# Section 6 Promoting ICT Use and Application

# 1. Promoting ICT applications in education, medicine, and other fields

## (1) Promoting ICT use and application in the education field

MIC ran the Future School Promotion Project from FY 2010 to FY 2013 to promote ICT use and application in the education field and identify and analyze issues centered on information and communications technology.

The Project identified and analyzed issues centered on information and communications technology in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology's Learning Innovation Project. At the conclusion of the Project, MIC put together and announced, in April 2014, the 2014 Guidelines (Guidebook) on Information and Communications Technology to Promote Use and Application of ICT in the Field of Education.

The ICT Dream School Council, first launched in June 2014, has examined approaches to future education and learning environments that use and apply ICT, as a direction for ICT use and application in the education field, methods of popularizing the environments, and the development of new businesses. The Council issued an interim report in April 2015 that became the MIC's policy on promotional measures for ICT use and application in the education field.

## (2) Promoting ICT use and application in medical, nursing, and health fields

### a. Nationwide expansion of medical and nursing information

## coordination networks

Medical information coordination networks make it possible to safely and smoothly record, store, and view medical and health information on patients and citizens held by medical institutions. Medical information coordination networks will reduce the workloads of patients and medical institutions as well as contribute to the stable provision of regional medical care, better quality of medical care, and fairness in medical expenses.

MIC conducted demonstrations of information co-

dination using cloud and other technologies at medical

institutions, including the home healthcare and nursing

fields, to realize high-quality inexpensive medical care

and nursing services.

### b. Establishment of ICT health models

As Japan faces a super-aged society, we need to realize a society in which citizens can obtain the services they need when they need them at appropriate costs, while responding to the aging population, the changes in the types of illnesses, and the increase in medical care and nursing needs. At the same time, we must ensure sustainability of our social security system.

MIC, in FY 2014, demonstrated health promotion models that use ICT and verified that it raised people's consciousness about health using incentives.

### c. Tohoku Regional Medical Information Coordination Platform

## Construction Project

The importance of medical information coordination networks gained prominence in the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake. In view of this, MIC has taken steps since FY 2011 to provide financial assistance for the construction medical information coordination networks in medical zones in the areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake.

### 2. Regional development using information and communications infrastructure

## (1) Promoting the widespread adoption of ICT best practices that help resolve regional issues

Individual regions are making various efforts to resolve the many issues Japan faces (such as a declining population, a falling birthrate and aging population, insufficient health practitioners, disaster preparedness, and decaying regional economies). MIC has decided to award prizes to cutting-edge examples of ICT use and application submitted by local regions that contribute to the revitalization of local economies. The goal of the awards is to promote the widespread adoption of ICT best practices that help resolve regional issues.

MIC received a total of 94 entries during October and November 2014. A committee of experts selected en-

### 3. Promoting the use of open data

## (1) Establishing conditions for open data distribution

There has been a recent trend toward open government to increase transparency and promote citizen parties that contribute to revitalize local economies for the Local Computerization Awards.

## (2) Establishing support systems through the deployment of ICT experts directed at regional stimulation

MIC has been conducting initiatives to build up local economies and communities by making use of ICT since 2007. Activities include sending Regional ICT Advisors—experts with knowledge and insight into regional ICT development—to regions motivated to tackle regional stimulation through ICT, providing assistance to build success models, and propagating the results of these efforts nationwide.

participation and cooperation with citizens. As part of this, there is increasing interest in open data—i.e., the promotion of the use of public data.