ICT solutions to challenge problems in local cities 4/4Shimane Prefecture: Revitalization of local society with “Ruby

by Takehiko Kato, Chief Fellow

This article is to introduce challenges of Shimane Prefecture with slogans and policies that ICT develops its industry and human resources.

On the website of Shimane Prefecture “Shimane IT Industry Development Business” is posted that Shimane Prefecture strives to assist that domestic Shimane IT industry achieve sustainable development and promote to develop own unique technology, products and services with the assistance in the areas of human resource development and its securing, technology strengthening and business channel development.

There is a good reason why Shimane Prefecture is focusing on ICT. In Matsue City of Shimane, there lives Mr. Yukihiro Matsumoto, developer of “Ruby”, an open source programming language specified internationally. He posted his message on the website of Shimane Prefecture, ”IT and OSS (Open Source Software) have potential power to reduce regional disparities and I am glad and encouraged that Shimane Prefecture is specifically focusing on one programming language “Ruby” for its administration which is really unprecedented.” Mr. Matsumoto has been giving his assistance by himself to vitalize the local industry.

Based on this background Shimane Prefecture are actively promoting public private partnerships and developing human resources to be globally recognized with “Ruby” always located center in their activities.

IoT Promotion Laboratory

Shimane Software Research and Development Center was established in October 2015 as center of R&D to assist enterprises who are in effort to utilize IT. The Center is actually assisting those domestic Shimane enterprises who are trying to develop products and services for sales and business in domestic and overseas market with their technical advices to solve potential technical issues and problems.

They are covering even advanced technologies such as AI (Artificial Intelligence) and Autonomous Driving, and are working in wide cooperation with institutes in and out of Shimane Prefecture to support technical and engineering activities of enterprises. Their activities are highly appreciated and selected as one of “Regional IoT Promotion Laboratories” authorized jointly by IPA Information-technology Promotion Agency and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

In the industrial circles the Information Industry Association of Shimane Prefecture (61 member companies) and Shimane Foundation of Industry Development (which are supporting mainly small and medium enterprises) are tasked to give general and engineering support to enterprises.

Wide variety of Human Resources Developments

In the area of human resources development there are a wide variety of arrangements organized such as the Information Industry Association for business people, the Industry Development Foundation for practical training courses, Bi-annual “Ruby Training Camp” for students of Shimane University, Matsue Institute of Technology and high school students, and programming school namely “Smallruby-programming Koshien” for junior and senior high school students.

Regional areas cooperation in Shimane Prefecture

There are also unique cooperation among Shimane regional areas where engineering training by IT engineers are organized and the exchange between businesses and industries is promoted.

In Matsue area there are “Shimane OSS Council” with members of 68 companies and “Matsue.rb” of Ruby Community organized to promote engineering and development capability. Their activities are largest in scale in Shimane Prefecture.

In Izumo area there is “Team Izumo Open Business Council” with members of 14 companies which is taking initiative to promote the exchange between companies and to arrange study group or relevant lessons.

In Iwami area as well there is “Imamikuto” activity by Iwami ICT Council with members of 14 which is organizing regular exchange meetings and taking positive leadership to cooperate with Academia such as the University of Shimane, Polytechnic College Shimane.

As a results of these challenges and activities a number of engineers and IT industry has been steadily increased in Shimane, and they are contributing to promote and uplift the industry as a whole of Shimane Prefecture.