June 21, 2023 Project to Promote the Use of Local Digital Infrastructure (Demonstration Project) Results of the First Round of Public Solicitation and the Start of the Second Round of Public Solicitation

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) decided on the project proposals to be adopted based on evaluating the proposals submitted to the first round of public solicitation for the fiscal 2023 Project to Promote the Use of Local Digital Infrastructure (demonstration project) by outside experts. MIC also announces that the project’s second round of public solicitation starts today and continues until Wednesday, July 12, 2023.

1. Overview

MIC provides comprehensive support through the Project to Promote the Use of Local Digital Infrastructure for implementing organizations to solve local issues using digital technology to realize the Digital Garden City Nation. As part of this project, MIC calls for proposals from a wide range of local governments, companies, and organizations for social experiments (demonstration project proposals) toward the practical application of new solutions that will contribute to solving regional issues.

2. Results of the first round of public solicitation

MIC received 48 proposals during the first round of public solicitation, which ran from March 31 through May 10, 2023. The following nine proposals were adopted based on the evaluation results of an evaluation committee of outside experts.
The outline of the adopted project proposals will be posted on MIC’s website as soon as it is ready.
https://www.soumu.go.jp/menu_seisaku/ictseisaku/ictriyou/digital_kiban/index.html

3. Commencement of secondary public solicitation

The second round of public solicitation for the Project to Promote the Use of Local Digital Infrastructure (Demonstration Project) starts today and continues until Wednesday, July 12, 2023.

1. Subject of public solicitation

Social demonstration initiatives for the practical application of solution ideas that aim to solve regional issues by utilizing new communications technologies such as local 5G

2. Proposing entity

Local governments, private companies, organizations, etc.

3. Implementation guidelines

Implementation Guidelines in PDF for the Project to Promote the Use of Local Digital Infrastructure (Demonstration Project)

4. Schedule

Period	Summary
Wednesday, June 21 - Noon, Wednesday, July 5, 2023	Consultation period Please contact us by email at the address below.
10:00 am, Thursday, July 6 - Noon, Wednesday, July 12, 2023	Submission period During the period indicated on the left, only form-related inquiries will be accepted. Please refer to “4. How to apply” for details on how to apply.
Around July - August 2023	Evaluation by external experts
Around late August 2023	Announcement of selected project proposals

*The schedule is subject to change depending on the selection of the candidates.

4. Submission method

1. Presentation period

From 10:00 am on Thursday, July 6 to Noon on Wednesday, July 12, 2023

2. Application method

Please submit the following application documents

Demonstration project
Form 1: Proposal Form 2: Description of Implementation System Form 3: Project Schedule Form 4: Financial Plan Form 5: Proposal Summary ■ Complete set of application documents Please download the complete set of application documents from the link provided.

*In addition to the above, if there are any other materials to supplement your proposal, please attach them in A4 size (any format), not exceeding 10 pages. [Submission destination]
The above application documents, etc., must be submitted by email to the Regional Bureau of Telecommunications or the Okinawa Office of Telecommunications, whichever has jurisdiction over the applicant’s location (or the main implementation area if there are multiple implementation areas).
Please refer to the Implementation Guidelines for contact information for each Regional Bureau of Telecommunications or the Okinawa Office of Telecommunications.

*Please enter the subject line of the email as follows:
Subject: Demonstration Project (name of local government, company, or organization) In the parentheses, please indicate the name of the local government or company/organization.

5. Selection procedure

MIC will make a selection based on the results of an evaluation by outside experts.

6. Reference materials

• Project to Promote the Use of Local Digital Infrastructure (MIC’s website) https://www.soumu.go.jp/menu_seisaku/ictseisaku/ictriyou/digital_kiban/index.html
• Regional Digital Infrastructure Utilization Promotion Project to Provide Comprehensive Support for Solving Local Issues―Solicitation for Proposals for Demonstration Projects and Subsidized Projects Starts https://www.soumu.go.jp/menu_news/s-news/01ryutsu06_02000345.html
• Project to Promote the Use of Local Digital Infrastructure (Subsidized Project)―Determination of Candidates for the First Round of Public Solicitation for Proposals and Commencement of the Second Round of Public Solicitation https://www.soumu.go.jp/menu_news/s-news/01ryutsu06_02000353.html

*The published material is in Japanese only.