002.html

3. Selection of contractor candidates

MIC will select contractor candidates based on the results of external evaluation.

4. Future schedule

The schedule specified below is subject to advance or postponement depending on the selection situation of the contractor candidates.

Mid-June to late June 2020: Evaluation by external experts

Early July to mid-July 2020: Selection of contactor candidates

August 2020: Grant decision