National Forum of Smart Monodzukuri Supporting Organizations to be Held

1. Background and purpose

As the labor shortage regions continues to increase in severity in most regions of Japan, improving the productivity of mid-ranking companies and SMEs through the introduction of IoT and robots into their business, among other efforts, is becoming increasingly important. Against this backdrop, METI has been supporting mid-ranking companies and SMEs in improving their productivity through the introduction of IoT and robots into their business and other efforts, through various projects, including the Supporting Teams for Smart Monodzukuri project.* In addition to the Supporting Teams for Smart Monodzukuri project, METI also recognizes that a variety of organizations across Japan have actively been deploying similar efforts to improve the productivity of companies in a variety of ways.

Aiming to broadly share these efforts and the knowhow derived from them with the public, METI and RRI will jointly hold a National Forum of Smart Monodzukuri Supporting Organizations.

In the latter half of the forum, a poster presentation sessions will be held as an opportunity for participants to freely establish networks and share information. METI wishes for your active participation in this event. If you wish to attend the event, please visit the following website for the International Robot Exhibition 2019 and complete the registration procedures.

*Note: The Supporting Teams for Smart Monodzukuri project conducts training courses targeting experienced manufacturing, IoT and robotics human resources to encourage them to master general-purpose leadership skills, and dispatch the leaders who have completed the courses to manufacturing floors of SMEs and mid-ranking companies. Through this project, METI aims to promote productivity improvement within targeted SMEs and mid-ranking companies and to encourage such companies to cultivate new business.

• Photo: Scene from the 2018 forum
  Note: This venue is different from that of the 2019 forum.

2. Outline of the forum

Date:

December 20 (Fri.), 2019; from 13:00 to 16:00

Venue:

Reception Hall A on the first floor of Conference Tower, Tokyo Big Sight

Co-organizers:

METI and RRI

Capacity:

300

Program:
■Part I: Lectures (From 13:00 to 14:30)

1. Opening remarks: Mr. Nakano Takeshi, Director for Manufacturing Industries Policy Office, Manufacturing Industries Bureau, METI
2. Explanations of participants’ efforts
   [i] Mr. Nose Yukio, Director, Robotics Technology Center, Kitakyushu Foundation for the Advancement of Industry, Science and Technology (FAIS)
   [ii] Mr. Iwamoto Koichi, Senior Fellow, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI); Japan Productivity Center
   [iii] Mr. Hasegawa Tatsuya, Director, Department Responsible for the Innovation Promotion Team, Commerce and Industry Labor Bureau, Hiroshima Prefectural Government
3. Commendation ceremony for recognizing the winners of the Third Competition of Tools for Supporting Smart Monodzukuri
4. Closing remarks: The Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry

Note: The materials of the forum will not be distributed in paper format. The materials will be posted on this website, so please bring an internet-accessible device with you on the date of the forum,

Please note that no Wi-Fi service will be provided at the venue.

■Part II: Poster presentation sessions (From 14:30 to 16:00)
Participants will share information on efforts undertaken at the bases for the Supporting Teams for Smart Monodzukuri and by Local IoT Acceleration Labs, other supporting organizations and other entities. METI hopes that participants take this opportunity to establish productive networks.

3. Prior registration for attending the forum

If you wish to attend the forum, please visit the following website for the International Robot Exhibition 2019 and complete the registration procedures. Admission is free.

• Link to the International Robot Exhibition 2019 website

Title of event: National Forum of Smart Monodzukuri Supporting Organizations (K-4)
Date and time: December 20 (Fri.), 2019; from 13:00 to 16:00

Link to related information

• METI to Hold National Forum of Smart Monodzukuri Supporting Organizations
• First Meeting of the National Smart Monodzukuri Conference to be Held
  - Effort for fortifying networks among mid-ranking companies and SMEs and promoting “Connected Industries” -

Division in Charge

Policy Planning and Coordination Division, Manufacturing Industries Bureau