Smart Mobility Challenge Project Launched

1. Selection of areas and projects to be supported under the project

In April 2019, METI and MLIT jointly started a new project titled “Smart Mobility Challenge,” aiming to support regions and companies in taking on solving challenges in mobility and vitalizing regions by implementing new mobility services in society, and from April to the end of May 2019, the ministries called for proposals from applicants concerning regional areas and projects that intend to embark on the pioneering implementation of new smart mobility services. An expert meeting examined the applications that the ministries received, and, based on the examination results, the ministries selected 28 areas and projects that they will support under the project.

METI’s efforts:

From April 23 to May 31, 2019, METI called for applicants for pilot areas that are willing to cooperate in pioneering implementation of new mobility services in society, formulation of business plans, analyses of potential business effects and other efforts under the Project for the Analysis of Pilot Areas. A planning and operation committee of experts examined the 24 proposals that METI received, and based on the examination results, METI selected 13 applicants as pilot areas (Appendix 1).

MLIT’s efforts:

From April 18 to May 29, 2019, MLIT called for applicants for the Project for the Promotion of New Mobility Services, an initiative for supporting entities across Japan in conducting demonstration tests of new mobility services, e.g., MaaS, and for promoting the establishment of model cases for finding solutions to challenges in transportation in regional areas. A committee of experts examined the 51 applications that MLIT received, and based on the examination results, MLIT selected 19 projects as Pioneering Model Projects in which selected applicants will be committed to pioneering efforts by executing leadership for the rest of regional areas across Japan (Appendix 2).

In the Smart Mobility Challenge Project, the ministries, through activities by the Council for Promoting the Smart Mobility Challenge Project (hereinafter referred to as the “council”), will encourage selected areas and projects to share information on specific demand and solutions and will streamline: key points in improving the business feasibility and social acceptability of new mobility services in regional areas; the impact of such services on regional economy; related institutional challenges; and other elements. Through these efforts, the ministries will advance the development of business environments.

2. Symposium for Smart Mobility Challenge to be Held

METI and MLIT will hold a symposium, aiming to share information with municipalities and companies that intend to take on new mobility services and to collaborate with them. The symposium will explain the selected areas and projects to be supported under the Smart Mobility Challenge Project and provide opportunities for member municipalities, companies and other entities of the council to explain their own efforts.

Program of the symposium:

Date and time: June 21 (Fri.), 2019, from 13:00 to 16:00 (The reception counter will open at 12:00.)

Venue: BASEQ, sixth floor of Tokyo Midtown Hibiya

Expected speakers:

Ministries and agencies:

METI Minister Seko, MLIT Minister Ishii and other officials

Municipalities:

Seiji Ohno, Director Responsible for Information Policies, Maebashi City, Gunma Prefect
Yujin Minobe, Vice Mayor, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture
Hisamitsu Kawai, Mayor, Eiheiji Town, Fukui Prefecture
Naomi Koshi, Mayor, Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture
Masayuki Moriyama, Ohda City, Shimane Prefecture (President, Vital Lead Co., Ltd.)

Businesses:

Masaharu Nakano, Corporate Officer, WILLER, Inc.
Naoki Tani, Corporate Officer and General Manager of IoT Business Department, NTT Docomo, Inc.
Masashi Hisatomi, Director of Management Strategies, Odakyu Electric Railway Co., Ltd.
Junichi Miyakawa, President and CEO, MONET Technologies Inc.

Notes:

1. Following the symposium, a networking event will be held at the same venue.
2. Acceptance of prior registration was already closed on June 5 (Wed.), 2019. However, we can provide some observer seats for the press. If you are a member of the press and wish to attend the symposium, please contact the following counter.

3. Links to related websites

• Information on the Project for the Analysis of Pilot Areas provided on the website for the Smart Mobility Challenge campaign.
• Information on the Project for the Promotion of New Mobility Services

Division in Charge

• Information on this press release:
  Project Team on Mobility and Future Communities and Cities, Manufacturing Industries Bureau, METI
• Transport Planning Division, Public Transport Policy Department, Logistics Policy Division, Policy Bureau, MLIT
• Contact counter for press coverage of the symposium:
  Global Infrastructure Consulting Department, Nomura Research Institute, Ltd.