April 17, 2020 Public Appeal for Proposals on Project for Promoting Joint AI Development of Local Governments under FY2020 Budget

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) has decided to make a public appeal for demonstration groups for a survey and research on AI utilization in local governments as a part of a Project for Promoting Joint AI Development of Local Governments.

Public Appeal for Demonstration Groups for a Survey and Research on AI Utilization in Local Governments

1. Summary of demonstration

1. Demonstration outline

This project will conduct research and demonstration of cloud AI services (hereafter, “cloud AI” collectively) used by local governments to input information for collecting and accumulating data (i.e., non-public data, such as business information) when performing administrative procedures.
MIC encourages demonstration groups to utilize public cloud AI services. However, with consideration of the current review status of information security requirements for local governments, this fiscal year’s demonstration will not hinder the use of the Local Government Wide Area Network-Application Service Provider (LGWAN-ASP) system.
Furthermore, demonstration groups should take relevant governmental considerations into account. For instance, they should design the standard operating specifications of specific information security related to services that utilize cloud AI and the appropriate transfer, generation, and sharing methods of data between the network environment of local governments and cloud AI.

2. Proposal subject

Consortium of multiple local governments and business operators

3. Planned number of consortiums to be adopted

Three groups

2. How to submit documents

1. Submission deadline

No later than 2 pm on Friday, May 29, 2020

2. Method of submission

Create submission documents following the public appeal guidelines and proposal document formats and submit them by email to the Regional Communications Development Division of MIC’s Information and Communications Bureau. Refer to 3. Documents to be submitted for details on the public appeal guidelines.

3. Documents to be submitted

1. Public appeal guidelines

• https://www.soumu.go.jp/main_content/000683195.pdf

2. Attachment 2. Proposal formats of survey and research on AI utilization in local governments

https://www.soumu.go.jp/menu_news/s-news/01ryutsu06_02000248.html

4. Relevant URL

• Promotion of data utilization and application

https://www.soumu.go.jp/menu_seisaku/ictseisaku/ictriyou/bigdata.html