Successful Applicants Chosen for Research and Development of Enhanced Infrastructures for Post 5G Information and Communications Systems

1. Purpose of the project

The fifth-generation mobile communications system (5G) is a more advanced technology than the fourth-generation (4G). While companies around the world have been launching commercial 5G services, they have also been further enhancing the capabilities of 5G (e.g., ultra-low latency and simultaneous connections of multiple terminals). Often called "post 5G," this enhanced 5G is expected to be used in a variety of industrial applications in fields such as smart plants and autonomous driving, and to be a potential core technology for Japan's international competitiveness.
The purpose of the Project for Research and Development of Enhanced Infrastructures for Post 5G Information and Communications Systems is to develop such systems as tailored to post 5G (hereinafter referred to as "post 5G information and communications systems") and related technologies used in them (semiconductors, etc.), and at the same time, to develop the manufacturing technology for the advanced semiconductors required for post 5G in order to ensure that they can be manufactured in Japan in the future.

2. Overview of the project

Through this project, research and development will be conducted under three initiatives: No. 1, "Developing Post 5G Information and Communications Systems (Commissioned)"; No. 2, "Developing Technologies for Manufacturing Leading-Edge Semiconductors (Subsidized)"; and No. 3, "Leading-Edge Research (Commissioned and Subsidized)." (For details, please see the Research and Development Plan for the Project for Research and Development of Enhanced Infrastructures for Post 5G Information and Communications Systems listed in the references section.).
From among these, METI issued an open call for applicants for R&D initiative Nos. 1 and 3 (i.e., "Developing Post 5G Information and Communications Systems (Commissioned)" and Leading-Edge Research (Commissioned and Subsidized)," respectively.)

R&D initiative No. 1: Developing Post 5G Information and Communications Systems (Commissioned)

From among the various post 5G information and communications systems, this initiative focuses on developing semiconductor-related technologies required for mobile edge computing (MEC).
Specifically, with a view toward achieving low-latency processing using MEC, it aims to develop technologies for designing large-scale, advanced-logic semiconductors using cutting-edge process nodes, and to develop high-capacity, high-bandwidth memory systems.

R&D initiative No. 3: Leading-Edge Research (Commissioned and Subsidized)

The aim of this initiative is to conduct leading-edge R&D pertaining to "1. Developing Post 5G Information and iCommunications Systems (Commissioned)" and "2. Developing Technologies for Manufacturing Leading-Edge Semiconductors (Subsidized)."

3. Results of the adoption

See below.

• List of the results of the adoption for Project for Research and Development of Enhanced Infrastructures for Post 5G Information and Communications Systems (in Japanese) (PDF:104KB)
• Outline of the adopted project themes (in Japanese) (PDF:1,556KB)

References

These results are also released on the website of the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO).

• Adoption results page for "Developing Post 5G Information and Communications Systems" (in Japanese)
• Adoption results page for "Leading-Edge Research (Commissioned)" (in Japanese)
• Adoption results page for "Leading-Edge Research (Subsidized) (in Japanese)

For details of the Research and Development Plan, see the following:

• Research and Development Plan for Project for Research and Development of Enhanced Infrastructures for Post 5G Information and Communications Systems (March 9, 2021) (in Japanese) (The color of the text related to this open call has been set to blue.)(PDF:511KB)
• For details on the open call related to these adoption results, see the following: "Call to Open for Applicants to Lead the Project for Research and Development of Enhanced Infrastructures for Post 5G Information and Communications Systems" (in Japanese)(PDF:8KB)

Division in Charge

Device and Semiconductor Strategy Office, Commerce and Information Policy Bureau