also formulated in the report.

# 2. Enhancing Research and Development to Realize Cutting-edge ICT in All Parts of Society

## (1) Establishment and Demonstration of Common IoT Platform Technologies

MIC decided to conduct research and development, starting in FY2016, on common platform technologies, such as technologies to quickly and efficiently connect massive numbers of IoT devices and technologies to consolidate IoT devices and services with different wireless standards and to connect and accommodate them in networks efficiently and securely. In collaboration with the aforementioned Smart IoT Acceleration Forum, MIC has been strengthening efforts for international standardization.

## (2) Promoting Research and Development into Next-generation Optical Network Technologies

NICT is researching and developing the base technologies to make possible fast, high-capacity, low-power networks (all-optical networks) with all signal transmissions and conversions done optically. For its part, MIC is engaged in research and development laying the groundwork for products and markets that have early commercialization potential from among those basic technologies obtained through NICT research and development.

## (3) Promoting Research and Development and Pilot Programs of Multilingual Voice-based Translation Technology

Under a five-year plan that began in FY2015, MIC is working to implement multilingual voice-based translation systems. This project necessitates other initiatives, such as research and development into noise-reduction technologies so that conversations can be recognized correctly in noisy environments. The performance of such technologies must be evaluated in real-world settings such as hospitals, commercial establishments, trains, and taxis.

## (4) Promoting Research and Development of AI-related Technologies

NICT’s Universal Communications Research Institute is mainly working on research and development of technologies to analyze big data and multilingual voice-based translation technologies. NICT’s Center for Information and Neural Networks (CiNet) is working to elucidate brain mechanisms and conducting research and development into network control technologies that make use of these mechanisms and into technologies to measure brain functions.

## (5) Construction and Application of Testbeds to Accelerate the Public Implementation of Research Findings

NICT constructed the Japan Gigabit Network (JGN), an R&D testbed network, in FY1999. The testbed has been made available to a wide range of domestic and overseas research institutes and has helped advance research and development into cutting-edge network technologies and testing of many applications. NICT started operating StarBED, a large-scale general-purpose internet simulator, in FY2002. In FY2011, NICT began providing StarBED3, a large-scale emulation platform, as a testbed for verifying many kinds of technology.

### 3. Assistance for Creating Innovation Using Competitive Funding

## (1) Strategic Information and Communications R&D Promotion Programme (SCOPE)

MIC seeks novel R&D themes in the ICT field broadly from universities, national R&D agencies, private companies, local government research institutes, etc., selects highly potential ones through assessment by external intellectuals, and offers competitive funds to R&D activities on those selected themes. Since FY2002, MIC has offered financial support for over 600 R&D themes.

## (2) ICT Innovation Creation Challenge Program

The ICT Innovation Creation Challenge Program (ICChallenge!) was launched in FY2014 to stimulate made-in-Japan innovation in the ICT field. I-Challenge!, which accepts submissions anytime, encourages universities and venture businesses to commercialize technologies and assists them in taking on the challenge of new business domains. The Program pushes for unification of research and development support and venture incubation support, making use of the private sector's commercialization expertise and know-how.

## (3) Inno-vation Program

MIC has instituted the Inno-vation Program, which aims to discover creative talent in the ICT field where existing value and accepted practices do not necessarily apply. The Program provides assistance to creative people who are taking on risky challenges with great potential in order to produce breakthrough global-scale value in the ICT field. Under the Program, challenges with ambitious targets, using revolutionary approaches and productive failures that clarify the path to eventual success, are highly regarded.