Event to be held for Presentation by Municipalities on their Visions toward the Air Mobility Revolution

1. Background and purpose

Stakeholders in a variety of fields have been embarking on research and development involving flying vehicles, based on a variety of expected scenarios for the use of such vehicles, e.g., for relieving traffic congestion in commuting to offices, schools or kindergartens in cities, as a new mode of mobility for people living on islands or mountainous areas, for emergency patients transport and for quickly transporting goods in case of disasters.

Japan considers it important to clarify and concretize these visions and develop them into new domestic services. To this end, it is significant for the public sector to: quickly and appropriately support the private sector in advancing private efforts based on the future visions and perspectives  relevant to technology development in the private sector; and consistently advance the development of rules that are acceptable to the public.

Against this backdrop, the Public-Private Conference for the Future Air Mobility Revolution advanced discussions and compiled the discussion results into a roadmap in December 2018.

In advancing deliberations on related systems and frameworks in accordance with the roadmap, it will be indispensable for municipalities and private businesses to collaborate and advance demonstration tests in which the provision of specific services are expected. As an effort for encouraging such actions, METI and MLIT will jointly hold an event to provide an opportunity for municipalities (prefectural governments) to hold presentations on their visions toward the Air Mobility Revolution, for which such certain municipalities have been advancing efforts. . Through this event, the ministries will encourage efforts for the realization of flying vehicles in Japan.

METI hereby also announces that from 17:00 on August 2, 2019, immediately before starting the event, Fukushima Prefecture and Mie Prefecture will hold a Ceremony for Concluding Cooperation between Fukushima Prefecture and Mie Prefecture Involving Realization of Flying Vehicles and the Air Mobility Revolution at the same venue as the event.

• Example of Japanese companies’ efforts related to flying vehicles in which research and development and design have been advancing

2. Outline of the event

Event for Presentations by Municipalities on their Visions toward the Air Mobility Revolution:
Organizer: METI and MLIT
Date and time: August 2 (Fri.), 2019; from 17:30 to 18:30 (doors will open at 17:20.)
Venue: Hall B, fourth floor, Toranomon Hills
Municipalities that will make presentations:

1. Fukushima Prefecture
2. Tokyo
3. Aichi Prefecture
4. Mie Prefecture
5. Osaka Prefecture

Following these presentations, a networking event will be held for about one hour as an opportunity to further encourage private businesses and municipalities to collaborate with each other.

3. Related information

Ceremony for Concluding Cooperation between Fukushima Prefecture and Mie Prefecture Involving Realization of Flying Vehicles and the Air Mobility Revolution:
Organizers: Fukushima Prefecture and Mie Prefecture
Date and time: August 2 (Fri.), 2019; from 17:00 to 17:30 (doors will open at 16:15.)
Venue: Hall B, fourth floor, Toranomon Hills
Details of the ceremony: Visit the following websites.

• Fukushima Prefecture website
• Mie Prefecture website

The ceremony will also bring together the governors of both prefectures and provide speeches by Dr. Shinji Suzuki, Emeritus Professor and Project Professor, the University of Tokyo, and representatives of SkyDrive Inc., teTra aviation Corp. and DroneFund concerning their expectations for the efforts by the prefectures.

4. How to make a registration

If you wish to attend the presentation event or the ceremony, visit the following website for prior registration. Once you have completed registration, you are allowed to attend both the event and the ceremony.

• Application Form

Note: Please note that acceptance of applications may be closed if the fixed number is reached.

5. Media coverage

Media coverage of the event will be possible, including participation in an observer capacity, photo session and video. To cover the event and the ceremony, please send an email to the following address in advance, including your name, company name and position and contact address (telephone number and email address) and complete prior registration. The closing date and time is 17:00 on July 31 (Wed.), 2019.

Address for prior registration:
Division in charge of flying vehicles at METI: soramobi-media@meti.go.jp
Notes:

1. This email address is only for prior registration procedures for tmedia representatives who wish to cover the event..
2. Please note that you cannot enter the venue without prior registration because of the limited capacity.

The materials of the event and the ceremony will be publicized on the following METI website by 15:30 on the data of the event and the ceremony.

6. References

• Public-Private Conference for the Future Air Mobility Revolution
• Roadmap toward Air Mobility Revolution(PDF:387KB)

Division in Charge

Policy Planning and Coordination Division, Manufacturing Industries Bureau