intends to continue its efforts for the creation of venture businesses. The MIC also takes measures to promote the creation and growth of ICT ventures in cooperation with related ministries and agencies, covering various aspects from fund supply, securing and development of human resources, and information provision, etc.

In specific terms, in order to support the development of human resources in ICT ventures, the MIC has developed the Manual for Formulation Business Plan and Venture Management and the Management of Courses on Support for Formulation of Business Plan and Points to Remember in Supporting Ventures. It has also formulated the ICT Venture Leader 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 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, etc., which develop human resources in the information and communications field.

Based on the ICT International Competitiveness Enhancement Program ver.2.0 of July 2008, the MIC intends to support the development of functions serving as a national center for coordination between universities and supported corporations towards developing highly capable ICT human resources in partnership with industry, academia and government.

## (2) Promotion of informatization of education

Since it is very important for children--the main players in the future of Japan--to become familiar with ICT at an early stage in their life, to improve their information utilization ability, and to build a society where new intellectual and cultural values are created, the MIC has been making efforts to promote the installation of in-school LAN, to promote the Oasis Project and to improve media literacy, etc.

### 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. With respect to telework, the government of Japan raised the target for teleworkers to 20% of the working population by 2010 in the Telework Population Doubling Action Plan (decision by the Inter-ministerial Committee on the Promotion of Telework, approved by the IT Strategy Headquarters in May 2007). The MIC also has been making a concerted effort to promote telework, in cooperation with relevant ministries and agencies.

Specifically, the MIC has implemented the Telework Trial/Experience Project to encourage small-and medium-sized enterprises to offer telework opportunities and carried out demonstration tests to establish a next-generation advanced telework model system.

### 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, as well as to present solutions to global warming through more efficient business operations. On the other hand, consideration of global warming issues is becoming increasingly necessary because of the increase in power consumption and in the number of ICT devices in use. The Hokkaido Toyako G8 Summit held in July 2008 adopted a declaration that calls for signatory countries to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change to set a goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2050. This signifies that environmental and climate change issues have become a challenge to be addressed by the international community.

Based on these, the MIC set up the Study Group on Ecology Measures in ICT Sector in November 2008 and prepared a report in May 2009.

Also, at the Symposium on ICT and Climate Change held by ITU in April and June 2008, intensive measures focusing on these issues have been taken and the ITU-T launched the Focus Group on ICT and Climate Change (FG) in July 2008. The MIC hosted the final meeting of the FG in March 2009.

### 11. Promotion of ICT use for medical care

In the medical sector in Japan, malpractice caused by the increased burden on medical professionals is frequently reported. The burden of national health costs is expected to increase rapidly along with the advancement of an aging population, and preventive measures for lifestyle-related diseases are increasingly necessary.

With the aim of contributing to solutions to these issues, the MIC has been conducting demonstration