April 2022 to March 2023

  Japan's population has already entered a phase of net decline. The decrease in birthrate, advancement of aging, and decline of the population will definitely become more pronounced over the next few decades. Likewise, it will be unlikely to achieve explosive economic growth as was seen during the high-growth period. Under these socio-economic conditions, the urban municipalities where we live are individually faced with a number of issues that are not limited to the declining birthrate and aging population. Inescapably, we all belong to a particular urban municipality. The role of the municipal government is to maximize the welfare of its residents, out of necessity and duty. It must also provide relevant services in a sustainable manner even under severe financial circumstances brought about by slow economic growth.

　To address these issues, we conducted research themed “urban management for a better future.” In the first half of the year, we started with looking at the wide picture of the various issues surrounding cities. We examined what urban management essentially means from the perspective of the current state of expenditures and revenues and the approaches to urban management. Further, although it is only one solution to achieving sustainable urban management, we examined the benefits and disadvantages of compact cities with concentrated populations of residents, as a direction for urban management. We also investigated the current situation of compact cities and relevant national policies using data and examples. In the second half of the year, we focused on residents of urban municipalities and examined the areas in which ICT can play a role in fulfilling their conscious needs and their expectations towards the administrative authorities for addressing those needs. We also investigated the positioning of local enterprises that play important roles in urban management carried out by municipal government authorities, focusing on entrepreneurs and existing small and medium-sized enterprises in local areas. Further, in order to objectively comprehend urban management, we conducted a survey on the indices for its evaluation.

　On the basis of this research, we made recommendations on the necessity and possibility for NEC, as a social enterprise that implements and develops solutions that juxtapose the environment, space, and IT consulting with AI and ICT technologies, to provide valuable support to relevant urban municipalities in carrying out urban management and problem solving.