“Management of Courses on Support for Formulation of Business Plan and Points to Remember in Supporting Ventures.” It has also formulated the “ICT Venture Leadership Program” and the “Guidelines for Securing and Developing Human Resources in ICT Ventures.”

### 8. Development of ICT personnel

## (1) Development of advanced ICT personnel

Development of human resources with highly advanced knowledge and skills in the rapidly advancing ICT field is crucial for Japan to maintain its status as the world’s leading ICT-based country and to maintain and improve international competitiveness. Thus, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) has been implementing a support scheme for ICT human resources development programs since fiscal 2001 to assist the quasi-public organizations and public-interest corporations which develop human resources in the information and communications field.

To deal with the urgent issue of securing human resources with research and development capabilities who can plan and promote innovation strategies in line with the latest technological trends and market needs, the MIC has held meetings of the Study Group on R&D Human Resources Development in the ICT Sector since November 2006 and the report of the Study Group was issued in June 2007. Furthermore, the Study Group on Development of Advanced ICT Human Resources was set up with the aim of conducting deliberations on fully-fledged measures for developing advanced ICT human resources, including advanced ICT human resources organizations and their functions that are required for strengthening international competitiveness, and the report was released in May 2008.

## (2) Informatization of education and improvement of ICT media literacy

Since it is important for children who are the main players in the future of Japan, to become familiar with ICT at an early stage of their life, to improve their information utilization ability, and to build a society where new intellectual and cultural values are created, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) has formulated a manual that describes model plans for establishing networks in schools, entitled the “Manual for Installing School LAN” and posted it on its website.

In order to support ICT use in elementary and junior high-schools, the MIC has been conducting a large scale demonstration test, entitled the “Oasis Project.” This project is to transmit content owned by the NHK, such as programs and video clips for schools, to elementary and junior high-schools throughout the country free-of charge, on a demand basis, for three years from November 2006, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

### 9. Promotion of telework

Telework is expected to provide a solution for various issues such as an ageing population with a declining birthrate, regional revitalization, reduction in environmental load, etc., while improving business efficiency and productivity in an effort to strike a proper work-life balance. The government of Japan raised the target for a telework population accounting for 20% of the working population by 2010 in the Telework Population Doubling Action Plan. The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) also has been making a concerted effort to promote telework, in cooperation with relevant ministries and agencies. Specifically, working with the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the MIC started “demonstration experiments on telework model projects” and also implemented pioneering telework system model experiments to verify and present the various effects of telework on society.

### 10. Dealing with global warming issues in the ICT field

As global warming issues have become increasingly serious in recent years, ICT is expected to contribute greatly to the realization of a safe and secure society, improvement of convenience, and revitalization of regional economies, as well as to present a solution for global warming issues through more efficient business operations. On the other hand, consideration for global warming issues is increasingly necessary due to an increase in power consumption as a much higher number of ICT devices is in use and more functions are attached to them. In response to these circumstances, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC) has convened meetings of the Study Group on ICT Policy for Addressing Global Warming since September 2007 and the Study Group released its report in April 2008. Now, based on the report, the MIC will contribute to the development of international standards for the ITU, etc., toward the establishment of an international index for the effect of ICT on CO $ _{2} $ reduction and to implement effective evaluations, and will conduct discussions about support measures to promote further Åeenvironment’-conscious efforts in the home.