It was also decided that the MIC should work with local governments to share information on cyber-attacks and personal information leaks, etc., and give cautionary warnings as needed when IT failures occur, to continue supporting the execution of appropriate information security measures.

## (2) Enhancement of infrastructure to achieve citizen-centered e-government and more efficient procedures

### a. Utilization of Resident Registration Network System

The number of items of personal identification information provided from the Resident Registration Network System to government institutions etc. is steadily increasing. In FY2012, the number reached about 534 million items, partly because personal identification information began to be provided in order to eliminate the requirement to submit address changes of pension recipients.

Also, the social security and tax number system, scheduled to be introduced in the future, will utilize the Resident Registration Network System, so the system will play an even more important role as information infrastructure.

### b. Public Certification Service for Individuals provided by local governments

Applications and procedures that can be done with the Public Certification System for Individuals include filing tax returns and applying for property deeds. As of the end of April 2013, the Public Certification System for Individuals was being used for procedures with 10 government ministries and agencies, 47 prefectural governments, and several municipalities. It is necessary to promote the early and voluntary adoption of the Public Certification System for Individuals and to develop and entrench it as the authentication platform for many other online procedures.

## Section 7 Promotion of Research and Development (R&D)

### 1. Promotion of Research and Development Strategy

The MIC is working to promote research and development, based on the “4th Science and Technology Basic Plan” (August 2011 Cabinet decision), which is Japan’s basic policy for science and technology.

And during the 3rd Target Period over the five years starting FY2011, the NICT is placing priority on four fields: "Network Infrastructure Technology," "Universal Communication Infrastructure Technology," "Future ICT Infrastructure Technology" and "Electromagnetic Wave Sensing Infrastructure Technology" in light of the current situation surrounding the information and communications field and science and technologies of the government as a whole. The aim is efficient and effective research and development.

### 2. Research and Development which Leads the Next Generation

## (1) Establishment of network infrastructure technologies adapted to the era of big data

In order to realize an information and communications network adapted to the era of big data, the MIC started research and development on “network virtualization technology” that has functions and performance at the levels required of networks of telecommunications carriers.

## (2) Steady Construction and Operation of Japan Gigabit Network eXtreme (JGNX),

NICT has been building and operating a new-generation communication network testbed (JGN-X) since April 2011 in order to establish system technology infrastructure for new-generation networks through demonstration and evaluation. NICT will continue to promote the use of the testbed as an environment for technology evaluation in research and development and demonstration experiments concerning new-generation network technology and application technology.

## (3) Enhancement of competitive funds

Competitive funds refer to research and development (R&D) funds allocated to researchers under a system that publicly invites proposals of research themes and which makes selection based on evaluation by two or more persons including experts.

The “Strategic Information and Communications R&D Promotion Programme” is a competitive fund program for R&D in the information and communications technology field that is operated by the MIC. It has been decided that starting in FY2013, this program should contribute to the training of data scientists by promoting R&D for the use of big data in addition to enhancing R&D for expanding radio wave resources.

### 3. Contribution to green innovation and life innovation

## (1) Demonstration project of advanced technology for smart grid communication network

In the demonstration project of advanced technology for smart grid communication networks, communications formats suited to smart grids that can ensure the safety and reliability of communication networks in a situation where a significant load is imposed on the whole of the networks.