various technology through R&D and demonstration tests on JGN II are generating extensive spillover effects, such as improvement in Japan’s technical capabilities, strengthening of industry-university-government collaborations, creation of new businesses and industries, revitalization of local activities, and effects of developing human resources.

## 2 Implementing selective R&D

## (1) R&D on basic technology for ubiquitous networks

Placing emphasis on technologies that have the nature of basic technology, involve high risks, and have high spillover effects, the MIC has been implementing R&D on three technologies—microchip networking technology, ubiquitous network authentication/agent technology, and ubiquitous network control/management technology—since fiscal 2003 under an industry-university-government collaboration framework, and aims to establish elemental technologies.

## (2) R&D toward development of next-generation, high-function network infrastructure

The MIC implements R&D on very high-function network technologies that use quantum information and communications technology and nanotechnology. While quantum information and communications technology realizes extremely safe encryption communications and ultrahigh-capacity information transmission by putting information on each photon, nanotechnology realizes higher-performance, smaller, and more power-saving network components such as relay transmission and switching by making use of the nano-scopic physicality.

## (3) Advanced use of RFID tags

Since fiscal 2004 the MIC has been implementing R&D on technology for swapping the attributive information in RFID tags between different platforms in response to dynamic environmental changes, technology to link RFID tags with networks, and technology to control access rights to RFID tag information. Also, as an effort to promptly commercialize the R&D results, it conducts user-participation-type demonstration tests across Japan.

In addition, recognizing the need to have RFID tags smoothly accepted by society by taking appropriate measures from a consumer privacy protection standpoint, the MIC summed up the basic concept and formulated/published joint guidelines with the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry in June 2004 under the cooperation of the parties concerned, such as consumer groups.

Currently, the MIC is examining the effectiveness of the guidelines through demonstration tests in the respective fields, and plans to create detailed rules by field and modify the guidelines as required.

## (4) Connecting robots with ubiquitous networks

By connecting ubiquitous networks with personal robots and industrial robots that are expected to be used in homes and offices in the future (networked robots), it is anticipated that new lifestyles will be created and responses will be possible to such social problems as aging, medical treatment, and nursing care. The major key to realizing networked robots would be the network technology connecting ubiquitous networks with robots, and in order for Japan to lead the world in the field of networked robots, the necessary core technology must be promptly established. Since fiscal 2004, the MIC has been implementing R&D on such issues as “networked robot linkage technology” and “people-friendly communication technology.”

## (5) Advances in space communications

Because of their many features such as the capacity to provide wide-area and simultaneous communications and to be disaster-proof, space communications are used in a wide range of fields, including communications, broadcasting, and positioning technology. In consideration of the role that space communications should play in the information and communications infrastructure that will be rapidly developed and advanced in the future, the MIC is promoting the development of demonstration satellites and satellite experiments in order to realize the space communications that will be required.