Towards Innovation and Productivity Improvement in Service Industries

Service Industries are extremely important industries that account for almost 70% of the Japanese economy, whether measured in terms of GDP or employment. The importance of service industries is expected to increase further as its market expands due to increasing demand for services caused by changes in the social structure.

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) organized a study group on December 2006 made up of representatives from academia and several business sectors in order to discuss how to promote innovation and productivity improvement in Japan's service industries. The study group published a report in April 2007, in which it analyzed the characteristics of the nation's service industries and listed several solutions for innovation.

Report (PDF:385KB)

In response to this report, an organization called "Service Productivity and Innovation for Growth (SPRING)" was established this May mainly by the business sector. This organization will lead activities to implement the various solutions and ideas raised in the report and METI and other government agencies will also work together with SPRING by supporting its activities.

(SPRING Link)  
http://www.service-js.jp/index.php

(Contact)
Service Policy Division
Commerce and Information Policy Bureau

Tadashi Mogi (mogi-tadashi@meti.go.jp)
Masayo Tokuhiro(tokuhiro-masayo@meti.go.jp)