In April 2004 the Communications Research Laboratory (CRL) and the Telecommunications Advancement Organization of Japan (TAO) merged to form an incorporated administrative agency, the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), which is expected to forcefully promote R&D, from the basics of information and communications to just before application, through close cooperation among the government, industry, and academia.

In addition, on October 1, 2003, three organizations (the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science, the National Aerospace Laboratory of Japan, and the National Space Development Agency of Japan) merged to form the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the new core organization for space development that undertakes everything from basic scientific research to practical R&D in a consistent manner.

### 2. Implementing Selective R&D

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

The ubiquitous network society will be realized through the combination of Japan’s technologies relating to optical communications, mobile, and intelligent home appliances that are highly reputed around the world, and it is expected to contribute greatly to ensuring international competitiveness. In order to realize this ubiquitous network society, which is full of so much potential, the MPHPT is promoting priority efforts toward basic R&D that will serve as a trigger and the construction of R&D networks that might be used as test beds (Figure 3-8-1).

The R&D test-bed (demonstration experiment) networks promote the upgrading of network technology and the development and demonstration of service applications and play a role in realizing the practical shift to such a society. The Japan Gigabit Network (JGN), which was operated from fiscal 1999 to fiscal 2003, fulfilled just such a role. It was used by an aggregate total of 650 organizations and more than 2,000 researchers and achieved tremendous results. The JGN II, a new R&D test-bed network that develops the JGN further, began operation in April 2004.

## (2) Useful technology for the realization of a ubiquitous network society

For the realization of a ubiquitous network society, it is necessary to establish basic technologies and to put them into use in a developmental manner. R&D is also necessary to promote the use of IT in various fields.

RFID tags have features that do not exist in bar codes. For example, by using radio waves, it is possible to read information contained in RFID tags from distant places and to read information from multiple RFID tags all at once. In addition, it is expected that RFID tags will become a basic tool connecting people and goods with networks in the ubiquitous network society, since, as light, small, and cheap RFID tags begin to appear, it will be possible to embed them in all kinds of things. Since fiscal 2004 the MPHPT 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 right to RFID tag information.

Also, by connecting ubiquitous networks with personal robots and industrial robots that are expected to be used in homes and offices in the future (network robots), it is anticipated that new lifestyles will be created and responses will be possible to such social problems as aging and medical treatment and care. In a five-year plan from fiscal 2004, the MPHPT is implementing R&D on such issues as “people-friendly communication technology” and “network robot linkage technology.”

Figure 3-8-1 R&D on Basic Technology Toward the Realization of a Ubiquitous Network Society