Amano updated his hosts on the progress of the development of ITS technologies in support of Japan’s Active Ageing programme, which is responding to the needs of a population with the world’s highest proportion of older adults by introducing innovative community support systems. Recent earthquake, tsunami and nuclear plant disasters have also highlighted the need to develop fast-response emergency aid delivery and evacuation procedures.
The visit followed an earlier, GNSS-oriented industrial partner mission to Japan led by Ertico’s CEO, Jacob Bangsgaard.
Organised by EU directorate-general Growth, which covers industry and entrepreneurship, and the EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation, this set out to foster closer collaboration on developing applications for GNSS systems, including Europe’s Galileo. There was strong emphasis on joint activity involving Japan’s Quasi-Zenith Satellite System.
A public-private round table opened with the signing of a cooperation agreement on key industrial sectors for GNSS-based technology and strengthening overall policy coordination between the EU and Japan. The European industrial partners highlighted roles for GNSS in automated driving.
The mission also reviewed planned EU-Japan cooperation in the run-up to the 2020 Tokyo Olympiad, with Bangsgaard highlighting Ertico’s vision of ITS for smart cities and major events.
