June 7, 2023 Consulting Support for Regional DX Planning Consulting Service Support for Formulating Local DX Plans Second call for applications by organizations eligible for support opens

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) will provide consulting support to local public bodies and similar organizations in formulating regional DX plans as part of the Project to Promote the Use of Regional Digital Infrastructure in order to promote problem-solving efforts in the regions using digital technology. The second 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 and bring the Vision for a Digital Garden City Nation to fruition.
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 are 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.
  Note: See below for information on the financial strength index.
  https://www.soumu.go.jp/iken/zaisei/R03_chiho.html
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  Support under this project is provided for formulating plans to implement initiatives that contribute to resolving local issues. Planning for initiatives that do not directly lead to resolving regional issues, such as developing networks within government buildings, is not eligible.
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  Applicants other than local governments must submit applications by corporations or nonprofit corporations funded by local governments.

3. Details of support

It is assumed that the recipient organizations will prepare plans and perform the necessary work. Based on this premise, the support aims to provide support for preparing plans that can be used for budget requests within local governments and applications and proposals for government support, including the Project to Promote the Use of Local Digital Infrastructure, or to identify and organize local issues that are the first step toward the introduction of digital technology in the region. Consultants and other experts will provide side-by-side support for approximately three months. (Support provider: Boston Consulting Group, LLC)

4. Submission method

1. Application period

Wednesday, June 7 to 4:00 pm on Wednesday, June 21, 2023

2. Submission details

Complete the attached application form in Excel and submit it by email to the address below.

[Submission destination]
Regional Communications Development Division, Information and Communications Bureau, MIC
Email: digital-kiban_atmark_ml.soumu.go.jp

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  @ is expressed as “_atmark_” to prevent spam e-mail. Change “_atmark_” to @ when sending an email.

Please complete the email subject line as shown below.
Subject: Plan Formulation Support (XX City, YY Prefecture)
In the parentheses, indicate the name of the local government or company/organization.

5. Notification of selection results

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 that are eligible for support.
Around the end of June 2023, MIC will contact each applying organization individually to notify them of the selection results.

6. Future plans

June 2023: Second call for applications (about 10 organizations) Around July through September: Support for eligible organizations (secondary) Around September through October: Third call for applications (10 to 15 organizations)
Around October through January: Support for eligible organizations (tertiary)

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  The third call for applications may not be conducted depending on the status of public solicitation.

7. Reference materials

• Application Guidelines in PDF for Project to Promote the Use of Regional Digital Infrastructure (Planning Support)
• Guidance in PDF on the Project to Project to Promote the Use of Regional Digital Infrastructure (June 7, 2023 version)

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  The published materials are in Japanese only.