## Developed countries position ICT as a new area of growth

OAmid the global economic crisis, the idea of positioning ICT as a new field that contributes to a future-oriented nation-building has taken hold.

OThe United States, the United Kingdom, France and South Korea have adopted national strategies focusing on ICT. e.g.) U.S.: “Technology and Innovation”, U.K: “Digital Britain”, France: “Digital France 2012”, South Korea: “New IT Strategy”

## National digital strategies adopted by major countries

## United States

■ The new U.S. administration of President Obama has positioned technology and innovation as a cornerstone of its policy.

Examples of policy measures:

O Connecting all schools, libraries, households and hospitals with the world’s most advanced communications infrastructure

O Appointing a CTO (Chief Technology Officer), who will be responsible for overseeing the technology policy of the U.S. government as a whole in order to realize an “e-government.”

O Reducing the costs of medical care systems through ICT utilization Source: Technology and Innovation, a policy drawn up by then presidential candidate Obama (November 2007)

A statement by President Barrack Obama on technology and innovation:

“The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act — not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost… and we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age.” (extracted from the inaugural address made by President Obama on January 20, 2009)

## United Kingdom

■“Digital Britain” is a strategic plan aiming to accelerate the growth of the digital industry and enhance the United Kingdom’s position as a world leader in innovation, investment and quality. It describes mainly measures related to the development of ICT infrastructure, the promotion of “digital participation” by the general public and creative industries of the digital age.

A statement by Peter Mandelson, Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform:

“The Government is determined that the UK will strengthen its place as a word leader in the communications and digital technology sectors. For the present financial and banking crisis, Britain must get through the worst and prepare for the upturn. The digital economy will be central to this.”

## France

■ France announced “Digital France 2012,” a comprehensive national strategy for the digital sector, in October 2008

■ The strategy aims to increase the ICT sector’s share of GDP from 6% to 12% (as stated by Eric Besson, who was then Secretary of State in charge of the development of the digital economy). (Note) The strategy comprises 154 measures, including those related to plans to enable all citizens to access broadband networks and enhance the production of digital contents.

## South Korea

South Korea announced its New IT Strategy, an ICT policy of the government of President Lee Myung-bak, in July 2008.

In December 2008, South Korea adopted the basic plan for national information empowerment for 2008 to 2012 and set five broad goals, including expanding the annual production value of the ICT industry from the 267.6 trillion won in 2007 to 386 trillion in 2012, with a view to creating an advanced knowledge- and information-based society with creativity and credibility. Following this, South Korea announced an implementation plan for national information empowerment, which listed 205 tasks related to 20 agenda items.