February 22, 2023 Consulting Service Support for Formulating Local DX Plans: First Call for Applications by Organizations Eligible for Support Opens

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) will provide support in the form of consulting services for local government bodies and the like in formulating local DX plans, as part of the Project to Promote the Use of Local Digital Infrastructure, in order to encourage initiatives to solve local problems through the use of digital technology. The first call for applications by organizations eligible for support opens today.

1. Purpose

Via the Project to Promote the Use of Local Digital Infrastructure, MIC will provide comprehensive support for initiatives by local government bodies and the like focused on using digital technology to address local issues, with a view to bringing to fruition the Vision for a Digital Garden City Nation.
As part of this project, MIC will provide support for the formulation of plans for the introduction and operation of digital technology to solve local issues via a side-by-side support model in which consultants and other professionals provide support to local government bodies, companies, and other organizations wishing to use digital technology to solve local issues.

2. Organizations eligible to apply

Local government bodies, companies, and other organizations wishing to use or interested in using digital technology to solve local issues

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  Local governments with a financial strength index of 1 or higher in FY2021 are ineligible for this support, as are companies and organizations wishing to implement initiatives in areas administered by those local governments.
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  In the case of companies and other organizations, it is a requirement that the plan to implement initiatives that will help to solve local issues should be formulated in partnership with a local entity such as a local government body.

3. Details of support

A consultant or other professional will provide side-by-side support for about three months to assist in drawing up a plan that can be used for budgetary requests within the local government body and also for submitting applications and proposals for demonstration projects and subsidy programs as part of the Project to Promote the Use of Local Digital Infrastructure, as well as for other government support programs.

Examples of support available

• Identifying and summarizing local issues
• Introduction to positive examples in other areas
• Examining the potential for using digital technology to solve issues
• Matching the organization with relevant business operators
• Examining requirements such as network structure and equipment
• Examining introduction and operating costs and cost-effectiveness
• Examining frameworks for collaboration with local stakeholders (financial institutions, companies and organizations, educational institutions, etc.)
• Examining operating models and funding plans, and mechanisms for monetization

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  Information about the business operator that will provide the support will be supplied when notifying applicants of the results of the selection process.
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  Support will be provided to assist applicant organizations as they carry out the work required to draw up a plan. Plan templates and the like will be provided if requested.

4. Submission method

1. Application period

From Wednesday, February 22 through 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 24, 2023

Submission Details

Regional Communications Development Division, Information and Communications Bureau, MIC
E-mail: digital-kiban_atmark_ml.soumu.go.jp
*@ is expressed as "_atmark_" to prevent spam e-mail. When sending an e-mail, please change "_atmark_" to @.
Please complete the e-mail subject line as shown below.
Subject: Plan Formulation Support (XX City, YY Prefecture)
Please write the name of the local government body, company, or other organization in brackets.

5. Notification of results of selection

In the event of a large number of applications, factors such as whether there are previous examples of initiatives involving the use of digital technology at the applicant organization and how proactive the organization is will be taken into account in determining the organizations eligible for support.
MIC will contact each applicant organization individually sometime around the end of March 2023 to notify them of the results of selection.

6. Future plans

February to March 2023 First call for applications (around 15-20 organizations)
Around April to June Support for eligible organizations (first group)
Around May to June Second call for applications (around 10-15 organizations)
Around June to September Support for eligible organizations (second group)
Around November to December Third call for applications (around 10-15 organizations)
Around January to March 2024 Support for eligible organizations (third group)

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  Local governments with a financial strength index of 1 or higher in FY2021 are ineligible for this support, as are companies and organizations wishing to implement initiatives in areas administered by those local governments.